Repository Universitas Negeri PadangAn Analysis of Hedges and Boosters in Donald Trump’s Presidential SpeechesDianZellyauthorThis study looks at the types and percentages of hedges and boosters in Donald Trump's presidential speeches. A qualitative approach was used, with Hyland's (2005) framework serving as the theoretical foundation, as well as Hyland's (1994) and (1998) classifications for hedges and boosters. The study's objectives are to (1) identify the different types of hedges and boosters employed in chosen speeches and (2) determine their percentages. The data includes three speeches: the inaugural address (2017), the March for Life (2020), and the inaugural address (2025). The study found four types of hedges; modal auxiliary verbs, adverbial/adjectival nominal modal expressions, if-clauses, and time references. For boosters, only one type which is Certainty Modals, appear throughout all remarks. The hedge word would appears most frequently in March for Life 2020, whereas will is the most commonly used certainty modal in all three addresses. Boosters outnumber hedges, accounting for 91% in the first speech, 75% in the second, and 95.5% in the third. These findings show that Trump's rhetorical style is heavily reliant on certainty modals, which convey confidence, determination, and assertiveness. The very minimal use of hedges indicates a desire for direct and unequivocal communication, which is consistent with his political image as a powerful and decisive leader. This study adds to prior research emphasizing the dominance of boosters in political discourse and provides additional evidence of how language choices influence popular opinions of political figures.PR English literature2025-08Universitas Negeri Padang;Sastra Inggris FBS UNPThesis

For work being deposited by its own author: In self-archiving this collection of files and associated bibliographic metadata, I grant Repository Universitas Negeri Padang the right to store them and to make them permanently available publicly for free on-line. I declare that this material is my own intellectual property and I understand that Repository Universitas Negeri Padang does not assume any responsibility if there is any breach of copyright in distributing these files or metadata. (All authors are urged to prominently assert their copyright on the title page of their work.)

For work being deposited by someone other than its author: I hereby declare that the collection of files and associated bibliographic metadata that I am archiving at Repository Universitas Negeri Padang is in the public domain. If this is not the case, I accept full responsibility for any breach of copyright that distributing these files or metadata may entail.

Clicking on the Deposit Item Now button indicates your agreement to these terms.