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The language of crisis: spatiotemporal effects of COVID-19 pandemic dynamics on health crisis communications by political leaders

Political Science

The language of crisis: spatiotemporal effects of COVID-19 pandemic dynamics on health crisis communications by political leaders

B. J. Mandl and B. Y. Reis

This captivating research by Benjamin J. Mandl and Ben Y. Reis analyzes over 1500 speeches from US state governors during the early COVID-19 pandemic. Delving into 4 million words, they reveal how crisis intensity shapes language, showing that as case rates increased, governors adopted stricter and more extreme linguistic patterns. A fascinating look at the interplay between public health communication and the emotional climate amidst a crisis.

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Playback language: English
Abstract
This study examines the linguistic patterns in over 1500 speeches delivered by US state governors during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic. Analyzing over 4 million words, the researchers investigated the relationship between COVID-19 case rates and the semantic, grammatical, and linguistic complexity of these speeches. Results show that as cases rose, governors used stricter language, more negation, and more extreme adjectives. At the peak of surges, word length and syllable count decreased, potentially reflecting a stress response. This research highlights how crisis intensity influences the language used by political leaders in public health communication.
Publisher
npj Digital Medicine
Published On
Jan 10, 2022
Authors
Benjamin J. Mandl, Ben Y. Reis
Tags
COVID-19
linguistic patterns
public health communication
state governors
speech analysis
crisis response
language complexity

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