Exploring Strategic Evasion and Rhetorical Maneuvers in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Debates: A Pragma-Discoursal Analysis

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dc.contributor.authorHadj Guesmi Melissa
dc.contributor.authorIbari Sarah
dc.date.accessioned2026-02-16T09:24:11Z
dc.date.available2026-02-16T09:24:11Z
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description62p. ; (+CD-Rom)
dc.description.abstractThe present study is a pragmatic analysis of the final 2024 U.S. presidential debate between Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. The main objectives of this research are twofold: first, to explore how the candidates employ strategic evasions by deliberately violating Grice‟s maxims to generate implicatures; and second, to examine the rhetorical strategies used to persuade voters, reinforce political ideologies, and influence public perception. The analysis applies three theoretical frameworks: Grice‟s Cooperative Principle (1975), Aristotle‟s persuasive appeals (ethos, pathos, logos), and Clayman and Bull‟s (2006) typology of evasive responses. Following a qualitative, corpus-based design, the study draws on directed content analysis to interpret how candidates use language strategically. The findings show that both Trump and Harris used various evasion strategies, such as shifting topics, refusing to answer, and attacking the question, while also relying on rhetorical tools like emotional storytelling, expert opinion, and repetition. These linguistic choices helped them manage sensitive topics, protect their image, and shape how voters perceived their competence. By uncovering the hidden techniques behind political speech, this study aims to raise awareness and promote critical thinking about how language is used to influence audiences in high-stakes political settings.
dc.identifier.citationLanguage and communication
dc.identifier.urihttps://dspace.ummto.dz/handle/ummto/29739
dc.language.isoen
dc.publisherUniversité Mouloud Mammeri Tizi Ouzou
dc.subjectPragmatics
dc.subjectstrategic evasion
dc.subjectrhetorical appeals
dc.subjectpresidential debate
dc.titleExploring Strategic Evasion and Rhetorical Maneuvers in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Debates: A Pragma-Discoursal Analysis
dc.typeThesis

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