INTRODUCTION
Rationale
Language serves as a powerful communication tool that enables individuals to express themselves and connect with others It is not only a social phenomenon reflecting our perceptions of the world but also a personal representation of attitudes during interactions Language is utilized to achieve specific purposes, leading to the creation of distinct discourses Therefore, any comprehensive study of language should emphasize its practical application in real-life contexts.
‘means of communication’ It is a “medium of domination and social force; it serves to legitimize relations of organized power” (Habermas, 1977, p.259 cited in Wodak and Meyer, 2001)
Fairclough (1989) views language as a socially influenced process, while Wareing (2004) emphasizes its affective function, which determines who can communicate with whom, highlighting its connection to power and social status Consequently, the selection of language is significantly influenced by the speakers, listeners, and the context in which communication occurs.
Language plays a crucial role in politics, often serving as a powerful tool for politicians to achieve their objectives As noted by Chilton and Schaffner (1997), politics fundamentally relies on language, which helps shape social groups and their interactions Pelinka (2007) emphasizes that the study of language transcends literature and linguistics, highlighting its importance in understanding political dynamics.
Language should be understood and examined as a political phenomenon, while politics itself must be viewed and studied as a discursive phenomenon This highlights the undeniable connection between language and political discourse, emphasizing their intertwined nature in shaping social dynamics.
2 politics, and political speeches are typical examples for the application of linguistic practice to illustrate power and ideology
Analyzing the messages and the speaker’s embedded ideology and power is the focus of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) CDA, according to Fairclough
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) focuses on revealing the often hidden connections between language, society, and culture, as noted by 1996 (p.287) According to Van Dijk (1993), analyzing the style, rhetoric, and meaning of texts is essential for understanding social power dynamics and the exercise of authority CDA delves deeply into the relationships among texts, processes, and social contexts, emphasizing the interplay between language, power, and ideology.
Hillary Clinton, a prominent figure in American politics, served as Secretary of State under President Obama and was a Senator for New York As a former First Lady, lawyer, activist, and volunteer, she has consistently championed social justice, earning widespread admiration and respect Her unwavering dedication and positive spirit have significantly shaped national politics and advanced the progressive movement for women Among her numerous speeches, her concession speech following the 2016 Presidential Campaign stands out, leaving a lasting impression on Americans and people worldwide, despite her electoral defeat.
A critical discourse analysis (CDA) of Hillary Clinton's speech following her 2016 presidential election defeat is essential for understanding her character, the impact of her message, and the underlying ideologies she aimed to convey to her audience This analysis forms the basis of the researcher’s MA thesis, highlighting the significance of her words and the broader implications of her discourse.
Aims of the study
The study is aimed at identifying the relationship between discourse, ideology, and power expressed in Hillary Clinton’s concession speech in 2016
To achieve that goal, two particular objectives are as follows:
+ Find out the power and ideologies embedded in Hillary Clinton's 2016 concession speech
+ Analyze how the power and ideologies are realized via linguistic features.
Research questions
In order for the above-mentioned aims to be achieved, the research attempts to answer the following questions:
1 What ideologies and power are embedded in Hillary Clinton’s speech after her presidential election defeat in 2016?
2 How are ideologies and power realized linguistically in Hillary Clinton’s speech?
Communication can be categorized into verbal and nonverbal forms, with paralinguistics (intonation, volume, speed) and extra-linguistics (eye contact, facial expressions) playing crucial roles in conveying a speaker's ideology, power, and identity This current Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) focuses solely on the vocal elements of Hillary Clinton's speech within specific social contexts The research specifically examines her speech delivered in 2016, following her presidential election defeat, despite her extensive history of public speaking.
This research is conducted solely for academic purposes, without the intention of conveying any personal political opinions Additionally, the study does not aim to endorse any political parties or influence individuals' political beliefs.
This study utilizes Fairclough’s (2001) Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) framework, emphasizing the significance of vocabulary while acknowledging the roles of grammar and textual structures The primary focus of the research will be on the analysis of vocabulary.
This article analyzes the grammar used in Hillary Clinton's speech to uncover the ways in which power and ideologies are expressed While recognizing that these elements can often be concealed within language, the study specifically examines the verbal cues present in her speech.
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) has gained significant attention globally, including in Vietnam, over the past few decades However, research on CDA by Vietnamese scholars is still relatively scarce This study aims to contribute to the understanding of CDA as a linguistic approach, enhancing awareness of how power and ideology are reflected in language and exploring the broader relationship between language and society.
This study aims to enhance English language education by addressing the challenges learners face in understanding political discourses, particularly in interpreting implicit ideologies The research is designed to benefit foreign language teachers and translators by providing insights into how power and ideologies are linguistically expressed, ultimately improving comprehension and teaching strategies.
