Comparative Word Usage at Democratic and Republican Conventions
During the Democratic National Convention held in Chicago this week, speakers delivered more than 109,000 words over the span of four days. Their linguistic choices highlighted stark contrasts when compared to the Republican National Convention held in Milwaukee last month, which featured over 110,000 words spoken.
Frequency of Key Terms
Excluding common words, the Democratic convention prominently featured terms related to democracy and freedom. Notably, former President Donald J. Trump’s acceptance speech was significantly longer, utilizing three times as many words as Vice President Kamala Harris’s acceptance speech. The following table illustrates key terms used by notable speakers:
| Words | Democratic Convention | Republican Convention |
|---|---|---|
| Democracy | 10 | 2 |
| Freedom | 11 | 3 |
| Economy, economic | 13 | 4 |
| Job(s) | 22 | 8 |
| Inflation | 14 | 1 |
Diverging Themes in Messaging
While common terms such as “America,” “country,” and “people” were prevalent at both conventions, the emphasis on specific words diverged significantly. The Democratic speakers highlighted concepts of liberty, with “freedom” being mentioned 227 times compared to just 67 at the Republican convention. Additionally, words relating to gender and positivity, such as “woman,” “joy,” and “weird,” appeared more frequently among Democratic rhetoric.
Conversely, Republican speakers focused heavily on economic concerns, using “inflation” seven times more than their Democratic counterparts. Notably, terms like “assassination” were mentioned 18 times by Republicans, which was barely acknowledged among Democrats.
Unique Terms and Themes
Each convention presented unique vocabularies. Words and phrases such as “abortion,” “Project 2025,” and “convicted felon” were exclusive to the Democratic convention. In contrast, the Republican convention employed terms like “indoctrination,” “illegal aliens,” and “invasion,” which were absent in Democratic discussions.
This analysis illustrates the contrasting themes and priorities that emerged during the recent political conventions, reflecting divergent approaches to the key issues facing Americans today.
Source and credits: www.nytimes.com
Cats: United States Politics and Government,Presidential Election of 2024,Republican National Convention,Democratic National Convention,Harris, Kamala D,Trump, Donald J
