Full Article: PDF
Scientific Object Identifier: http://s-o-i.org/1.1/TAS-06-146-20
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.15863/TAS.2025.06.146.20
Language: English
Citation: Chubinidze, N. (2025). The passive voice as a manipulative technique in political discourse. ISJ Theoretical & Applied Science, 06 (146), 94-100. Soi: https://s-o-i.org/1.1/TAS-06-146-20 Doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.15863/TAS.2025.06.146.20 |
Pages: 94-100
Published: 30.06.2025
Abstract: In this article, we refer to the essential features of political discourse and present the definition of the term political discourse. According to various scholars Graber(1993); Chilton(2002); Van Dijk(1996, 1989b); Chudinov (2006); Sheygal(2004); we propose the following definition of this notion: political discourse is an aggregate of various speech acts and mechanism considered to be a powerful means of political signaling, functioning as public law, oriented at a target audience, which is determined and expressed in verbal form. Every politician has a role to play and their rhetoric serves a distinct function (informative, persuasive, control, agonistic, etc.) reflecting public thinking and attitudes, as stated by Van Dijk(1997). The article identifies key features of political discourse such as agonistic character i.e. competitiveness, aggressiveness, ideological credo, manipulation and theatricality. For their part, Wodak (1997, 1989) and Burke (1966) in turn argue that political discourse serves institutional purposes, reinforces social hierarchies, and performs symbolic functions. Emphasis is placed on the passive voice both in relation to political discourse functions and as a discursive apparatus that accomplishes the political actors’ aims of being able to narrate, manage and control public opinion and power struggles. On the basis of the examples from recent political speeches given by Donald Trump, Liz Truss, and Joe Biden, the study shows how passive constructions can obscure agency, pass blame, and heighten ideological or dramatic effects. The research results show that passive voice constructions not only serve linguistic purposes but also can be used as manipulative device to enhance performative and strategic dimensions of political communication.
Key words: political discourse, specific features of political discourse, passive voice.
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