"Let's make America great again": Political Discourse Analysis of Ronald Reagan's addresses to the American people.

Abstract

This dissertation conducts a linguistic analysis of Ronald Reagan's rhetoric, uncovering how his strategic use of language influenced public perception and broader discourse. Utilizing methodologies from Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and the French School of Discourse Analysis, it examines Reagan's adeptness at connecting with the American public, underscored by his optimism, narrative storytelling, and invocation of American values. The study meticulously analyzes Reagan's lexical choices and rhetorical devices to demonstrate their effectiveness in enhancing the persuasiveness of his communication, thus illustrating the profound role of language in shaping public narratives and identities. Moreover, the research delves into the implications of Reagan’s rhetoric for theories in linguistics and communication, highlighting the indispensable role of articulate language use in public discourse. It outlines potential directions for future research, suggesting a deeper dive into comparative linguistic analyses to broaden the understanding of discourse dynamics across various contexts. By offering a comprehensive examination of Reagan's rhetorical techniques and their impact on society, this dissertation contributes valuable perspectives to the fields of discourse analysis and communication studies, shedding light on the intricate relationship between effective language use and public engagement.