Analyzing Canadian PM Justin Trudeau’s Speech about Terrorist Attack on a Muslim Family in Ontario’s London: A Critical Perspective

Abstract

Language considers a form of social practice in Critical Discourse Analysis, and it is frequently used in political discourse written, verbal and visual including public speeches. This paper examines the Prime Minister of Canada's press conference speech, held at the House of Commerce on June 8, 2021 (https://www.rev.com/blog, 2021), in the aftermath of a Muslim family's murder in Ontario's London. The Three-Dimensional Model of Fairclough has been used to investigate the implicit/explicit power displayed in PM Justin's speech, as well as the display of power at the textual, discursive, and societal levels, in the context of the speech's two key themes: anti-Muslim hatred and Islamophobia. The study examines speech using a qualitative approach and addresses power within the discourse as well as the power behind the discourse. The findings show how language reflects political leaders' ideologies and how social behaviors can shape and be shaped by speech. The Prime Minister skillfully employed language to convey the ideological divides between Muslim communities and the western communities. After drawing the line of demarcation, he urged world leaders to take steps to resolve their differences to achieve global harmony and peace. This study enables the general public to comprehend Justin Trudeau's position on prevalent intolerance and the ideology of Islamophobia, as well as its effects.