Presuppositions as a form of language manipulation

Abstract

Aim: The aim of the thesis is to introduce the concept of presupposition and present its use in the context of language manipulation in the media on selected examples. The article presents the variety of presuppositions as a linguistic form. The work also shows the multitude of types of this pragmatic figure.

Method: Qualitative analysis was used to approximate the technique of using presupposition as a form of manipulation. Two examples that appeared in the media discourse were subjected to extensive qualitative research. An important aspect of the analysis is also to show the context of the statement, so that the recipient is aware of how and under what circumstances the message occurred.

Results: The analysis showed how people of the media and politics use presuppositions to communicate their judgment in the subconscious mind without showing it directly. The diversity of this pragmatic figure contributes to the diversity of its applications in media discourse.

Conclusions: Skilfully used presupposition is an excellent manipulative practice. Exploring this topic will contribute to expanding the awareness of the recipients of media statements, who, without proper knowledge, become good material for the use of manipulative practices. Presupposition, due to its specificity, is not easy to decipher, which makes it an interesting subject of research in the context of manipulation.