EURASIAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED LINGUISTICS

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Cognitive Aspects of Persuasion in Marketing Discourse a Cognitive Linguistic Study

Othman Khalid Al-Shboul
Al-Balqa Applied University, Department of English Language and Literature, Jordan.
Nisreen Naji Al-Khawaldeh
Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts, The Hashemite University, P. O. Box 330127, Zarqa 13133, Jordan.
Asim Ayed Alkhawaldeh
Department of English Language and Literature, Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Al Al-Bayt University, Mafraq, Jordan.
Hady J.Hamdan
The University of Jordan.
Ahmed Sulieman Al-Oliemat
Dep. of Double Major Italian/English language, Faculty: Foreign Languages Al Al-Bayt University.
Keywords: Advertisements, Appeals, Cognitive Aspects, Persuasion, TRT. ,

Abstract

The use of language in digital discourse for marketing has rapidly developed through mass media. This paper elucidates how advertisers employ various pragmatic strategies to persuade the recipient to take action (behavior) by purchasing specific products. This study utilized different theoretical and conceptual frameworks (Theory of Reasoned Action and Aristotle’s Models of Persuasion) in an attempt to address the shortcomings of the social cognitive approach in studying persuasion, to investigate how language of advertisements can influence the recipient’s thinking of a product from a psychological perspective. Guided by the principles of TRA, the present study argues that persuasion in advertisements is structured by three dimensions: attraction (through language features and appeals), evaluation (through beliefs, attitudes, and intention), and behavior (social acceptance or reluctance). This study revealed eight persuasion techniques employed by advertisers including demonstrating distinction, honoring commitment, expressing authority, hyperbolizing, glorification, providing proofs, expressing solidarity and proving success. Showing distinction and Honoring commitment were the most frequently used strategies. Additionally, the study found that strategies of persuasion involved ethical, logical, and emotional appeals for their large effect on the recipient as they contribute to the recipient’s positive evaluations. Appealing to reasoning (logic) is the most common one in slogans.