IDEOLOGICAL NARRATIVE IN MODERN AMERICAN POLITICAL DISCOURSE

Abstract

The discourse of American politicians like any other political figures prominently features a narrative – a system of interconnected stories that transition from one into another from speech to speech. The ideological narrative in political discourse plays an important part in myth creation in supporting the concept of Exceptional America. The potential of linguistic means, specifically, metaphors, in the narrative is typically used to achieve the main communicative goal – for example, the protection of traditional values, America's right for exceptionalism and promotion of the national interests. Context analysis of the usage of these metaphors shows that the speaker models politics as a means of protecting valuable concepts (freedom, peace, leadership, democracy, security, health, dream) which feeds into a myth in the public consciousness, be it the American dream, American exceptionalism, American freedoms or something else. In these contexts, metaphors are usually aimed at influence rather than modeling the political system. The metaphors capture the audience, show the speaker's solidarity with the public and prompt the people to engage in a dialogue with the authorities, hold those in power accountable, not be afraid, feel the unity and historical continuity of the common cause and build the future together. The conceptual metaphor is an efficient narrative technique and way to transition from language to consciousness. The modeling of the state's actions aimed at protecting the basic values of the American society activates in the addressee's consciousness a metaphorical model that contributes to a more figurative and accessible interpretation of reality. The article deals with the features of metaphor functioning in the modern ideological narrative of the United States of America, expounds the role of the metaphors in the implementation of the global communicative strategy "Us and Them" and the ensuing tactical moves.