THE POWER OF QUESTIONING: RHETORICAL QUESTIONS AS A PERSUASIVE STRATEGY IN UZBEK AND ENGLISH POLITICAL DISCOURSE

Rhetorical questions are a powerful tool in political speeches, influencing public opinion and reinforcing ideological messages. This study compares their use in English and Uzbek political discourse, highlighting their role in persuasion, audience engagement, and discourse coherence. By analyzing a selection of political speeches, the research identifies key pragmatic functions of rhetorical questions and examines how linguistic and cultural factors shape their effectiveness. The findings reveal that while rhetorical questions serve similar persuasive purposes across both languages, their frequency, structure, and impact vary depending on cultural and rhetorical traditions. The study contributes to a fundamental analysis of political rhetoric and provides insights into how rhetorical questions shape discourse strategies in different linguistic contexts.