Competence and collectivity: The discourse of Angela Merkel’s media communications during the first wave of the pandemic

Understanding leadership as a discursive performance, this study explores televised speeches and press briefings on Covid-19 given by the German chancellor Angela Merkel in March April 2020. Merkel’s communications deserve special attention for at least two reasons; first, was hailed one of few national leaders who successfully led through first wave pandemic. Secondly, her were praised examples successful persuasive efforts. Using corpus-assisted approach, identifies frequent lexico-grammatical devices that she employed to do ‘convincing’ work. The then compares identified features against communicative style delivered pre-pandemic times. comparative insights show limited mediatised time, chose specific set including certain pronouns, modal verbs, time deictics logical connectors highlighted interpersonal dimension communications, urgency situation cause-effect argumentation. While these not entirely new public statements, they used with much higher frequency signalling change during evolving health crisis. provides support notion (effective) situated activity; an effective leader will select language from available pool resources are appropriate context (here pandemic) its aims (persuading citizens adhere preventative measures). paper finishes assessment discourse months pandemic overall style. It argues successfulness performances depended just use but also contrast created usual impersonal approach.