Language and Dialogue - Volume 15, Issue 2, 2025

Abstract

This paper utilizes the concept of debasement to examine politicians’ rhetoric in Japan. It focuses on 3,233 questions posed by opposition party members to Cabinet ministers during the 2023 meetings of the Budget Committee in both houses of the National Diet. The analysis identifies debasement comments, examining the linkage between the use of such language and a list of socio-political variables, including ideological orientation, differences in electoral systems, and previous career occupation. From a cross-cultural perspective, abusive rhetoric in Japan might not seem to be an extreme phenomenon, but because of cultural factors even the use of “mild” invective language indicates a clear intention of politicians to debase the reputation of their counterparts in the parliament.

Abstract

The current study compares the realization of the speech acts of complaints and responding to complaints by Arabs versus Westerners in the X accounts of British Airways versus Saudi Airlines. We compiled 400 posts from the X accounts of the two airlines and coded them for complaint and complaint-response strategies as well as external and internal modifiers. The results of the Chi-square tests show that the Western customers of the British Airways used significantly more disapproval and accusation strategies than the Arab customers of the Saudi Airlines while the latter customers showed a stronger preference to employ the blame strategy in addition to directive acts. As for the responses to complaints, the representatives of the British Airways showed a stronger tendency to accept complaints through offering repairs, admitting responsibility, and excusing oneself whereas the representatives of the Saudi Airlines preferred to employ partial-acceptance strategies. The results are interpreted in light of the existing literature and the Mixed Games Model.

Abstract

This study examines intercultural pragmatic competence in the way advanced Turkish learners of English realize the act of apologizing in English. The data were obtained from six dialogic scenarios of apologies that the students acted out in class. The main objective was to explore the role of gender and directness in the use of apology strategies (AS) in English as a foreign language (EFL) within the framework of the Mixed Game Model. In this dialogic model, the situation-based act-outs were video-recorded, transcribed, and coded either as direct or indirect AS use. The use of illocutionary force indicating devices as a direct AS and assuming responsibility and offering repair as indirect AS use stood out for both groups. Males were more indirect in their AS than females. The paper concludes that directness, rather than gender, is a key predictor in realizing apologies in a second language.

Abstract

The paper investigates how companies in the transport industry communicate their sustainability policies and practices in corporate social responsibility (CSR) reports. Through a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches, the reports of British and American railway companies will be examined to identify the range of concessive markers used and their role in the generic structure of the report. Concessive constructions balance positive and negative aspects in presenting the general strategies of the company, reporting its sustainability performance and assessing its performance. By apparently opening up to alternative, conflicting or even negative aspects, concessives pre-empt or offset criticism, thereby legitimizing corporate activities and creating an image of transparency and trustworthiness, key elements for the reputation and success of a company.

Abstract

In recent years, the aviation industry has transformed its approach to carbon emissions disclosures due to public scrutiny and regulatory pressures. This study analyzes letters from CEOs of selected airlines in 2019 and 2021, employing appraisal theory to explore shifts in messaging strategies. The analysis reveals that while 2019 communications emphasized economic considerations, by 2021, a more ethical approach emerged, with increased use of terms like “sustainability”, “concern”, and “regulation”. This shift reflects a growing awareness of moral responsibility regarding environmental impact. However, the focus on ethical language raises questions about clarity and accessibility for stakeholders. Organizations must prioritize transparent, relevant communication to build trust, as vague language can foster skepticism about corporate commitments, highlighting the need for balanced, objective reporting in sustainability efforts.

This article reviews The Future of Language: How Technology, Politics and Utopianism are Transforming the Way We Communicate978-1-3502-7886-8

This article reviews Japanese Politicians’ Rhetorical and Indirect Speech: Verbal and Nonverbal Communication Usage978-981-99-4295-4.