Uncovering Ideology in Inaugural Speeches of Trump and Biden by Doing a Transitivity Analysis of Material Processes
Uncovering Ideology in Inaugural Speeches of Trump and Biden by Doing a Transitivity Analysis of Material Processes

Summary/Abstract: In this paper we will analyse the inaugural speeches of the two latest presidents of the United States of America, Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The analysis will be based upon the Critical Discourse Analysis model of Norman Fairclough, whereas the methodology used to conduct the research will be based on Systemic Functional Linguistics. We will focus on the material processes because it is through them that concrete action is ex-pressed. This is particularly relevant in inaugural speeches as newly-elected presidents see them as a perfect podium to present what they and their administration plan to do over the course of a four-year mandate. For the sake of the research, we formulated one research question and two hypotheses in order to highlight the ideological differences between the two presidents. In the paper we have answered the research question by establishing that we is the most common Actor of material processes. Also, we have proven the two hypotheses proposed. Namely, the difference in policy and ideology of Trump and Biden has been confirmed by an analysis of Goal in material processes, while the us vs. them dichotomy in Trump’s speech has also been proven. We have concluded that these linguistic differences of the two speeches point to a stark difference in ideology of Trump and Biden.

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