A cross-linguistic study of new populist language

Abstract

Abstract This paper presents an analysis of the rhetorical strategies of some European and American politicians associated with the inherently ambiguous concept of populism. The theoretical framework adopted combines text linguistics and critical discourse analysis and has an interdisciplinary character. The data analysed demonstrate that populist rhetorical strategies do not differ markedly from those typically employed in political rhetoric. While each populist politician evokes a specific identity narrative to create common ground with the electorate, they all emphasise a profound dualism in society between “us and them” through metaphors, hyperboles, and personifications. This dichotomous view of society is sometimes exploited to send ambivalent messages of potential discrimination.

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