IMPLICATURE AND INDIRECT COMMUNICATION IN CONTEMPORARY POLITICAL MESSAGING

Abstract

This article delves into the dynamics of political communication, specifically scrutinizing the utilization of implicature and indirect communication by politicians as strategic instruments to influence public perception and shape policy trajectories. It examines how politicians adeptly employ linguistic tools to convey layered messages, navigating the complexities of public discourse while circumventing direct accountability. Drawing upon the theoretical frameworks established by H.P. Grice and J.L. Austin, this study illuminates the multifaceted nature of language manipulation in political discourse, highlighting its ramifications for democratic participation and civic discourse. It emphasizes the imperative nature of fostering critical media literacy among citizens to decipher the intricacies inherent in indirect communication, thereby elucidating the fluid interplay between language mechanisms and political landscapes in contemporary society.