Persuasive Strategies in the Discourses of World Health Organization on Covid-19

Abstract

        On 31 December 2019, WHO received information from National Health Commission concerning the outbreak of Covid-19 which was identified by the Chinese authorities. Unfortunately, it seems that WHO depends to great extent on its announcements and instructions on China authorities’ declaration. Consequently, positive and negative announcements and strategies are adopted in dealing with this pandemic. This causes a great extent of fear and confusion for people around the world despite all the great efforts that WHO to pass this crucial period successfully and safely. The present study is one of the first studies that seeks to offer critical discourse analysis, description, interpretation, and explanation of persuasive strategies of institutional discourse, and more specifically of WHO on Covid-19 by using Larson’s persuasive strategies (2010). It is found that WHO uses certain persuasive strategies by using simple sentences which reflect that the situation is a simple one especially at the beginning of the crisis, then using a complex sentence to show that the situation becomes more complex and there is a need to follow the right measures till finding a suitable vaccine. There is also the use of adjectives that reflect the uncertainty of WHO in finding a suitable roadmap for dealing with this pandemic. It is also found that these persuasive strategies should be based on scientific, psychological, cognitive, social, and cultural perspectives and not just scientific ones because they are used to persuade different people around the world and may affect their lives positively or negatively.