Political Tone

How Leaders Talk and Why

Nonfiction, Reference & Language, Language Arts, Public Speaking, Rhetoric, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science, Government
Cover of the book Political Tone by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind, University of Chicago Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind ISBN: 9780226023298
Publisher: University of Chicago Press Publication: May 14, 2013
Imprint: University of Chicago Press Language: English
Author: Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
ISBN: 9780226023298
Publisher: University of Chicago Press
Publication: May 14, 2013
Imprint: University of Chicago Press
Language: English

It’s not what you say, but how you say it. Solving problems with words is the essence of politics, and finding the right words for the moment can make or break a politician’s career. Yet very little has been said in political science about the elusive element of tone.

In Political Tone, Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, and Colene J. Lind analyze a range of texts—from speeches and debates to advertising and print and broadcast campaign coverage— using a sophisticated computer program, DICTION, that parses their content for semantic features like realism, commonality, and certainty, as well as references to religion, party, or patriotic terms. Beginning with a look at how societal forces like diversity and modernity manifest themselves as political tones in the contexts of particular leaders and events, the authors proceed to consider how individual leaders have used tone to convey their messages: How did Bill Clinton’s clever dexterity help him recover from the Monica Lewinsky scandal? How did Barack Obama draw on his experience as a talented community activist to overcome his inexperience as a national leader? And how does Sarah Palin’s wandering tone indicate that she trusts her listeners and is open to their ideas?

By focusing not on the substance of political arguments but on how they were phrased, Political Tone provides powerful and unexpected insights into American politics.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

It’s not what you say, but how you say it. Solving problems with words is the essence of politics, and finding the right words for the moment can make or break a politician’s career. Yet very little has been said in political science about the elusive element of tone.

In Political Tone, Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, and Colene J. Lind analyze a range of texts—from speeches and debates to advertising and print and broadcast campaign coverage— using a sophisticated computer program, DICTION, that parses their content for semantic features like realism, commonality, and certainty, as well as references to religion, party, or patriotic terms. Beginning with a look at how societal forces like diversity and modernity manifest themselves as political tones in the contexts of particular leaders and events, the authors proceed to consider how individual leaders have used tone to convey their messages: How did Bill Clinton’s clever dexterity help him recover from the Monica Lewinsky scandal? How did Barack Obama draw on his experience as a talented community activist to overcome his inexperience as a national leader? And how does Sarah Palin’s wandering tone indicate that she trusts her listeners and is open to their ideas?

By focusing not on the substance of political arguments but on how they were phrased, Political Tone provides powerful and unexpected insights into American politics.

More books from University of Chicago Press

Cover of the book The Fisher King by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
Cover of the book The Fate of the Forest by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
Cover of the book The Babylonian Genesis by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
Cover of the book Thinking in Jazz by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
Cover of the book Patent Politics by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
Cover of the book Blackface Nation by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
Cover of the book Smut by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
Cover of the book D-Day Through French Eyes by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
Cover of the book Hélio Oiticica by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
Cover of the book The Water Kingdom by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
Cover of the book Of Beards and Men by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
Cover of the book Cancer on Trial by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
Cover of the book Emancipation of the Polish Peasantry by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
Cover of the book What Every Novelist Needs to Know about Narrators by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
Cover of the book What Do Pictures Want? by Roderick P. Hart, Jay P. Childers, Colene J. Lind
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy