A semantic-pragmatic approach to president Maia Sandu’s speech in the context of the Republic of Moldova’s accession to the European Union

The article explores the semantic-pragmatic approach to President Maia Sandu’s discourse within the context of Moldova’s aspiration to join the European Union. President Sandu, addressing the Parliament, strategically utilizes linguistic phenomena to convey a compelling vision for Moldova’s future integration into the EU by 2030. The discourse critically evaluates past political choices, dismissing options like the Commonwealth of Independent States and Customs Union as unsuccessful paths. The President uses negative forms and expressions to distance Moldova from previous political deceit and corruption, emphasizing the need for a new direction. The semantic elements in the discourse reveal a clear commitment to European integration, citing support from EU member states as a crucial factor. Pragmatic strategies, such as modality and rhetorical questions, have been used to emphasize the urgency and necessity of the chosen path. The discourse encourages political unity, urging support for EU accession over narrow interests. The analysis examines how semantics and pragmatics are strategically blended to construct a persuasive narrative that advocates for a European future for Moldova, fostering unity and dissociating from a troubled past. This study provides insights into the linguistic means used in President Maia Sandu’s discourse, illustrating the effectiveness of a semantic-pragmatic approach in building a positive perspective on Moldova’s accession to the European Union