Positive discourse and national unity in Jordan: A contextual pragmatic analysis of King Abdullah II’s address to the eighteenth parliament
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol11iss1pp315-329Abstract
Background and Purpose: This paper introduces a detailed linguistic and discursive analysis of a presidential speech by His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan to explore the linguistic role of presidential speeches as a resource for building a sense of unity and nationalism and to represent a positive presidential style. Under the theoretical background of Positive Discourse Analysis (PDA), this contribution aims to position the linguistic study of presidential speeches at the point where the study of political leadership meets linguistic and discursive analysis to explore the positive linguistic and discursive representation of the moral foundations of identity at the level of the nation state of Jordan.
Methodology: This study uses a qualitative method of interpretive analysis that employs PDA to analyze a speech by His Majesty at the opening of the Eighteenth Parliament. This method uses the three evaluative criteria of attitude, engagement, and graduation to analyze the text to monitor the construction of moral alignment and inclusive nationalism. This study collected information from an official version of the speech presented by the Royal Hashemite Court and was informed by literature concerning the discourse of a monarch and political communication issues for the Middle East.
Findings: The findings indicate that the rhetoric uses positive evaluative vocabulary to convey a moral and emotional perception of the nation. Through the utilization of inclusive pronouns and positive moral appeals, the King portrays a moral nationalist project of cooperation and hope. Not only does this analysis indicate that the words and impact of hope are morally persuasive for a moral nationalist project of cooperation, but also that the King’s words serve to morally transform the meaning of history while being morally linked to Palestine to create a moral nationalist perception of hope for a united future.
Contributions: This research contributes to knowledge about political communication in Jordan by demonstrating the performance of unity and moral authority instead of dominance by means of language. This context widens the theory of PDA for the examination of speeches by a monarch to demonstrate that the discourse of value and affiliation supports emotional legitimacy for a constitutional monarchy. This analysis contributes to further discussions related to leadership public rhetoric by explaining the relationship between linguistic positivity and civic/national belonging.
Keywords: Royal speech, King Abdullah II, Jordan, Positive Discourse Analysis (PDA), linguistic analysis, Palestinian cause, nationalism.
Cite as: Abu Freiha, E., & Al-Qaralleh, S. H. (2026). Positive discourse and national unity in Jordan: A contextual pragmatic analysis of King Abdullah II’s address to the eighteenth parliament. Journal of Nusantara Studies, 11(1), 315-329. http://dx.doi.org/10.24200/jonus.vol11iss1pp315-329
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