Linguistic-discursive peculiarities of pronominal usage in political discourse (based on the material of the political talk show "60 Minutes")

Abstract

This paper considers the specific features of the functioning of pronouns in political discourse. We analyse their role in the speech of the presenters and guests of the "60 Minutes" talk show. It belongs to the television discussion genre whose function is to form a collective political world picture by projecting and broadcasting certain images and meanings. The relevance of the research is due to the need not only for studying communication strategies and tactics in political actors’ speech, but also for analysing the impact of linguistic means on public opinion formation and transformation. Considering pronouns in the functional aspect enables us to identify the characteristic features that make pronouns one of the most effective means of speech influence (persuasion). Possessing manipulative potential, words of this morphological class can participate in the implementation of numerous communicative strategies and tactics, including the upward and downward strategies, the tactics of self-presentation, cooperation, impersonal accusation, discrediting, and the "us–them" opposition. The research uses discourse analysis, interpretation and contextual analysis techniques, and the communicative-pragmatic approach. As the obtained data show, pronouns can be employed to impose certain beliefs and opinions, to enhance the sense of unity and solidarity between the speaker and the audience, to shift the emphasis in the event under discussion. Moreover, they also prove to be a significant characteristic of politicians, reflecting their worldview.