CDA approach will be applied in this thesis to uncover embedded power and ideologies Three following stages of CDA given by Norman Fairclough (2001) will be applied
Description: This stage describes lexical and syntactic features so as to find out embedded ideologies and power in Hillary’s speech
Interpretation: It is involved in the relationship between the text and interaction, looking at the speech as a product of a process of production and a resource in the process of interpretation
Explanation: In this stage, Hillary’s speech is put in the social context to see how it is affected by social structures and vice versa
Besides, quantitative and qualitative methods are also employed through three stages with qualitative as a more prominent ones
Basing on the above-mentioned Fairclough’s framework, the researcher builds up her analytical framework for this current study as follows:
The analytical framework emphasizes the interconnectedness of description, interpretation, and explanation throughout the process It examines three key aspects—Vocabulary, Grammar, and Macro-structure—to reveal the underlying power dynamics and ideologies present in Hillary Clinton's 2016 speech.
Figure 1: Analytical framework of the current study
This study utilizes descriptive, qualitative content analysis methods, as endorsed by Hsieh and Shannon (2005), to enable subjective interpretation of text data through systematic coding and pattern identification Additionally, quantitative methods will be applied to analyze word frequency and grammatical patterns The integration of both qualitative and quantitative approaches is expected to effectively achieve the research objectives.
In the initial stage of description, various methods are employed to examine the speech's lexicalization, grammar, and macrostructure This stage primarily focuses on lexical choices, including the use of voice and personal nouns, while also analyzing the overall structure of the text.
The analysis will focus on the situational context of Hillary Clinton's speech to interpret its propositions and coherence In the final stage, the text will be examined as a component of social practice, addressing both situational and societal dimensions This approach will uncover the ideologies and power dynamics present in Clinton's rhetoric.
The study is attached to the CDA approach and is carried out following some basic stages
The initial phase involves performing a literature review that provides a theoretical foundation and insight into the issues pertinent to the research topic This review also examines prior studies to identify any scientific gaps that the thesis aims to address.
In the second stage, Hillary Clinton's speech is analyzed using Norman Fairclough's framework, providing a comprehensive examination of the vocabulary, grammar, and macro-structure utilized in her address.
Then the information is interpreted to help reveal power and ideologies hidden in Hillary Clinton’s speech
The final stage involves analyzing the chosen discourse to uncover the relationship between the speech and its social practice, as well as the reciprocal influence of the discourse on its context.
This thesis includes the following parts:
Chapter 1: Introduction This part shows the rationale, aims of the study, research questions, scope of the study, significance of the study This chapter also provides a detailed description of the methodology, including analytical framework, rsearch approach, research methods applied for data collection and procedure of data analysis
This chapter gives the definition of CDA, its approachable methodologies, and a review of previous studies
Chapter 3 analyzes power and ideologies embedded in Hillary Clinton’s 2016 speech after her defeat in the presidential election
Chapter 4 examines and Hillary Clinton's speech after her presidential election defeat in 2016 to show how power and ideologies are linguistically realized, based on CDA procedure addressed by Norman Fairclough (2001)
It summarizes the major findings of the study, some concluding remarks, limitations and offers some suggestions for further research.
Significance of the study
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) has garnered significant attention globally and in Vietnam over the past few decades; however, research on CDA by Vietnamese scholars is still limited This study aims to contribute to the understanding of CDA as a linguistic approach, enhancing awareness of how power and ideology are embedded in language, as well as the broader relationship between language and society.
This study aims to enhance English language education by addressing the challenges English learners face in understanding political discourses, particularly in interpreting implicit ideologies The research is designed to benefit foreign language teachers and translators by providing insights into how power and ideologies are linguistically expressed, ultimately improving comprehension and teaching strategies.
Methodology………………………………………………………… 1 Research approach ………………………………………………… 2 Analyticalframework ……………………………………………… 3 Research Method…………………………………………………… 4 Research procedure………………………………………………… 4 4 5 5 6 1.7 Structure of the study
CDA approach will be applied in this thesis to uncover embedded power and ideologies Three following stages of CDA given by Norman Fairclough (2001) will be applied
Description: This stage describes lexical and syntactic features so as to find out embedded ideologies and power in Hillary’s speech
Interpretation: It is involved in the relationship between the text and interaction, looking at the speech as a product of a process of production and a resource in the process of interpretation
Explanation: In this stage, Hillary’s speech is put in the social context to see how it is affected by social structures and vice versa
Besides, quantitative and qualitative methods are also employed through three stages with qualitative as a more prominent ones
Basing on the above-mentioned Fairclough’s framework, the researcher builds up her analytical framework for this current study as follows:
The analytical framework demonstrates the interconnectedness of description, interpretation, and explanation throughout the process, focusing on three key aspects: Vocabulary, Grammar, and Macro-structure This approach aims to reveal the underlying power dynamics and ideologies present in Hillary Clinton's 2016 speech.
