A Critical Discourse Analysis of Mann and Thomson's Theory of Rhetorical Devices in Indonesian Presidential Speeches

Abstract

This research applied Mann and Thomson's (2005) theory of rhetorical devices by using a qualitative method to explain the use of rhetorical devices in Indonesian presidential speeches. To collect the data, documentation, libraries, and note-taking techniques were used. Meanwhile, the data for this research is the speeches of President Megawati, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and Joko Widodo obtained from the Archive and Press Bureau, the media, and information from the Ministry of State Secretariat of the Republic of Indonesia, National TVRI Central Jakarta, and https://www.youtube.com. In this research, the data analysis method links micro, mediated, and macro aspects in three dimensions: (1) text, (2) discourse practice, and (3) social practice culture. The findings show that Presidents Megawati Soekarno Putri, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, and Joko Widodo all used metaphors, the rule of three, euphemisms, and pronouns in delivering their speeches. The presidents use metaphors more than any other type of rhetorical device to show and explain the main point of their speeches. Furthermore, the researcher discovered the theme of the speeches, in which President Megawati Soekarno Putri's topic was "terrorism," by implementing the use of euphemism. By using the rule of three, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono's topic is "democracy." And last, President Joko Widodo is using a metaphor to talk about "budgeting."