Argumentation

Boris Johnson’s first speech as PM is characterized by a mix of direct and indirect argumentation. Johnson uses direct argumentation whenever he makes explicit, clear statements. For example, he is explicit about disagreeing with Britain’s critics of Brexit: “And so I am standing before you today to tell you, the British people, that those critics are wrong.” (l. 8) As the new Prime Minister in a time of internal Brexit struggle in the UK, Johnson needs to inspire optimism in the British people and reassure them that he will make sure that Britain will not be negatively affected by Brexit for long, as Brexit critics have predicted. 

Johnson is also explicit that his focus is to ensure that Britain meets the Brexit deadline: “we ...