‘Now’: a marker to a different mental representation and proximization of threat

Abstract

Now performs an array of discursive functions in political discourse. This study examined now in a number of political speeches that have global themes. It employed speech act theory and proximization theory to understand such functions in context. The main argument is that now provides a transition point to the hearer’s cognitive space. This transition is essential to perform the speech act of acknowledging, thus changing the hearer’s mental representation prior to performing the act of directing. Now can also change the hearer’s mental representation by aligning analogous/incompatible or non-complementary propositions to increase his unexpectedness of their similarity/difference and therefore decrease his likelihood of non-compliance to an issued directive, soliciting of approval or legitimization of a policy. Now as a marker of text coherence can help plan the discourse moves from the distribution of roles according to the speaker’s deictic center, through proximization of threat, to reaching legitimization of policy or calling for immediate action.

Keywords:

• Pragmatic markers
• now
• speech act
• proximization
• political discourse
• legitimization

Notes

¹ This speech was given in the UN. Netanyahu in this speech talks about a number of topics like peace between the Palestinian Authority and Israel, Hamas, and Iran’s nuclear program. In this speech also he calls for more sanctions on Iran to force the country to stop its nuclear program.

² In this speech Obama calls on the world to give up differences and unite, to engage together on the bases of mutual respect and interest. He lists some of the achievements he has made being in office for nine months, such as the prohibition of torture, defeating Al-Qaeda, taking the necessary actions to end the war in Iraq, seeking a world without nuclear weapons, appointing an envoy to the Middle East to end conflicts there, and working with the G20 to end the world financial crisis. Obama calls for the world to eliminate old arguments, bridge old divides and come together to face the new challenges. The United Nations should have a role to play. Together, Obama contends, we should seek a world without nuclear weapons, end terrorism, seek a just and lasting peace between the Palestinians and the Israelis, eliminate poverty and help the world economy.

³ In this speech Obama gives an example about a new direction to peace since he took office. America’s military action in Iraq will be over. In Afghanistan, the government is taking responsibility and America is seeking a partnership with the Afghani people. The United States and other nations should move in the direction of peace, and this is through the United Nations, which has a responsibility to maintain world peace and security. Obama is giving examples about the role of the United Nations in Sudan, Côte D’Ivoire, Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya. The United Nations, however, has a role to play in the conflict in Syria, that is to stand by the Syrian people against oppression. Obama then moves to talk about the Palestinians’ right to a state of their own. He discusses the obstacles to peace in the Middle East. He calls for the United Nations to play a role to achieve peace and put an end to suffering. Then he moves to talk about a world without nuclear weapons. Iran’s nuclear program is one basic issue. Iran must give up its nuclear program; otherwise it should face more pressure and sanctions. He also discussed other issues such as the global crisis, poverty and WHO attempts to stop some global diseases.