Features of Arabic and English Use of Self and Other-presentation in Political Discourse

Though significant developments have been achieved in political discourse research and studies recently, Arabic political discourse deserves more attention, at least due to the accelerated pace of political events in the Arab world in the last decade. For this reason, this paper investigates how political leaders in the Arab-Islamic-American Summit held in Riyadh in May 2017 use Self/Other-Presentation to send messages to their allies and opponents, in both Arabic and English. In this context, the paper analyzes selected self and other-presentation occurrences in the speeches of the Saudi king Salman bin Abdulaziz and the American president Donald Trump. The paper also aims at investigating the predominant devices used within self and other presentation model in both Arabic and English political discourse. Analysis of selected Arabic and English examples depends on an analysis scheme developed by the researchers based on CDA/PDA analysis tools. The paper discusses the tools both languages depend on while using self and other-presentation occurrences in political discourse.