Interpretation of Verbal and Non-Verbal Means of Multimodal Communication (Based on Speeches in the European Parliament)

Abstract

The purpose of the study is to determine the linguistic and cultural specifics of verbal and non-verbal means and mechanisms of multimodal communication functioning in the European Parliament speeches and to interpret them within the framework of political discourse. The material of the study was five videos with public speeches in English, posted on the websites of the European Parliament. These videos are complexly organized products of multimodal interaction between the addresser and the addressee, the specificity of multimodality here consists in the simultaneous use of different nature manifestations in the same audio-visual space from the standpoint of semiotics with the help of various sensory modalities. The article deals with verbal and non-verbal (visual and prosodic) means of manipulation in political discourse. Most often in these European public speeches, there are such verbal means of manipulation as repetitions, sabotage against logic (they are also false analogies), emotional cathexis, the enemy image; less commonly expressive strike, everyday story and reorientation of attention are used. Repetitions are most often directly or indirectly conveying an emotional assessment of language units. The reorientation of attention is used by attracting the attention of recipients by some bright or unusual facts. The active use of non-verbal means of psychological manipulation (intonation, gestures, facial expressions) indicates a manifestation of aggression rather than creating an impression of friendliness and cooperation. The general strategy of presenting information in these videos is characterized by attracting the recipient attention with capacious “bait” phrases that cause a direct emotional response.

Keywords

• semiotics
• multimodality
• political discourse
• interpretation of information
• verbal and non-verbal means of manipulation