The semantic reactivity of red, blue, and purple: A linguistic analysis of post-election statements made by executive leadership of three public flagship universities

Abstract

Examining post-election statements made by UC System, UT-Austin, and UW-Madison executive leadership, this study employs word frequency, collocation, and a three-pronged latent semantic analysis to explicate the associative diction, major concepts, and institutional priorities expressed by said leadership to answer the research question, “What is the purpose and function of a post-election statement made by postsecondary executive leadership?” Results reveal that system-level leaders address broad coalitions, avoid action semantics, and reiterate system principles, whereas institution-level leaders perform reactive semantics while promising campus community action. Implications for campus community members, as well areas of future linguistic research, are addressed.

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