A Critical Pragmatic Study of Ageism in American Political Context

Ageism has increasingly emerged i n contempora ry American political discourse as a focal point of critique, particularly in the context of prominent political figures such as President Joe Biden. Ageism, or age based discrimination, reflects societal attitu des and biases against individuals based on their age, often manifesting in subtle and overt forms within various social and poli tical settings. The critical pragmatic approach provides a valuable lens through which these manifestations of ageism can be ex amined, particularly in how language and discourse shape and reflect underlying ideologies. Critical pragmatics, as a field of study, emphasizes the examination of language use within its social context, focusing on h ow language practices reveal and perpetuate power dynamics and social inequalities (Verschueren, 1999: 870). This approach scrutinizes how linguistic strategies such as impoliteness, speech acts, and reference function to convey and reinforce ideological positions and fixed stereotypes . I n the political arena, where language is a tool for asserting authority and shaping public perception, understanding these dynamics is crucial for unpacking how ageism operates in political discourse.