PERSUASION AND POLITICAL DISCOURSE: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF IMRAN KHAN’S UNGA SPEECH (74TH SESSION: 2019)

Abstract

This study aims at exploring the ideologies and vision of political leaders through the power of language. They employ diplomatic usage of language to broadcast their ideologies. The current study critically investigates the speech of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan at UNGA 74th session. He delivered his speech in 74th session of UNGA. The speech focused on national and international issues like climate change, money laundering, Islamophobia, and Kashmir dispute. The researchers have made an effort to reveal and uncover the ideologies and visions which functioned behind that speech. In this study, it has been observed that how different linguistic tools (rhetorical devices) have been used to gain political goals and objectives. The speech of Imran Khan at UNGA has been qualitatively analyzed by using the Fairclough model. In the light of this modal many key points like words repetition, building relationships with the audience, words choices, the implication of words, context, and impact of speech are discussed. Besides, politicians utilize certain linguistic strategies to convince the audience to follow their ideologies and visions.