Figure 1: Analytical framework of the current study
This study utilizes descriptive, qualitative content analysis methods, as supported by Hsieh and Shannon (2005), to interpret text data through systematic coding and pattern identification Additionally, quantitative methods will be applied to analyze word frequency and grammatical patterns The integration of both qualitative and quantitative approaches is expected to effectively achieve the research objectives.
In the initial stage of description, various methods are employed to examine the speech's lexicalization, grammar, and macrostructure This stage primarily focuses on lexical choices and the use of voice or personal nouns, while also analyzing the overall macrostructure of the text.
The subsequent phase involves analyzing the situational context to interpret the propositions and coherence within Hillary Clinton's speech In the final stage, the text will be examined as a component of social practice, addressing both situational and societal dimensions This analysis will uncover the ideologies and power dynamics embedded in Hillary Clinton's rhetoric.
The study is attached to the CDA approach and is carried out following some basic stages
The initial phase involves conducting a literature review that provides a theoretical background essential for understanding the key issues related to the research topic This review also includes an analysis of previous studies to identify the scientific gap that the thesis aims to address.
In the second stage, Hillary Clinton's speech is analyzed using Norman Fairclough’s framework, focusing on vocabulary, grammar, and macro-structure to provide a comprehensive and detailed examination of its linguistic features.
Then the information is interpreted to help reveal power and ideologies hidden in Hillary Clinton’s speech
The final stage involves analyzing the chosen discourse to uncover the connection between the speech and its social practices, as well as examining how the discourse influences its context and is influenced by it in return.
This thesis includes the following parts:
Chapter 1: Introduction This part shows the rationale, aims of the study, research questions, scope of the study, significance of the study This chapter also provides a detailed description of the methodology, including analytical framework, rsearch approach, research methods applied for data collection and procedure of data analysis
This chapter gives the definition of CDA, its approachable methodologies, and a review of previous studies
Chapter 3 analyzes power and ideologies embedded in Hillary Clinton’s 2016 speech after her defeat in the presidential election
Chapter 4 examines and Hillary Clinton's speech after her presidential election defeat in 2016 to show how power and ideologies are linguistically realized, based on CDA procedure addressed by Norman Fairclough (2001)
It summarizes the major findings of the study, some concluding remarks, limitations and offers some suggestions for further research
LITERATURE REVIEW
Three main approaches to CDA
Wodak and Meyer (2009) emphasize that Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) lacks a singular theory or methodology, highlighting its diverse nature and the variety of theoretical backgrounds it draws from This diversity leads to multiple approaches in CDA research In this section, we will introduce the three principal approaches to conducting CDA.
2.2.1.The socio-cognitive approach by Teun van Dijk
Teun van Dijk is one of the most famous researchers and the leading pioneer in the domain of CDA
Van Dijk (1988) conceptualizes discourse as a complex communicative event that is deeply embedded in social context, rather than merely an isolated textual or dialogic structure His discourse analysis theory highlights the importance of both structural analysis—covering grammatical, phonological, morphological, and semantic levels—and higher-level properties such as coherence, themes, topics, and the overall schematic and rhetorical dimensions of texts.
Van Dijk (1998) introduces basic concepts such as macro, micro, power and his theoretical framework which is shaped around these concepts connects discourse, cognition and society together in a critical way
Van Dijk's ideological structural analysis highlights the polarization of in-groups and out-groups, significantly impacting the forms and meanings of language used This includes the strategic use of pronouns, possessives, and demonstratives, as well as techniques in ideological discourse such as positive self-presentation and negative other-presentation.
CDA of van Dijk (1998b, pp.61-63) gives suggestions that there are five main steps in a procedure of CDA:
- Examining the context of the discourse: historical, political and social background of a conflict and its main participants
- Analyzing groups, power relations and conflict involved
- Identifying positive and negative opinions about Us versus Them
- Making explicit the presupposed and the implied
- examining all formal structure: lexical choice and syntactic structure, in a way that helps to (de)emphasize polarized group opinions
2.2.2 The discourse – historical approach by Ruth Wodak
Wodak and Ludwig (1999) emphasize that discourse is inherently historical, linking it both synchronically and diachronically to other communicating events occurring simultaneously or in the past.
Wodak (2001b, pp.69 – 70) has brought out some features for a historical approach to CDA:
- This approach is interdisciplinary Similarly to other critical discourse analysts, she is well-aware of language-society connections so he agrees that CDA is interdisciplinary
- This interdisciplinary nature could be seen both in theory and practice She combines argumentation theory and rhetoric with Hillary’s Functional Linguistics
- This approach is problem-oriented rather than emphasizing some special language issues
- Methodology and theory are chosen through eclecticism
- In this approach the analyst is always on the move between theory and empirical data
- Historical context will go under investigation and will be incorporated into the analysis of discourse and texts
This approach is distinguished by its use of background information to uncover various layers of meaning in spoken or written texts, leading to differing interpretations based on individual knowledge According to Wodak (2002), it employs an interdisciplinary and multi-methodological framework, utilizing diverse empirical data and contextual information The overall structure of this approach is organized around four levels of contact (Wodak, 2002, p.68).
