ABSTRACT

This analysis of political speeches and televised political interviews in the UK, based on the Annual Party Conferences (1996-2000) and the last five general elections (1983-2001), evaluates the interview skills of politicians and political interviewers, investigates how and why politicians equivocate and handle interruptions and examines the nature of applause, both invited and uninvited, in political speeches.

part |2 pages

Part I Political speeches

chapter 2|17 pages

The use of hand gestures

chapter 4|14 pages

The mistiming of applause

chapter 5|11 pages

A model of invited and uninvited applause

part |2 pages

Part II Televised political interviews

chapter 6|19 pages

Interruptions

chapter 7|30 pages

Equivocation

chapter 8|23 pages

Face management

chapter 9|18 pages

Evaluating interviewers

chapter 10|22 pages

Evaluating politicians