Topic identification behind political discourse: What was said and what was meant?
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Abstract
Language plays a crucial role in shaping meaning, yet the same words can convey different messages depending on context, intent, and audience perception. This phenomenon is particularly evident in political discourse, where leaders strategically use language to persuade, influence, and control narratives. While extensive research has examined political rhetoric, there remains a gap in understanding how key political figures manipulate discourse to align with their agendas. This study aims to analyze the underlying themes in the speeches of Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak during the 2011 Arab Spring Uprising and British politician Andrea Leadsom’s Prime Minister campaign speech on July 4, 2016. Using a discourse analysis methodology, the study examines how linguistic choices, rhetorical strategies, and implicit messaging shape audience interpretation. The findings reveal a significant disparity between the explicit content of these speeches and their underlying political intentions, highlighting the strategic use of language in crisis and leadership narratives. This research contributes to the field of political communication by offering insights into how discourse is employed as a tool of persuasion and control, emphasizing the need for critical analysis in interpreting political rhetoric.
Keywords: Discourse; political discourse; speech; topic identification.
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