- The immediate language, or text internal co-text
- The inte-textual and inter-discursive relationships between utterances, texts, genres and discourse
- The extra-linguistic social/socio-logical variables and institutional frames of specific “context of situation”
- The broader socio-political and historical contexts, which the discursive practices are embedded in and related to
2.2.3 The Systemic Functional Grammar approach by Norman Fairclough
Fairclough (2001) is recognized for his significant impact on the evolution of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), establishing a foundational theoretical framework that guides subsequent research in the field His approach is considered the central model in CDA, influencing future studies and methodologies.
Fairclough's approach to Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) offers a fresh perspective on language as a socially constituted entity Grounded in Michael Halliday's Systemic Functional Linguistics from 1978, his framework emphasizes the analysis of texture, structure, and organization of texts Unlike Halliday's original theory of social semiotics, Fairclough highlights the importance of inter-textual analysis as a vital method for connecting texts with their broader contexts.
Fairclough’s CDA model has three categories which he labeled as
Text (speech, writing, images or a mixture of all three forms)
Discursive practice (production or constitution of text)
Figure 2: Fairclough’s three-dimensional framework for analysis of discourse (Fairclough 1989, p.26)
The three-dimensional model proposed by Fairclough allows for a comprehensive analysis of discourse at varying levels: word, text, and norm While this framework shares similarities with Van Dijk’s ideology analysis, a key distinction lies in the interpretation of the second dimension Van Dijk positions this dimension as a mediator between discourse and society, whereas Fairclough attributes this mediating role to the practices of discourse themselves.
Fairclough (2001, pp.21-22) goes further in classifying the analysis into three stages: description, interpretation and explanation:
The first stage, description, examines lexical and syntactic features so as to find out embedded ideologies and power in Hillary’s speech
Textual properties gain significance through social interactions, making interpretation a crucial step in analyzing discourse processes and their reliance on underlying assumptions Figure 3 illustrates various interpretative procedures that highlight this relationship.
The third stage of analysis focuses on understanding discourse as a social process, examining how it is influenced by social structures and the effects it has on them This relationship is mediated by members' resources (MR), which encompass background knowledge, values, beliefs, and assumptions According to Fairclough, these elements serve as interpretative procedures for the text Steps for this stage are visually summarized in Figure 3.
Fairclough gives out three questions that can be used to investigate a particular discourse in this stage, such as:
- Social determinants What power relations at situational, institutional and societal levels help shape this discourse?
- Ideologies: What elements of MR which are drawn upon have an ideological character?
- Effects: How is this discourse positioned in relation to struggles at the situational, institutional and societal levels? Are these struggles overt or covert ?
Is this discourse formative with respect to MR or creative? Does it contribute to sustaining existing power relations or transforming them?
Norman Fairclough has simplified the research process in Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) by proposing a list of ten key questions, organized into three primary categories: vocabulary, grammar, and textual structures Each main question is accompanied by several sub-questions, facilitating a comprehensive examination of discourse This structured approach enhances the clarity and effectiveness of CDA research.
This article presents a selection of ten essential questions designed for general discourse However, for the purposes of this study, only the most relevant and significant questions have been chosen from this set to analyze the specific discourse utilized as data.
1 What experiential values do words have?
What classification schemes are drawn upon?
Are there words which are ideologically contested?
Is there rewording or overwording?
What ideologically significant meaning relations (synonymy, hyponymy, antonymy) are there between words?
2 What relational values do words have?
Are there markedly formal or informal words
3 What expressive values do words have?
5 What experiential values do grammatical features have?
What types of process and participants predominate?
Are processes what they seem?
Are sentences active or passive?
Are sentences positive or negative?
6 What relational values do grammatical features have?
What modes (declarative, grammatical questions, imperative) are used?
Are there important features of relational modality?
Are the pronouns we and you used and if so, how?
7 What expressive values do grammatical features have?
Are there important features of expressive modality?
8 How are (simple) sentences linked together?
What logical connectors are used?
Are complex sentences characterized by coordination or subordination?
What means are used for referring inside and outside the text?
9 What interactional conventions are used?
Are there ways in which one participant controls to turns of others?
10 What larger - scale structure does the text have?
Among the three approaches discussed—Teun van Dijk's socio-cognitive approach, Ruth Wodak's discourse-historical approach, and Norman Fairclough's Systemic Functional Grammar—Fairclough's framework is deemed the most suitable for this thesis While Van Dijk and Wodak's frameworks can inspire research ideas, they lack the specificity and clarity found in Fairclough's model Fairclough provides clear steps and numerous guiding questions, enabling researchers to analyze data from multiple perspectives Moreover, this approach emphasizes the interplay between texts, social contexts, and factors such as power and ideology As the chosen framework for this study, it will be explored in greater detail in the following chapter.
