Committed to PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO KNOW
Vol. 5 Num 572 Wed. January 04, 2006  
   
Letters to Editor


Politicians and the tools of their trade


Each professional group has its own tools physicians have medical equipment, carpenters woodworking instruments and so on. In the same way politicians have their own tools speeches.

One thing is common among all the categories of professionals, and that is they use these tools to improve their professional skills and acumen. In doing so they have to provide services to people in return for some gains. But the politicians' gains, unlike those of other professionals, are primarily support in the form of votes, which they need from the people for their personal aggrandizement. And to persuade, often force, the people to give their support to the politicians, the latter have to use their tools, a gift for gab, in such a way as their goal is achieved. Think of the content (mainly promises) of politicians' speeches before election and the content (mainly their brilliant speeches (?) showing progress and development achieved or to be achieved) after election if they win. And to make their speeches (whether given in pre- or post-election time) successful they invariably emphasise a particular quality, i.e. histrionics, which is demonstrated by both linguistic and para-linguistic aspectsbombast, body language, such as raising and waving a hand (sometimes both hands), pointing an angry or warning finger, and using rising and falling intonation interspersed with high and low pitches, often resulting in hoarse, croaky voices, especially during electioneering.

Now since speeches are the politicians' tools of the trade, the language spoken day in, day outmostly melodramatic monologues or blabbering on stagecannot but draw the attention of the audience. Annoyed, flabbergasted, outraged, the most conscientious members of the audience (who will never sell their ethical values and love for their motherland) think that they will support the politicians for the good of the people and the country, if the politicians follow the following tips (Maybe they will have to do it against their will, because they hardly listen tothey only speak): Tip1: They should avoid hyperbole, innuendos, tirades, sweeping statements, mud-slinging and trumpeting their achievements. Tip2: They should avoid using the future passive tenses (like It will be done), rather the active (like I/We will do it). Tip3: They should speak LESS or NOT AT ALL, but only ACT.