LINGUISTIC MEANS OF EXPRESSING PERSUASIVENESS IN THE BRITISH POLITICAL DISCOURSE

Abstract

This article examines the linguistic and stylistic techniques employed by Boris Johnson in his political speeches to enhance their persuasiveness and resonance with audiences. Political discourse, fundamentally aimed at influencing and convincing, is shaped by various pragmatic, sociological, and psychological factors and often leverages diverse linguistic strategies to achieve its impact. The politician’s speeches are distinguished by the frequent use of logical and stylistic means of persuasion, including language tools such as emphasis, intensification, simplification, and polarization. At the stylistic level, Boris Johnson frequently incorporates expressive devices (epithets, metaphors, similes, hyperbole, and antithesis) that help create vivid imagery and engage listeners emotionally by comparing contrasting qualities or ideas.

Additionally, Johnson’s syntactic choices – such as repetition, polysyndeton, rhetorical questions, and exclamatory sentences – emphasize key points and stimulate emotional responses from the audience, highlighting specific messages and calls to action. His speeches are characterized by a dynamic, engaging tone, where the speaker often begins by identifying challenges before shifting toward a more optimistic, supportive stance, fostering confidence and unity. Boris Johnson's discourse exemplifies a strategic and impactful approach to political communication through these techniques. Future research might further explore comparative analyses of persuasive methods across various political texts and languages to understand the mechanisms of influence within political discourse.