Ideology and power in CDA
The term “ideology” refers to various concepts The notion of ideology was coined by French philosopher Destutt de Tracy at the end of the 18th century In
In 1998, Van Dijk described ideology as the foundation of social representations shared by group members, suggesting that it influences perceptions of truth and falsehood This framework shapes individuals' behaviors, aligning them with the norms and expectations of their social context.
According to Van Dijk (2000), ideology is defined as a "system of beliefs" related to social, political, or religious ideas shared by a community or movement, as originally described by Destutt de Tracy This concept encompasses a broad "science of ideas," akin to psychology or cognitive science, focusing on how we think, speak, and argue The definition highlights that ideologies are collective beliefs that motivate and influence a social group, rather than individual convictions, and are fundamental to the identity and cohesion of the group and its members (Van Dijk, 2000).
According to Fairclough (1996/2002), "ideology" refers to the underlying assumptions embedded in practices, particularly within Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), that perpetuate relations of domination, often in subtle ways.
CDA should acknowledge its own ideological bias, as it operates within a society where multiple competing ideologies exist, with one often dominating and influencing others As Thompson (1990) notes, ideology encompasses the social norms and processes that facilitate the circulation of symbolic forms.
19 social world Ideology is an important aspect of establishing and maintaining unequal power relation”
The relationship between ideology and Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) is significant, as Van Dijk (1996) asserts that ideologies create connections between discourse and society Similarly, Fairclough and Wodak (1996) emphasize that discourse performs ideological functions, often presenting ideologies as misleading or unfounded representations of reality Consequently, it is widely recognized that ideologies are intricately linked to language, making it a prominent medium for disseminating ideas and influencing social behavior, particularly when individuals are not critically examining "common sense" beliefs.
Power relations refer to the dynamics between different groups that shape underlying ideologies As a complex and abstract concept, power significantly influences our lives, defined as the capacity of one party to compel compliance or obedience from others (Thomas et al.).
In 2004, it was defined that power is exercised by individuals in superior positions, utilizing language as a means to assert their influence This use of language serves as a manifestation of their authority, reflecting societal perceptions and interactions among individuals (Blaska, 1991).
Fowler (1985) and van Dijk (1996) define power as a relational concept characterized by asymmetry and control, with language playing a crucial role in its manifestation Fowler emphasizes that "power is the ability of people and institutions to control the behaviour and material lives of others" (1985, p.61), highlighting that power typically involves imbalanced relationships, such as those between parents and children, employers and employees, doctors and patients, and governments and citizens He argues that language serves as a tool for enforcing and exploiting established authority and privilege, often through regulations and commands.
Language plays a crucial role in defining social statuses and roles, enabling individuals to exert power According to van Dijk (1996), social power represents the control one group holds over another, making power a key concept in analyzing societal group dynamics.
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) aims to reveal and comprehend the power dynamics within society by analyzing language, which is intrinsically linked to social power Power is a pivotal aspect of life and is considered a core element of CDA In this framework, language derives its influence from the use of impactful words Consequently, CDA often adopts the viewpoint of marginalized individuals, providing a critical examination of the language employed by those in positions of authority.
This paper defines power as the capacity of dominant individuals or groups to instill their social and political ideologies through discourse, either implicitly or explicitly This perspective aligns with Fairclough's concept of 'ideological power,' which refers to the process of presenting one's ideologies as common sense or universal truths The analysis of the following texts focuses on two key aspects of power: authority and source.
Power can be categorized based on the resources used to exert it, such as the coercive force of the military, the financial influence of wealthy individuals, or the persuasive authority of parents, educators, and journalists, which relies on knowledge and information However, power is rarely absolute; groups may exert control over others in specific contexts, like a doctor over patients in a hospital or a teacher over students in a classroom Furthermore, dominated groups may respond to this power in various ways, including resistance, acceptance, compliance, or even viewing it as a natural aspect of their social reality.
Speeches of politicians have received much attention from both political and linguistic analysts
Reyes-Rodrigue (2006) demonstrates the power realized in Bush’s speeches after the event of September 11 attacks with detailed description on the emotional factor in this president's speeches
In her 2010 study, Junling Wang utilized Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar to perform a critical discourse analysis of Barack Obama’s speeches Focusing on three meta-functions—ideational, interpersonal, and textual—the research explored the intricate connections between language, ideology, and power It revealed how Obama effectively employed language as a persuasive tool to influence voters during his presidential campaign.
The research, “American Political Discourse as Manifested in Hillary Clinton’s Interviews: A Critical Approach” by Doha Mahmoud Abdel – Moiety
In 2014, a study focused on the American political discourse within the interview genre, specifically analyzing T.V interviews featuring former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton Utilizing a critical discourse analysis perspective, the research integrates concepts from genre theory, systemic functional grammar, and critical discourse analysis to explore the underlying meanings and references in her speech.
