Legitimation and multimodality

Abstract

This chapter shows how legitimation may be realised multimodally and outlines an approach to analysing it. It is based on an earlier framework for analysing linguistic realisations of legitimation, and discusses three types of legitimation, which can of course occur in various combinations. The types includes: authority legitimation based on the authority of people who can exercise power, or of documents that bestow that power; moral evaluation legitimation, legitimation based on moral values; rationalisation legitimation, legitimation based on theories of reality. Three types of moral evaluation can be discerned: 'evaluation', 'analogy' and 'abstraction'. In studying legitimation, attention must therefore be paid, not only to language, but also to the other forms of expression that combine with language in many forms of contemporary political discourse, in short, to multimodality. The chapter distinguishes two main types of rationalisation. Instrumental rationality legitimates practices by reference to their goals and effects. Theoretical rationality legitimates practices by reference to a theory of 'how things are'.

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