Comprehensive Review of Hedging Strategies in Political Discourse among Arab Presidents

Wael Moniom Kadhim; Chetan Mewad

doi:10.47616/jamrsss.v5i2.534

Authors

Wael Moniom Kadhim Ph.D. Research Scholar, School of Languages, Department of Linguistics, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad, India
Chetan Mewad Head of Department of English HA college of commerce, GLS campus, Ellis bridge Ahmedabad, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47616/jamrsss.v5i2.534

Keywords:

Hedging Strategies, Political Discourse, Arab Presidents, Quantitative Analysis

Abstract

This paper focuses on the predictability feature of hedging and investigates hedging in the speeches of the Arab presidents to unravel the manner in which leaders work when uncertainty is present. In the quantitative analysis of the written texts, hedging is determined by means of modal verbs, adverbs of probability and expressions of ‘vagueness’. The level of scholar activity indicates that modal verbs are used more often, especially when discussing domestic policy, whereas adverbs of probability are called for within more economical scopes. Hedging policies’ differences across presidents and over time express the ability to respond to political and societal shifts, such as the Arab Spring. This means that audience had requestion for the clear but careful language and were less sympathetic to greater use of vague expressions. It advances knowledge on the use of language in political and persuasive communication, as well as on the use of hedging and its effects on the audience regarding policy issues.

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