Quoting as an argumentative strategy and as an attack on image in parliamentary discourse

Abstract

Quoting is a widely used procedure to refer to a speaker’s words. In a polemical discourse, such as parliamentary discourse, this strategy is used as a very effective tool to overturn the ideological adversary’s arguments, as well as to smear the adversary’s individual or group image. This paper provides an analysis of the grammatical structures occurring with this specific strategy. Additionally, this paper also focuses on how the use of this strategy may be affected by the participants’ gender and ideological differences.