Elli T. Salimova

The article raises the question of the importance of developing critical thinking in the format of political discourse which has educational and enlightening purposes that contribute students to develop their ability to analyze and critically evaluate what is happening around them. The use of authentic material with the critical thinking development technology is a tool for generating new knowledge.

This article studies language play in the modern US electoral discourse. In the research, the author considers the concept of electoral discourse, its significance and role in society and also raises the question of the importance of studying the language play. The author studies the language play at the lexical, syntactic and lexico-syntactic levels in the first and final presidential debates between Donald Trump and Joe Biden. Numerous examples illustrate the language play in the candidates’ speeches. In conclusion, the author decides that the language play allows candidates to manipulate th...