UNMASKING POWER IN LANGUAGE: A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF POLITICAL SPEECHES AND MEDIA DISCOURSE

Abstract

This study examines the relationship between language, power, and ideology through Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), applying Fairclough’s three-dimensional framework to Donald Trump’s 2017 Inaugural Address and selected political news headlines from BBC and CNN. The analysis investigates how linguistic features, discursive practices, and social contexts interact to construct and reproduce power relations. Textual analysis identifies lexical choices, grammatical patterns, metaphors, and nominalization that embed ideological meaning. Discursive practice explores the production, distribution, and interpretation of texts, while social practice situates discourse within broader societal structures. Findings reveal that both political speeches and media discourse strategically frame social reality, legitimize authority, and influence public perception. This study underscores the critical role of language in shaping power dynamics and highlights the importance of examining discourse to understand contemporary political and media contexts.