Role and function of implicit assessment and self-assessment in political discourse

the article examines the features of implicit evaluation in English-language political discourse as a tool of ideological influence. The study is based on public speeches, publications, and social media statements of contemporary U.S. politicians (D. Trump, J. Biden, B. Obama, N. Haley, etc.) from 2016 to 2024. The aim is to identify the functional and pragmatic characteristics of implicit evaluative means used to shape audience emotions and beliefs. The methodological framework draws on the Appraisal Theory (M. Martin, P. White, 2005), complemented by discourse, content, cognitive-semantic, and pragmalinguistic analyses. The findings demonstrate that implicit evaluation, unlike explicit assessment, operates subtly, avoiding overt confrontation while establishing stable emotional attitudes. The study identifies key forms of implicit evaluation such as metaphor, sarcasm, euphemism, presupposition, and hybrid evaluative patterns combining positive and negative elements. It is concluded that implicit evaluation serves as a crucial instrument of persuasion, legitimization, and manipulation in political communication, ensuring the efficiency and emotional resonance of ideological messages.

implicit evaluation, self-evaluation, political discourse, hidden evaluativity, self-identification