The language of identity in Malaysian politics: Towards a theory of Malaysian political discourse

• Main Author: Halim, Rohizah
• Format: Conference or Workshop Item
• Language: English
• Published: 2011
• Subjects: JC Political theory
• Online Access: http://repo.uum.edu.my/8710/1/9.pdf; http://repo.uum.edu.my/8710/; http://lintas.uum.edu.my:8080/elmu/index.jsp?module=webopac-l&action=fullDisplayRetriever.jsp&szMaterialNo=0000778103
• Institution: Universiti Utara Malaysia

The use of language in political discourse is generally understood to perform the function of controlling and managing a group of people. But the language of politics can be understood to have more important purpose – even if it often operates below the level of conscious thoughts – that is, as a tool for the exercise of power.How does language fulfill this function? To understand, one has to look at the properties of language; words, phrases, sentences, meanings.In the end, political discourse creates a group with shared identity that in turn influence political beliefs and actions.To exercise their political power, politicians and leaders create a sense of shared identity through the channels and platforms made available to them. In studying the language used by politicians, Chilton (2004) proposes a set of 12 aspects of linguistic realizations in political discourse that can help to unravel the effect political language has on the creation of a political identity.This paper attempts to hold up these 12 aspects against seven collected speeches from the six Prime Ministers of Malaysia to see whether they can lead to conceptualizing a framework that can explain Malaysian political discourse.This framework could be utilized towards a study of political texts in a uniquely Malaysian context.