Trump and Harris shared more linguistic similarities than expected in 2024 debate
A linguistic analysis reveals unexpected similarities in Trump and Harris' debate rhetoric, challenging partisan language stereotypes.
Why it matters
- The study challenges assumptions about partisan language styles.
- Findings suggest candidates adapt language to debate contexts.
- Insights into how political language shapes voter perception.
By the numbers
- Harris used nearly 3 figurative frames per response vs. Trump's 1.5.
- Harris mentioned Trump 70 times; Trump didn’t mention Harris once.
- Both used predominantly abstract language and negative sentiment.
The big picture
- Candidates adjusted language to appeal to a broad audience.
- Both relied on abstract language and negative sentiment.
- Harris used more subjective language; Trump used more singular pronouns.
What they're saying
- Some commenters suggest Harris strategically adapted her language.
- Others argue that despite linguistic similarities, policy outcomes would differ.
Caveats
- The study focuses on a single debate; findings may not generalize.
- Automated tools may miss nuanced meanings or contexts.
- Candidates may adapt language differently in non-debate settings.
What’s next
- Future research could examine language across multiple debates.
- Further studies may explore language use in different political contexts.