Abstract

How to analyse the linguistic dimension of argumentative discourse?

In the study of argumentation, the wording or linguistic design of argumentative moves is explicitly acknowledged as a crucial factor when studying how arguers try to reach their argumentative goals. Strikingly, however, within argumentation theory a well-developed framework for the systematic identification and analysis of linguistic choices in actual argumentative discourse is lacking. For instance, the extended pragma-dialectical approach has a well-developed framework for the analysis and evaluation of argumentative moves, but not for the systematic identifcation and analysis of the presentational dimension of these moves.

In this talk, I will discuss a set of methodological principles for the systematic identification and analysis of linguistic choices in argumentative discourse, based on the so-called linguistic-stylistic approach (Leech & Short 2007; Van Leeuwen 2015; Stukker & Verhagen 2019; Van Haaften & Van Leeuwen 2019, 2021). I will demonstrate these methodological principles and what they yield by applying them to a case study: the historic address by George W. Bush on 19 March 2003, in which he announced the Iraq War.