A Study of Interactional Metadiscourse Markers in Inaugural Speeches of the U.S. and Russian Presidents since 1990

This research is an attempt to investigate the interactional metadiscourse markers in the inaugural speeches of the U.S. and Russian presidents (from 1991- 2018) within the framework of Hyland’s interpersonal metadiscourse model. The data were collected from the transcription of the speeches of the respective Presidents and quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze the collected data. To analyze the data statistically and to calculate and determine the significance of the differences Chi-square test was used. The result of the analysis showed a significant difference in the use of interactional metadiscourse markers in the inaugural speeches the Presidents of the two countries. With a closer analysis, this point also was made clear that there was a significant difference in the use of boosters and hedges. Also, statistical calculations showed that there is a significant difference in using engagement markers; this significant difference was seen especially in the use of self-mention markers..