Quoting as an Argumentative Strategy in Dutch Televised Election Debates

Quoting and misquoting are common discursive strategies politicians use during election debates to manage disagreement with their opponent. By mentioning that another party has said something in the past, quotes and misquotes are employed to turn the discussion to one’s own advantage and bring the opponent into disrepute. In this chapter, we show that quotations have three central functions in Dutch election debates. First, quoting the opponent re-establishes the difference of opinion. Second, quoting a third-party can establish a starting point in the interaction. Third, quoting “them” in contrast to “us” enables the speaker to precisely articulate their position. We connect these findings to the perspective that televised election debates are informal accountability practices and therefore, as the candidates aim to convince the general public, the primary task discussants have on the stage is to hold each other accountable for their past statements and allegiances. The dynamic of quoting is central to fulfilling the goals of the election debate.