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What is the significance of research on equivocation for our understanding of political communication?
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What is the significance of research on equivocation for our understanding of political communication? Politicians are roundly derided by the media for their use of equivocation. In some instances, it can become a defining characteristic of their rhetoric - giving them a reputation for deceitful doublespeak that can shadow them for their whole political career. For those not in the political spotlight however, equivocation can be viewed merely as a method used to evade a potentially awkward situation (Bavelas et al., 1990). Defined as: "[The use of] ambiguous language...to conceal the truth or avoid committing oneself (with direct speech)" (Abate, 1999), equivocation has remained a central area of interest in research on political communication, shedding light on the complex relationship between interviewer and politician. Bavelas et al's (1988, 1990) equivocation theory makes the fundamental assumption that when faced with two or more unappealing options (an avoidance-avoidance conflict) in response to a...
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