politethirdperson

Politethirdperson is a term used in sociolinguistics and political communication to describe a style of discourse in which political actors employ third-person references or impersonal constructions to speak about policies, actors, or themselves. The aim is to create distance, politeness, or formality, or to project neutrality.

Common features include self-reference in the third person, passive or impersonal constructions, nominalization, and hedging phrases. Speakers may describe actions or intentions using phrases like “the administration has decided” or “the policy will be implemented,” rather than direct first-person statements such as “we will implement the policy.”

Contextual use is typically found in official statements, press releases, diplomacy, and formal campaign communications. In such settings politethirdperson can help convey authority, manage accountability, or maintain a measured tone when discussing sensitive or controversial topics. It can also be employed to align a message with institutional norms or to appeal to diverse audiences by presenting points as shared or collective rather than solely personal.

Critics contend that this style can obscure responsibility, reduce transparency, and create distance between leaders and the public. Proponents argue that it can promote civility and clarity in formal discourse, especially in settings requiring careful phrasing or broad legitimacy. The concept intersects with broader discussions of distancing language, impersonalization, and hedging in political rhetoric, and it remains a topic of interest in studies of political communication and rhetoric.