Critical Discourse Analysis: A Case Study of Pakistani Politicians’ Rhetoric

Abstract

This article is an effort to deconstruct the language used in Pakistani politicians’ speeches using Fairclough’s model of critical discourse analysis (henceforth CDA). To highlight the projection of ideology in the political discourse we have chosen some excerpts from the speeches of some of the leading politicians of Pakistan. The rhetorical devices (such as persuasion through emotional exploitation, repetition, and the use of threes) and discursive linguistics choices (such as figurers of speech) of the politicians have been analyzed. The article also highlights the politicians use of language characterized by ideological underpinnings; thus showing how the art of rhetoric and persuasion through arousing emotions of the masses are used to achieve political ambitions