Domestication and Indigenization in Imran Khan's 2019 UNGA Address: A Critical Discourse Analysis
https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.20139309
Abstract
This study examines the domestication and indigenization strategies employed by former Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan in his September 27, 2019 address to the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA). Using Teun A. Van Dijk's Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) as the analytical framework, the research investigates how Khan skillfully tailored internationally significant concerns—including corruption, Islamophobia, the Kashmir conflict, and climate change—to resonate with Pakistan's political and cultural milieu. The findings reveal that Khan purposefully deployed allusions to Islamic beliefs, patriotic rhetoric, and evocative language to construct a strong rapport with his domestic audience while simultaneously projecting Pakistan's position on the world stage. By incorporating linguistic and cultural elements into his speech, Khan effectively bridged the gap between global discourse and local reality, increasing both the impact and the relatability of his message. This study contributes to our understanding of how political leaders employ rhetorical and linguistic devices in international diplomacy, and calls for further research into the efficacy of such strategies in comparable cross-cultural political contexts.
