THE DISCURSIVE FRAMING OF NATIONAL IDENTITY: A COMPARATIVE CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF THE ELECTION VICTORY SPEECHES OF IMRAN KHAN AND NAWAZ SHARIF

Abstract

The speeches of political victors are the most important moments to provide the leaders with an opportunity to construct national identity and show ideological vision. The dissimilarity between the political styles of Imran Khan and Nawaz Sharif is a valuable location in Pakistan to study the discursive constructions. In this study, the author examines the linguistic and ideological techniques used by the two leaders to make national identity when they delivered their victory win speeches. Based on the qualitative design and utilizing the Critical Discourse Analysis, the study explores the textual, interpersonal, and contextual characteristics of both speeches. The review uses Fairclough model and thematic coding to determine the key tendencies. Results indicate that Khan builds national identity based on moral reform and empowerment of people whereas Sharif bases it on the development, stability and continuity of institutions. The study concludes that the two leaders appeal to the one nation but the discursive approach they both assume is different in terms of ideological orientations along which narratives of national identities are constructed.