الفهرس 
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Abstract
EPISTEMIC AND DEONTIC MODALITY IN PUBLIC AMERICAN SPEECHES
Abstract
This study attempts a critical analysis of modality in American political discourse by selecting six political speeches given by outstanding American politicians on the Israeli Palestinian conflict to be the analysis data. The speakers are George W. Bush the son, and his two successive Secretaries of State: Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice. This analysis entails handling modality from a critical pragmatic perspective in order to explore the speakers’ cognition and ideology. That is why, the study focuses on the semantics of modality devices, properties of political discourse, and the approach of critical discourse analysis (CDA) as the method adopted in data analysis. By adopting CDA in approaching modality, the study is aimed at disclosing the biased unbalanced attitude of the speakers towards the Israelis and against the Palestinians. To come out with concrete results, the critical analysis of modality is supplemented by statistical representation of the frequency distribution of modality items with each of the conflicting sides and the significance of such frequency in displaying the bias and the double standard morality of the American politicians in handling the Middle East peace cause. Applying such an approach, I have reached the conclusion that modality is more frequently used with the Palestinian side than with the Israeli one. This indicates an uncommitted indecisive subjective attitude towards the settlement of this conflict.