“Facing the virus” anaphora in political speech: a faircloughian analysis of president Xi Jinping’s address to United Nations general assembly

Yongming Luo

doi:10.21744/lingcure.v5nS1.1490

Authors

Yongming Luo
vinceluo.good@gmail.com
Saint Paul University Philippines

Keywords:

anaphora, Fairclough’s CDA, ideologies, pronouns, three-tiered analysis

Abstract

This research study aimed at the analysis of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s political discourse (his speech) delivered via video link at the annual General Debate of the 75th session of the United Nations General Assembly. The focus of analysis is the president’s speech using Norman Fairclough’s modal of three levels or dimensions of discourse. Results show that the speech uses anaphora and pronouns which position an inclusive society of togetherness with differences and competitions among nations, as part of natural order of things. Social determinants like the need to belong, the use of politeness in a context of formality and the appeal to class sentiments against social struggle. These practices contribute in gaining legitimacy and power in the speech. While the speech is considered a powerful tool in unpacking the speaker’s ideologies, behind the personas – international persona as juxtaposed with the national persona, the realities of political struggle, national or international, the stabilization of power and the struggle for multilateralism remain a challenge.

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