Sensationalism in argumentation: A case of the Zimbabwean parliament debates
Parliamentary debates are an argumentative interaction in which Members of Parliament (MPs) employ varied language devices in order to win debates in their favour. However, in an effort to win the debate at all costs, some parliamentarians seem to sensationalise their arguments in order to win favou...
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Department of General Linguistics, Stellenbosch University
2021
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| Online Access: | http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/spilplus/v58/16.pdf http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4409 |
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| author | Jakaza, Ernest |
| author_facet | Jakaza, Ernest |
| author_sort | Jakaza, Ernest |
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| description | Parliamentary debates are an argumentative interaction in which Members of Parliament (MPs) employ varied language devices in order to win debates in their favour. However, in an effort to win the debate at all costs, some parliamentarians seem to sensationalise their arguments in order to win favour or support from both internal and external audiences - the rationale judge. Sensationalism in argumentation is a presentation of an argument in a specific way in order to appeal to the hearer or the other participant’s emotions or feelings. This article
examines the role of sensationalism in argumentation, drawing its examples from the Zimbabwean parliamentary debates. The study is qualitative in nature, utilising a case study research design. It is couched in the Extended Pragma-Dialectic Theory of Argumentation.
Debates from the Zimbabwean parliament are purposively sampled and the analysis is based on the argumentation theoretical framework. The article concludes that the main function of sensationalist language in parliamentary argumentation is rhetorical rather than dialectic. Arguers utilise sensationalist language to convince and win the debate in their favour. The use of sensationalism as an argumentative move is misused or abused, as it is a fallacious move. |
| format | Article |
| id | ir-11408-4409 |
| institution | My University |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2021 |
| publisher | Department of General Linguistics, Stellenbosch University |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ir-11408-44092022-06-27T13:49:06Z Sensationalism in argumentation: A case of the Zimbabwean parliament debates Jakaza, Ernest Sensationalism emotion argumentation parliamentary discourse Zimbabwe Parliamentary debates are an argumentative interaction in which Members of Parliament (MPs) employ varied language devices in order to win debates in their favour. However, in an effort to win the debate at all costs, some parliamentarians seem to sensationalise their arguments in order to win favour or support from both internal and external audiences - the rationale judge. Sensationalism in argumentation is a presentation of an argument in a specific way in order to appeal to the hearer or the other participant’s emotions or feelings. This article examines the role of sensationalism in argumentation, drawing its examples from the Zimbabwean parliamentary debates. The study is qualitative in nature, utilising a case study research design. It is couched in the Extended Pragma-Dialectic Theory of Argumentation. Debates from the Zimbabwean parliament are purposively sampled and the analysis is based on the argumentation theoretical framework. The article concludes that the main function of sensationalist language in parliamentary argumentation is rhetorical rather than dialectic. Arguers utilise sensationalist language to convince and win the debate in their favour. The use of sensationalism as an argumentative move is misused or abused, as it is a fallacious move. 2021-06-08T12:01:48Z 2021-06-08T12:01:48Z 2019 Article 2224-3380 http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/spilplus/v58/16.pdf http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4409 en Stellenbosch Papers in Linguistics Plus;Vol.58 ; p. 293-305 open Department of General Linguistics, Stellenbosch University |
| spellingShingle | Sensationalism emotion argumentation parliamentary discourse Zimbabwe Jakaza, Ernest Sensationalism in argumentation: A case of the Zimbabwean parliament debates |
| title | Sensationalism in argumentation: A case of the Zimbabwean parliament debates |
| title_full | Sensationalism in argumentation: A case of the Zimbabwean parliament debates |
| title_fullStr | Sensationalism in argumentation: A case of the Zimbabwean parliament debates |
| title_full_unstemmed | Sensationalism in argumentation: A case of the Zimbabwean parliament debates |
| title_short | Sensationalism in argumentation: A case of the Zimbabwean parliament debates |
| title_sort | sensationalism in argumentation: a case of the zimbabwean parliament debates |
| topic | Sensationalism emotion argumentation parliamentary discourse Zimbabwe |
| url | http://www.scielo.org.za/pdf/spilplus/v58/16.pdf http://hdl.handle.net/11408/4409 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT jakazaernest sensationalisminargumentationacaseofthezimbabweanparliamentdebates |