Ironie in den politischen Wahlreden als Strategie im Kampf um Wähler

Abstract

The language of populists uses arguments of strong power of persuasion resulting not from their rationality but from, first of all, the degree of emotions present in the transmission. Populism assumes promoting political ideas consistent with expectations of majority of the public in order to achieve their support, influence them, or to gain power. As the parliament election results show, the number of right-winged parties including right-wing populists in Europe has been rising recently. The common constituent in their narration of the world is the language which is strictly connected with promoting a specific system of values. The article is devoted to irony in political communication. The aim of irony as a tool of political humour is negative valuation, building one’s own image (of a politician, political party, electoral programme) through discrediting of a political opponent. Ironic expressions used by right-wing populists in their political speeches during their meetings with voters are the subject of the analysis of this article. Populism assumes promoting political ideas consistent with expectations of majority of the public in order to achieve their support, influence them or to gain power.

Keywords

• political humour
• irony in the language of politicians
• language of right-wing populists