Analysing Political Discourse

Theory and Practice

Paul Chilton

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English

Routledge
30 July 2025

Language: history & general works; Sociolinguistics; Semantics; Communication studies; Political science & theory

In today’s world, analysing political language is more important than ever. This revised edition, while retaining the historically significant case studies, adds new analyses that reflect the 2010s and 2020s. It retains the original analytical tools, including the discourse space model, and in a fresh chapter advocates development of tools from neuroscience.

The book begins by exploring some fundamental questions concerning the relationship between language and politics, putting forward the idea that society, language and politics are closely intertwined. There cannot be any politics, as we know it, without language. The following chapters focus on key aspects of language in relation to political institutions, practices and ideologies: the interaction between speakers and hearers, the projection of different world-views, and the arousal of political emotions. The final chapters are devoted to historical examples of perennial political issues: racism, international conflict and the role of religion.

Written in a lively and engaging style with summaries and further reading to aid learning, this book provides an essential introduction to political discourse analysis for students of language, communication, politics sociology, international relations and applied linguistics.

By: Paul Chilton
Imprint: Routledge
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Edition: 2nd edition
Dimensions: Height: 234mm, Width: 156mm,
ISBN: 9781032525204
ISBN 10: 1032525207
Pages: 246
Publication Date: 30 July 2025
Audience: College/higher education , Primary
Format: Hardback
Publisher's Status: Forthcoming

List of Figures; List of Tables; Foreword to the Second Edition; Preface; Acknowledgements; Part I: Political animals as articulate mammals; 1. Politics and language; 2. Language and politics; 3. Interaction; 4. Representation; 5. Emotion; Part II: The domestic arena; 6. Political interviews; 7. Parliamentary language; 8. Foreigners: ethnocentrism and racism; Part III: The global arena; 9. Distant places;10. Worlds apart; 11. The role of religion; Part IV: Concluding thoughts;12. Language and politics in the contemporary world; Appendix; Bibliography; Name Index; Subject Index

Paul Chilton is Emeritus Professor of Linguistics at Lancaster University, Associate Member of the Linguistics Faculty, University of Oxford and Associate Fellow at the University of Warwick. His publications include Language, Space and Mind (2014), Religion, Language and the Human Mind (co-ed. 2018) and Brexitspeak: Demagoguery and the Decline of Democracy (2024).