In their 2019 study, Kanwal S and García M conducted a critical discourse analysis of Hillary Clinton's campaign speeches, utilizing Fairclough’s three-dimensional model and Gee’s Frame Problem Tool Their research revealed that Clinton effectively employed framing techniques to project her gender identity, portraying herself as a courageous and assertive leader committed to advocating for the rights of all Americans, regardless of their background, religion, gender, or nationality.
Chapter summary
This chapter establishes the theoretical framework for the study, covering the history and definitions of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and its three main approaches: Teun van Dijk's socio-cognitive approach, Ruth Wodak's discourse-historical approach, and Norman Fairclough's Systemic Functional Grammar approach Fairclough’s framework (2001) is chosen as the most suitable method for addressing the research questions Additionally, a comprehensive review of existing literature reveals a significant gap in the analysis of political speeches, particularly highlighting the lack of studies on Hillary Clinton's 2016 concession speech in Vietnam, despite the global interest in such political discourse.
POWER AND IDEOLOGIES IN HILLARY CLINTON’S
Friendliness
Friendliness is a key trait that encompasses concern for others, fostering cooperation, assistance, and trust This quality not only enhances interpersonal connections but also enriches the overall quality of our relationships.
The compelling part of this speech is that Hillary is being sufficiently cautious in putting herself in the low-light and all of her supporters in the highlight
In her opening remarks, she expressed heartfelt gratitude to the audience, thanking them ten times and referring to them as "my friends," which conveyed her deep connection and affection, stating, "I love you all."
She highly appreciated her supporters, showing her pride to be their representative
You represent the best of America, and being your candidate has been one of the greatest honors of my life (Line 13-14)
Friendliness involves being open and willing to connect with others, including those you may not know well, while embracing vulnerability and interdependence In her speech, Hillary emphasized the importance of assuming goodwill and reciprocity among people, highlighting her belief in the potential for mutual learning She showcased her influence by recalling the collaborative efforts made over a year and a half to unite millions across the nation in a shared voice.
After experiencing the notable setback of losing the US election to Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton emphasized the importance of resilience through gratitude She expressed heartfelt appreciation for her community, friends, and family, highlighting that a strong leader values every individual In her speech, Clinton acknowledged numerous supporters, including Tim Kaine, Barack and Michelle Obama, and her family, demonstrating her commitment to inclusivity She conveyed her care for people of all races, religions, genders, and backgrounds, reinforcing the notion that the United States is a multicultural society By recognizing the contributions of diverse individuals, Clinton showcased her dedication to all Americans.
Hillary further attempts to be “relatable” to her economically middle to low-class supporters when she thanked for even the smallest donations given to her campaign
- “To everyone who sent in contributions as small as $5 and kept us going” (line 77-78)
In her acceptance speech for the 'Champion for Girls' award from Girls Inc in 2018, she emphasized the importance of practicing gratitude, especially during challenging times She stated that while it's easy to feel grateful when things are going well, true resilience comes from maintaining a grateful mindset in the face of setbacks This discipline not only broadens one's perspective on life and community but also fosters the inner strength to persevere and continue striving despite difficulties.
Hillary effectively showcased her power and ideologies by using humor to convey friendliness, particularly by emphasizing her family's efforts This strategic approach resonated with the audience, resulting in genuine laughter and connection.
- You crisscrossed this country, even four-month-old Aidan, who traveled with his mom (Line 63-64)
Humor, which is believed to enforce positive validation, toning down the degree of formality, is also added when she addresses her supporters that secretly support her candidacy
We extend our gratitude to the countless volunteers, community leaders, activists, and union organizers who engaged with their neighbors, knocked on doors, and utilized social media platforms, including private Facebook groups, to spread their message and connect with the community.
Patriotism
Patriotism, often referred to as national pride, embodies the love, devotion, and deep attachment one feels towards their homeland In his pioneering philosophical exploration of this topic, Nathanson (1993, pp.34–35) articulates that patriotism encompasses a profound emotional connection to one's country.
- Special affection for one’s own country
- A sense of personal identification with the country
- Special concern for the well-being of the country
- Willingness to sacrifice to promote the country’s good
Hillary Clinton's speech prominently showcases the ideology of patriotism, as she positions herself as a representative of all citizens in her presidential campaign She effectively harnesses this power by frequently incorporating phrases like "our country," "the country we love," and "building an America," which emphasize unity and a shared national identity Her use of expressions such as "our nation" and "strength in our convictions and love for this nation" further reinforces her patriotic message.
- I congratulated Donald Trump and offer to work with him on behalf of our country (Line 6)
- To Barack and Michelle Obama, our country owes you an enormous debt of gratitude (Line 56,57)
Despite the deep divisions revealed in our nation, Hillary Clinton emphasized the importance of unity for all Americans following the election In the aftermath of a fierce campaign, she expressed her unwavering faith in America, urging her supporters to share in that belief Acknowledging the election results, she encouraged everyone to accept them and focus on the future.
