ABSTRACT
This is a sociolinguistic study of the pronominal choices made by politicians in television interviews using Yasser Arafat, President of the Palestinian National Authority (PNA), as a case study. 1 I argue that the selection of personal pronouns by politicians reflects aspects of Self they portray to the public (whether intentionally or unintentionally). In conducting this research I will rely on Erving Goffman’s concepts of Self and footing, and his participation framework in which the notions of principal and figure are deployed to argue that Arafat’s choice of pronouns in English television interviews is seen to be commensurate with his power (imagined or real) and his capacity (or lack of it) to resolve outstanding issues in the Middle East peace process. For this purpose I classify Arafat’s Self presentation under four footings: authority, legitimacy, responsibility, and peace making.
