American campaign oratory: Verbal response mode use by candidates in 1980 American presidential primaries

Campaign speeches recorded during the 1980 American presidential primaries and college lectures were coded using a taxonomy of verbal response modes. Both candidates and lecturers used mostly informative modes, but candidates used relatively more Disclosures (subjective information) and fewer Edifications (objective information) than lecturers. Candidates distinctively used many Confirmation forms ("we" statements), perhaps to suggest that they shared their audience's viewpoint, assumptions, and values.