Critical discourse analysis and India occupied Kashmir issue

Analysis of tweets of premiers of Pakistan and India (2019)

Abstract

Language is a powerful medium of communication which is significantly used by political leaders to govern over the people. Political leaders use language as an instrument to gain dominance and power by influencing political, economic, social and cultural practices. The aim of this research was to explore and identify rhetorical devices in social media political discourse. The qualitative methodology was adopted to identify rhetorical devices in the tweets of Prime Minister Imran Khan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Rhetorical devices are mainly used in political discourse. Political actors employ various rhetorical devices to persuade the public for particular political objectives. Fifteen tweets of both each Prime Minister were analyzed that were related to Indian Occupied Kashmir (2019). The data was in the form of tweets that were taken from verified accounts of both the Prime Ministers. The study examined social media political discourse by applying Paul Gee Model of Seven Building Tasks of Language. The rhetorical devices were identified through this model of critical discourse analysis. The study revealed that which rhetorical devices were used by both the Prime Ministers to discuss the Kashmir issue on social media platform. It revealed that how Prime Minister Imran Khan raised voice against the Indian violence in Kashmir and for the freedom of Kashmiri Muslims and how Indian Prime Ministers used rhetorical devices to glorify the annexation of Kashmir with India. The research found that some rhetorical devices were significantly used by both the Prime Ministers such as amplification, repetition, allusion, patho and logo. The study explored that Prime Minister Imran Khan used rhetorical devices to highlight the Kashmir issue at international level and to raise voice for the freedom of Kashmir from Indian annexation, whereas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized on making friendly relations with Kashmir and their collective socio-economic development.