A Pragmatic Analysis of Persuasive Language in Children-Oriented Discourse: The Case of Smash Boom Best Podcast
Abstract
This study investigates persuasive language strategies employed in children-oriented debate discourse by analyzing the Smash Boom Best episode "Forts vs. Puzzles." The research aims to identify the rhetorical strategies used to persuade young audiences and examine how these strategies function within educational debate media. A descriptive qualitative approach was adopted, with spoken utterances transcribed from the episode published on the official Brains On! YouTube channel serving as the primary data. The analysis was conducted using qualitative content analysis guided by Aristotelian rhetorical theory, focusing on the appeals of ethos, pathos, and logos, as well as audience adaptation and opponent weakening strategies. The findings indicate that emotional appeal (pathos) is the most dominant strategy, realized through immersive storytelling, humorous expressions, and emotionally engaging metaphors. Logical appeal (logos) is demonstrated through simplified scientific explanations, factual evidence, and historical references that support the speakers’ arguments. In addition, persuasive effectiveness is strengthened through rebuttals, verbal contradictions, irony, and audience-centered analogies tailored to children's experiences. These findings demonstrate that persuasive discourse in children's debates is dynamic, multilayered, and audience-sensitive, contributing to a broader understanding of rhetorical practices in educational audio media and children's argumentative communication.
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.31004/jele.v%25vi%25i.2622
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