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The Korean Association for the Study of English Language and Linguistics
[ Article ]
Korea Journal of English Language and Linguistics - Vol. 26, No. 0, pp.142-156
ISSN: 1598-1398 (Print) 2586-7474 (Online)
Print publication date 31 Jan 2026
Received 19 Nov 2025 Revised 11 Jan 2026 Accepted 11 Jan 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.15738/kjell.26..202601.142

Raciolinguistic Constraints and the Discursive Negotiation of Identity: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Political Discourse

Jung Sook Kim
Assistant Professor, Department of English Language and Literature Cheongju University 298 Daesung-ro, Cheongwon-gu Cheongju, Korea, Tel: +82-43-229-8355 jskim8015@cju.ac.kr


© 2026 KASELL All rights reserved
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons License, which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract

This study re-examines Barack Obama’s 2008 speech A More Perfect Union through the lens of critical discourse analysis (CDA) in conjunction with the framework of raciolinguistics. In particular, by integrating the concept of the White Speaking and Listening Subject, the study moves beyond traditional rhetorical analysis to demonstrate how language constructs social identities and negotiates ideological tensions surrounding race and nationhood. By examining key discursive strategies such as pronoun usage, metaphor, modality, and intertextuality, the analysis reveals how Obama navigates competing narratives of division and unity. The findings illustrate the performative role of language in political discourse as a site of identity construction and power negotiation. The study also discusses broader sociolinguistic and pedagogical implications, emphasizing the importance of critical language awareness in fostering democratic participation and social justice. Suggestions for future research include cross-cultural comparisons, multimodal analysis, and audience reception studies.

Keywords:

critical discourse analysis, raciolinguistic ideologies, identity negotiation, discursive strategies, White Listening Subject

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