Turn-Taking Strategies of Secretary Harry Roque as a Presidential Spokesperson: A Conversation Analysis

Abstract

This research aimed to analyze the conversation style used by former Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque in political interviews. Specifically, it aims to determine the turn-taking strategies used by former Sec. In political interviews, Roque identifies corresponding pragmatic power relations based on the dominant turn-taking strategies employedbyformer Sec. Inpoliticalinterviews, Roqueascertainstheoverallconversational style portrayed by former Sec. Roque, and glean the conversational style used by Sec. Roque. To achieve these, a descriptive research design was utilized. Five political interviews featuring Roque with accumulated airtime of three hours were transcribed to acquire on-hand data from the conversations. The conversation analysis revealed that Spokesperson Roque employed dominant turn-taking strategies such as overlapping, directness, and indirectness to control the conversation and assert his authority. He did not conform to the traditional manner of politicians, as he was straightforward in his utterances and did not use evasion when asked questions. Spokesperson Roque’s conversation style aimed to command attention, assert authority, talk upfront, and talk longer in political interviews. However, this style aligns differently with the mandate of being a spokesperson as promulgated in Executive Order No. 4, 2010, which emphasizes information sharing and trust building. Notably, Spokesperson Roque’s conversation style was like that of former President Duterte, which highlights the critical role that Presidential Spokespersons play in shaping public perception of the President and their administration. This study underscores the importance of understanding the complex dynamics that govern the relationships between Presidential Spokespersons and the leaders they serve, particularly in modern political communication.