An Analysis of Politeness Strategies in Hina Rabbani Khar’s Speech at the 66th Session of the United Nations General Assembly

Abstract

The United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) provides global leaders with a platform to address significant international issues and strengthen diplomatic relationships. Analyzing the language used in these speeches offers valuable insights into how leaders communicate their messages, manage relationships, and achieve their diplomatic objectives. This study examines the politeness strategies employed by former Pakistani Foreign Minister Hina Rabbani Khar during her speech at the 66th session of the UNGA. The text of the speech was sourced from the NDTV website, and the analysis was conducted using Brown and Levinson’s politeness model, with the aid of Maxqda software. The research findings indicate that Khar predominantly employs positive politeness strategies, with occasional use of negative politeness and bald-on-record strategies. This suggests that she frequently expresses gratitude, highlights shared values, and fosters a sense of solidarity, all of which contribute to creating a cooperative and respectful diplomatic atmosphere. These findings underscore Khar’s adeptness in leveraging language for effective diplomatic communication. It is important to note that this study is based on the analysis of a single speech. Future research could expand the scope to include a broader range of speeches and explore alternative politeness models to gain a more comprehensive understanding of Khar’s communication strategies, particularly in conveying Pakistan’s stance on global issues.