In her 12-minute speech, Hillary emphasized the importance of solidarity among US citizens, urging them to take collective action for the nation's benefit Her passionate expression of patriotism highlighted her pride in being an American and underscored the need for unity in addressing national challenges.
- I count my blessings every single day that I am an American (Line 99)
We must ensure that our economy benefits all individuals, not just the wealthy elite, while also safeguarding our nation and the environment It is essential to dismantle the obstacles that prevent any American from realizing their aspirations.
- We believe that the American dream is big enough for everyone (Line 43-
- Our responsibility as citizens is to keep doing our part to build that better, stronger, fairer America we seek (Line 48-49)
- Finally, finally, I am so grateful for our country and for all it has given to me (Line 87-98)
Hillary Clinton, as a former presidential candidate, strategically positions herself as a patriot, highlighting her deep-rooted beliefs in the values of the nation Her sense of belonging to the country, along with her connection to its history and future, underscores her ideology of patriotism.
Inspiration ……………………… ………………………………… 3.5 Chapter summary ……………………… ………………………… 30 32
Although it’s tough for Hillary Clinton to admit failure after the 2016 presidential election, she gave an inspirational speech to people She successfully
The essence of striving for greatness, dedication, and unwavering belief is embodied in the journey of overcoming challenges Despite facing obstacles, she maintained her faith and resilience, consistently rising to meet her goals.
Following her confession about experiencing both successes and painful setbacks, she offered uplifting advice to inspire others It appears that these challenges act as a catalyst for her motivation, propelling her to progress instead of succumbing to despair.
- Many of you are at the beginning of your professional, public, and political careers — you will have successes and setbacks too (Line 82-83)
- I believe we are stronger together and we will go forward together (Line 104-105)
Let us maintain our faith in one another and not succumb to weariness or despair, as there are many more seasons ahead and important work still to accomplish.
Not only in this speech, Hillary Clinton depicted her power and ideologies by trying to make herself as a feminist icon, a role-model for woman not only in the
Hillary Clinton, despite losing the election, continues to inspire as a brave feminist leader who has paved the way for future generations Throughout her career, she has fought tirelessly for the rights of women and girls, playing a significant role in advancing the feminist movement In her recent speech, she motivated female listeners by emphasizing the importance of their contributions and the ongoing fight for equality.
To all the women, especially the young women who have supported this campaign, I want to express my deep pride in being your champion.
To all the young girls watching, always remember that you are valuable, powerful, and worthy of every opportunity to pursue and achieve your dreams.
It cannot be denied that Hilary Clinton has made the upcoming US presidential election an emotional one for women around the world She is a person who fully
Clinton has long been an inspiration for women, demonstrating that embracing one's female identity in today's world means stepping into the spotlight rather than hiding in the background.
The presence of a female presidential candidate profoundly influences young girls, shaping their worldview to be more optimistic and open-minded This representation inspires them to challenge societal norms and strive to "break the glass ceiling."
This study focuses on the ideologies and power dynamics present in Hillary Clinton's 2016 concession speech, analyzing the linguistic features she employed to convey her message The research seeks to answer the question of what ideologies and power are embedded in her speech following her presidential election defeat The analysis reveals four prominent ideologies that highlight her strength as a female politician: optimism, friendliness, patriotism, and inspiration.
REALIZATION OF POWER AND IDEOLOGIES IN
The framework of the Critical Discourse Analysis introduced by Fairclough
(2001) is used in this study Fairclough sees discourse as social practice and recommends analyzing it from the perspective of a close-knit relationship between texts, processes and their social conditions
With three dimensions (as mentioned in the previous chapter), Fairclough suggested a CDA procedure framework with three main stages: Description, Interpretation and Explanation
The experiential values of a text can be understood through its classification schemes, which categorize aspects of reality based on shared ideological characteristics These schemes reveal that the structure of vocabulary—encompassing synonyms, hyponyms, and antonyms—is fundamentally influenced by ideology (Fairclough, 2001, pp 96-97).
The ideological semantics influencing lexical choices reveal a strategic pattern, particularly evident in Hillary's speech, which prominently features positive lexical devices The following tables illustrate specific examples of both positive and negative words used in her discourse.
