Security Discourse within the Framework of the Munich Conference: Linguo-Comparative Aspect

Abstract

The article deals with a comparative linguistic analysis of the reports of Great Britain and USA leaders within the framework of the Munich Security conference and is aimed at distinguishing the role of language in shaping the speakers’ attitude towards the issues of global and national security. The research methodology is based on the critical, cognitive, comparative, descriptive and quantitative methods that has enabled us to single out the most efficient and reliable actual speech material that include personal pronouns, modal verbs, and emotive-evaluative vocabulary. It is proved that the country leaders make use of a certain set of linguistic tools and devices peculiar for their national identity and the policy of their country, which helps to deliver the thoughts, attitude, values and priorities of the speakers and model their political image and speech portrait. The authors come to the conclusion, that Biden’s speech was assertive and forward-looking, while Johnson’s rhetoric was more circumspect balancing criticism and optimistic perspective of Britain’s role on the international relations.