Political Stories

Linguistics Expert Says Language Usage Important, Calculated For Presidential Candidacy Acceptance and Inaugural Addresses

==== FULL VERSION OF A PRESS RELEASE FROM NEWSWISE====

http://www.newswise.com/

Source: Texas Tech University

http://www.depts.ttu.edu/communications/media/index.php

Released: Thu 28-Aug-2008, 20:00 ET

Newswise — When it comes to presidential candidates' acceptance and inaugural addresses, a good story teller can capture the audience's attention.

Part of George W. Bush's speech success in 2001 might be linked to his ability to cast a message by telling a good narrative story, said Mary Jane Hurst, a professor of linguistics at Texas Tech University. The Obama campaign is using the same strategy.

"George Bush did something interesting every time he spoke," she said. "He framed his messages and ideas as stories. That's a very appealing approach to language if the speaker can pull it off. People relate to storytelling and learn through stories, such as the biblical parable. The Obama campaign is making an effort to do the same thing."

That's just one facet of how the language used in speeches can tell a lot about the candidate even if it's not intentional.

Hurst said that much thought goes into what is said and how it's said. She's written three articles that have studied candidate speeches and language usage including invoking religion, using clever metaphors and even pronoun usage.

"The convention speeches usually are aimed at unifying the party, whereas inaugural speeches are trying to unify the country," Hurst said. "The different functions of the occasion result in language differences. In Clinton's 1992 convention acceptance speech, for example, the word hope was repeated several times. But at the inauguration in 1993, challenge became the dominant word."

© 2008 Newswise. All Rights Reserved.

Comment:

This is a good example of how language can be important in politics. As Hurst points out story telling is a well established method in religion. Ironically, this is the very opposite of the "sound bite" so beloved by TV. stations. Could it be that our natural instincts can understand certain human relationships much better than our conscious brain?

Tags: obama, president, presidential, speeches, language, linguistics, texas tech, politics, story telling

Should we speak more than one language?

Caught in the grips of linguistic paranoia

Nataly Kelly

The Boston Globe, August 11, 2008

© Copyright 2008 Globe Newspaper Company.

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2008/08/11/caught_in_the_grips_of_linguistic_paranoia/

Background

In this article Kelly discusses the issue of whether Americans, and maybe their President, ought to learn to speak other languages. She also writes about the opinions expressed by Senators McCain and Obhama, who both seem to be positive about language diversity.

Kelly also writes: "The Quality of Life Index, published by The Economist in 2005, showed that the five countries with the highest standard of living were Ireland, Switzerland, Norway, Luxembourg, and Sweden." She put this down to having a European address and, "they promote multilingualism."

Comment

National language is an old issue and it seems to me that the American preoccupation with languages is the more politically correct option than religious diversity. Europe, it seems, is more concerned with religious diversity. Apart from a few fringe interests, Europe does not have a language problem, only a huge translation bill.

However, I have my doubts whether Kelly was right in putting a lot of emphasis of the Quality of Life Index. To being with, a lot has happened in Europe since 2005. But I would say that the reasons why the Scandinavian countries have the highest quality of life is because they are countries with a small population, but more importantly, they have strong social policies. For example, I doubt if there is anyone in these countries who does not have health cover.

I agree that knowing different languages can go along way to help us communicate with each other, but as I have indicated many times in this blog, it is not the ideal state of affairs. Business people might be in a better position to benefit from knowing different languages, not only because business is a neutral activity, when compared to politics or culture, but also because the objectives are clear. Politicians and cultural leaders have a constituency to persuade and it is the reaction of the constituency that matters.

Yes, Kelly has a point when she says, "Know they enemy." But I think she would be better off not making enemies in the first place.

Bottom Line

Language unites us, languages keep us divided.

Tags: language, politics, multi linguists, second language, business, president, America,