Line Lexical items Line Lexical items
Thank, thank you 54 hope and comfort
5 love, congratulated 57 enormous debt of gratitude
11 pride, gratitude, wonderful 65 creative, talented, dedicated
12 vast, diverse, creative, unruly, energized
49 better, stronger, fairer 104 stronger grateful 105 go forward
Table 1: Words with positive meaning in Hillary’s 2016 speech
While a lot of efforts are placed into creating her positive image and people involved, sometimes Hillary utilized words and phrases to imply negative meaning
Line Lexical items Line Lexical items
40 breaking down, barriers, hold…back
23 deeply divided 91 highest and hardest
Table 2: Words with negative meaning in Hillary’s 2016 speech
The analysis of the data reveals that positive lexical items significantly outnumber negative ones, with "thank you" appearing 16 times in Hillary's speech This frequency underscores her primary intention to express gratitude for the support received during her presidential campaign, reflecting her overall optimism Despite facing defeat, Hillary effectively utilized positive language to convey her appreciation for the campaign experience, while only minimally addressing her disappointment.
- But I feel pride and gratitude for this wonderful campaign (Line 11)
- Being your candidate has been one of the greatest honors of my life (Line
- I’m so grateful to stand with all of you (Line 51)
Hillary adopted many positive terms to praise those supporting her during the campaign, and to the girls who are listening to her speech
- I will always be grateful to the creative, talented, dedicated men and women at our headquarters in Brooklyn and across our country (Line 65)
- Never doubt that you are valuable and powerful (Line 95)
+ Rewording: Some words and expressions are repeated in the speech to emphasize Hillary Clinton’s ideologies
In her speech, the speaker frequently expressed her emotions and feelings following the election, highlighting her deep disappointment This approach not only showcased her empathy but also underscored her commitment to taking responsibility for the nation during challenging times.
- But I feel pride and gratitude for this wonderful campaign that we built together’ (line 11)
- ‘I know how disappointed I feel because I feel it too’ (Line 15)
Our constitutional democracy upholds the peaceful transfer of power, which we not only respect but cherish deeply It also embodies essential values such as the rule of law, equality in rights and dignity, as well as the freedom of worship and expression We must defend and uphold these fundamental principles that are integral to our society.
In her speech, Hillary emphasized the importance of "respect" and "cherish," urging her supporters to maintain a peaceful spirit during the presidential transition and to uphold constitutional values Despite the election results not meeting her expectations, she encouraged her followers to keep these two vital principles at the forefront of their minds.
This loss hurts, but please never stop believing that fighting for what is right is worth it It is, it is worth it ( Line 84-86 )
Hillary emphasized the phrase "worth it" to convey the challenges faced by her and her supporters during the campaign This statement not only reflects their struggles but also serves to inspire her audience to believe that their hard work and perseverance ultimately led to a meaningful outcome.
Over the past year and a half, we have united millions from across the nation to collectively affirm that the American dream is inclusive and accessible to all This vision embraces individuals of diverse races, religions, genders, immigrants, the LGBT community, and those with disabilities—ensuring that it truly encompasses everyone.
In this excerpt, Hillary emphasizes her point by repeating the phrase "for everyone," highlighting that the American dream is an opportunity accessible to all Americans.
Synonyms are words or phrases that have similar meanings, enhancing the richness and vibrancy of speech and writing By incorporating synonyms, writers can create more engaging and vivid imagery, preventing monotony and dullness in their text This practice not only improves communication but also captivates readers, making the content more interesting and dynamic.
Norman Fairclough (2001) emphasizes the rarity of absolute synonyms, highlighting that language often involves near synonymy In her speech, Hillary demonstrated this concept by substituting words with their synonyms on seven occasions, showcasing her flexibility in selecting lexical items.
For example: wonderful campaign (line 11)- vast, diverse, creative, unruly, energized campaign (line 12)
In life, we often face disappointing outcomes that can be painful and hurtful, yet it is essential to express gratitude for the blessings we have Thankfulness can transform our perspective, allowing us to look to the future with hope and keep advancing despite the barriers that may hold us back By adhering to our core values and principles, we can navigate through challenges and emerge stronger, ultimately fostering a sense of gratefulness for the journey we undertake.
Using antonyms helps to emphasize the speaker’s viewpoint, show contrast, or explain exactly what he/she means Similar to synonyms, antonyms add
"colors" to the speech or writing Hillary Clinton’s 2016 concession speech had two cases of antonyms to show her contrasting ideas not respect (line 31)- cherish (line 31) successes (line 81,83)- setbacks (line 81,83)
Fairclough (2001) highlights that relational value pertains to how the choice of words in a text influences and shapes social relationships among participants This aspect of language is significant, as it enables the speaker to establish a strong connection with the audience through their word selection.
The speech predominantly employs a formal mode of delivery, though it also incorporates subtle instances of informal language.
- I love you all too (Line 4)
Hillary also indicated intimacy with the audience by naming them as friends and calling for collaborative actions with them
Thank you, my friends (Line 3)
Let us maintain our faith in one another and stay resilient, as there are many more seasons ahead and important work still to be accomplished.
Harris (2013, p.33) states, “metaphorical language makes writing more vivid, imaginative, thought-provoking, and meaningful”
Now, I know we have still not shattered that highest and hardest glass ceiling, but someday someone will and hopefully sooner than we might think right now (Line 91)