The Language of Jacinda Ardern – A Woman Politician
The abstract by Anna Majer from the University of Silesia in Katowice, Poland, examines the
discourse of Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand and leader of the Labour
Party since 2017.
Ardern is a social democrat, progressive, republican, and feminist. the phenomenon of her
popularity as “Jacindamania” her success in implementing various social, political, and economic
measures
The article explores the discourse of this female leader, particularly in terms of masculine and
feminine language characteristics: Ardern's public statements have more feminine or masculine
characteristics and ways of speaking in a persistently male-dominated political context
The study explains that Ardern's way of communicating is based on theories of political discourse
and gendered language.
1 Jacinda Ardern is a notable politician known for her charismatic leadership, often referred to as
"Jacindamania" and "the Jacinda effect." Her communication style has made her a "politician
celebrity." Despite working in a male-dominated political environment, Ardern has captivated voters
worldwide. This study examines how her unique way of speaking contributes to her female political
leadership, focusing on whether her language shows traits typically associated with men’s or
women’s speech in politics.
2 Political Discourse in Celebrity Politics
Celebrity politics is a modern trend where celebrities enter politics, politicians use celebrities'
influence, or politicians themselves become celebrities. There are different types of celebrity-
politics relationships:
1. Celebrity Advocate: Non-political celebrities promoting political causes.
2. Celebrity Activist/Endorser: Non-political celebrities supporting politicians or parties.
3. Celebrity Politician: Celebrities entering political office.
4. Politician Celebrity: Politicians becoming celebrities due to their actions.
5. Politician Using Others' Celebrity: Politicians leveraging celebrities' fame for their own benefit.
Jacinda Ardern is an example of a politician celebrity. She started her political career early,
joining the Labour Party at 17 and working in various political roles, including for New Zealand's
PM Helen Clark and Britain's PM Tony Blair. Ardern became the Labour Party leader in 2017 and
soon after, the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Her charm and charisma, along with media
attention on her personal life, have made her a global celebrity.
Analysis of Ardern's Political Discourse: This study focuses on Ardern's communication style
within the context of political discourse. Political discourse involves the language and actions of
political figures and is essential for understanding their impact. Scholars like van Dijk and
Fairclough highlight that political discourse is tied to political actors and contexts, emphasizing that
politics relies heavily on language and communication.