Abstract
The purpose of the present piece of research is concerned with functional peculiarities identification of the category of evaluation as manifested in the Barack Obama election discourse. Present-day linguistics emphasizes the importance of such studies whose findings could be applicable not only in the process of linguistic analysis proper, but also in the related spheres of knowledge such as political science, political rhetoric, etc. Furthermore, taking into account the innate ability of a human-being to perform the so-called evaluative reasoning, it seems topical to consider how this reasoning is reflected in the political discourse of key political figures. Evaluation is treated as a heterogeneous phenomenon typical of human cognition and psychology. Evaluation constructs the ideological basis of a discourse as well as builds and maintains relationships between interactants. Evaluation in discourse is realized within three interacting domains of attitude, engagement, and graduation. The first one (attitude) is seen as of special interest within the scope of the present investigation.
Highlights
Evaluation is a heterogeneous phenomenon typical of human cognition and psychology
Within the framework of the present article evaluation is viewed upon as a certain attitude of a speaker / writer to the objects, phenomena, events. This attitude is primarily realized through affect, judgment, and appreciation emerging on the basis of the normative worldview and the system of socially accepted values
“the parameters for organizing judgment reflect grammatical distinctions in the system of modalization” (1994), i.e. normality is linked to usuality, capacity is associated with ability, tenacity is connected to inclination, whereas veracity is mainly concerned with probability, propriety circles around obligation
Summary
Evaluation is a heterogeneous phenomenon typical of human cognition and psychology. The notion under consideration turns out to be evasive in terms of localization and identification. Within the framework of the present article evaluation is viewed upon as a certain attitude of a speaker / writer to the objects, phenomena, events. In general terms political discourse is viewed upon as a special kind of discourse produced by political actors, placed in a certain political context, and aimed at the general public in order to elicit certain reactions on their part to this or that political event. It is a prominent way of ‘doing politics’, as most political actions are largely discursive. Election discourse consists of such basic structural components as environment, social subject, content, text, direct addressee, object of communication
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