Constructing a discourse of hope and inspiration: A positive discourse analysis of Joko Widodo’s press statements on COVID-19

Ernanda, Ernanda; Nartey, Mark

Abstract

Using positive discourse analysis as a framework, this article examines Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s press statements on the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on how he constructed a message of hope and inspiration. The analysis demonstrates that Widodo used his language to encourage the people of Indonesia to be resilient, remain positive, and collaborate with the government to overcome the challenges posed by the pandemic. The findings reveal that metaphor, lexicalisation, and rationalisation were the three main strategies that helped Widodo to construct his message of hope and inspiration and to formulate an emancipatory discourse intended to liberate the people of Indonesia from the difficulties of the pandemic and chart a way forward in the post-pandemic period. The study underscores the crucial role of language as a resource for hope and as a response strategy during a crisis as well as its significance in helping individuals, communities, nations, and societies make sense of their experiences and (re)imagine a positive future despite their present predicament.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 18, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Oct 28, 2024
• Deposit Date: Oct 29, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Apr 29, 2026
• Print ISSN: 1035-7823
• Electronic ISSN: 1467-8403
• Publisher: Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10357823.2024.2414244
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/13322264