Examining Rhetorical Strategies in Malay Political Discourse: A Study of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad's Speeches

Despite the central role of rhetoric in shaping political communication, scholarly attention to the systematic analysis of rhetorical strategies in Malay political discourse remains limited. This study examines the rhetorical strategies employed in the political speeches of Tun Dr. Mahathir Mohamad, one of Malaysia’s most influential Malay politicians. Adopting a modified version of Grimes’ (1975) discourse analysis model, the research conducts a systematic textual analysis of three selected speeches, comprising a total of 1,032 sentences. Both qualitative and quantitative methods are applied to identify and categorize rhetorical strategies. The analysis reveals the use of 13 primary rhetorical strategies and 37 sub-techniques, although not all can be directly associated with specific phrasal structures. The findings further indicate that the occurrence of certain rhetorical strategies correlates with speech topics. This study underscores the unique characteristics of rhetorical expression in Malay political discourse and offers significant pedagogical implications for Malay language instruction, particularly in the areas of rhetorical competence and curriculum development.

rhetorical strategies, political speeches

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