Challenge for the day: Diagram a Trump sentence
Political leaders reflect social attitudes even as they set examples for people to follow. This applies also to language. The speech patterns used by the highest ranking civil leader of a nation tends to be the one that many people imitate, on a deep-seated follow-the-leader attitude.
So when a new leader moves into position in a country, the rest of the population moves along, since the leader typically has read the emotions and attitudes of the nation and begins actions that many people -- even subconsciously -- will endorse.
That's the definition of a demagogue -- someone who taps into and amplifies the feelings of the mass of people, so it manifests in support for policies that run counter to established tradition in that same nation.
History is filled with examples of that phenomenon, and there are more examples around the world today.
In America today, however, a business mogul turned politician has written a new set of rules -- for oratory and grammar, anyway -- but the older strategy of tapping into perceived slights remains.
Or it may equally be said that he is ignoring traditional grammar in the guise of "telling it like it is," which appeals to his listeners, just as he has ignored traditional rules of political campaign behavior.
He has defended some of his remarks as being "truthful hyperbole," but while it certainly is hyperbolic, truthful it ain't.
The bigger problem may be that people hear what they are listening for.
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