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Book: Silence and Concealment in Political Discourse

Jun 20

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Title: Silence and Concealment in Political Discourse
Series Title: Discourse Approaches to Politics, Society and Culture 48

Publication Year: 2013
Publisher: John Benjamins
http://www.benjamins.com/

Book URL: http://benjamins.com/catalog/dapsac.48

Author: Melani Schröter

Electronic: ISBN: 9789027272102 Pages: Price: U.S. $ 135.00
Electronic: ISBN: 9789027272102 Pages: Price: Europe EURO 90.00
Electronic: ISBN: 9789027272102 Pages: Price: U.K. £ 76.00
Hardback: ISBN: 9789027206398 Pages: Price: Europe EURO 95.40
Hardback: ISBN: 9789027206398 Pages: Price: U.K. £ 76.00
Hardback: ISBN: 9789027206398 Pages: Price: U.S. $ 135.00

Abstract:

This book constitutes a significant contribution to political discourse analysis and to the study of silence, both from the point of view of discourse analysis as well as pragmatics, and it is also relevant for those interested in politics and
media studies. It promotes the empirical study of silence by analysing metadiscourse about politicians’ silence and by systematically conceptualising the communicativeness of silence in the interplay between intention (to be silent), expectation (of speech) and relevance (of the unsaid). Three cases of sustained metadiscourse about silent politicians from Germany are analysed to exemplify this approach, based on media texts and protocols of parliamentary inquiries. Ideals of political transparency and communicative openness are identified as a basis for (disappointed) expectations of speech which trigger and determine metadiscourse about politicians’ silences. Finally, the book deals
critically with the role of those who act as advocates of ‘the public’s’ demand to speak out.