COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF METHODS USED FOR COMMUNICATIVE INFLUENCE ON THE AUDIENCE BY THE ADDRESSER AND THE ADDRESSER-RETRANSMITTER IN THE AMERICAN POLITICAL DISCOURSE

The paper deals with the comparative analysis in use of methods for communicative influence on the audience by the addresser and the addresser-retransmitter in the American political discourse. Particular attention is paid to the impact of some given status-role restrictions imposed on the speech, produced by the addresser-retransmitter. The circle of the political discourse participants is outlined. Most of the relevant studies highlight the speech research of those participants of the political discourse who can be viewed as the representatives of the upper echelons of the power hierarchy. At the same time, the examined genres of discourse often do not provide for instant feedback since they are essentially the utterance of prepared speeches. A political institute is a hierarchical entity; therefore, the representatives of different levels can take part in the political communication. In this regard, we consider it appropriate to shift the focus to the speech of the speakers who deliver an institutional message from the perspective of their status-role frameworks and subordinate position. In order to study the peculiarities of the status-role parameters of the addresser-retransmitter in the situation of communication at a press briefing, there were chosen the speakers that most likely emphasize the characteristics of the given types of addressers. The speakers are President of the USA and White House press secretary. Analysis of pragmatic aspects of the press conferences of the selected presidents and press briefings of the selected press secretaries allowed to identify the main communication strategies, implementation of which is directed by the speakers in a given communicative situation. Taking into account extralinguistic factors, a basic set of communicative tactics allowing the implementation of the mentioned strategies has been identified. It is shown that the use of the specific communicative tactics by the addresser-retransmitter is primarily due to the institutional pressure and the situation flow.