Programme: accepted abstracts

Abstract ID: 1422

Part of Session 155: Changing linguistic norms in the audiovisual media (Other abstracts in this session)

Linguistic variation in election debates on the Finnish television from the 1970s to the 2010s

Authors: Nuolijärvi, Pirkko Sinikka
Submitted by: Nuolijärvi, Pirkko Sinikka (Institute for the Languages of Finland, Finland)

Television debates are an important part of election campaigns today and they play a significant role when citizens make their voting decisions. Important criteria for the voters include the candidates’ way of arguing and expressing themselves in the discussions, together with the variety they use and the way they interact. Every election is a central topic in the media, and the TV channels broadcast a great number of related programmes. The newspapers discuss and report on the television debates and they also comment on the linguistic differences between the candidates.

This paper investigates the change of varieties in election debates on the Finnish television (The Finnish Broadcasting Company) during 40 years, examining the phonological and morphological differences and similarities over that period. On the basis of linguistic analysis, it discusses the nature of Standard Finnish during these four decades. The question is whether there is a real norm change in progress or not. Another significant question is whether there are processes of informalisation and vernacularisation in progress, as well.

Sociolinguistics Symposium 19

Programme: accepted abstracts

Linguistic variation in election debates on the Finnish television from the 1970s to the 2010s