Language In Political Discourse: A Pragmatic Study Of Presupposition And Politeness In The Inaugural Speech Of President Donald Trump

Abstract

Inauguration ceremony of a new president is likely a common ritual the world over. It is an observance that constitutes the formal investiture for the president. Inaugural speech is central to the rites of inauguration and it is usually anticipated for the soothing promises it makes and the reassurances it contains. This study investigates pragmatic presuppositions made and politeness strategies employed by President Donald Trump in the speech delivered at his inauguration ceremony. The text of the speech is downloaded from the net to ensure accuracy and the ninety-nine (99) sentences in it numbered serially for ease of reference and close analysis. The study reveals that Trump presupposes among others the uniqueness of the event, the socioeconomic crisis bedevilling America and the imperative and urgency of the need to salvage her. Regarding politeness, the paper unravels both the face saving and face threatening acts performed by the speaker and the various strategies deployed. It concludes that although Trump strives hard to mitigate the threats to the face of the past American leaders among others, the poignancies of the threat still remain painfully memorable for their enormity and emphasis.