This paper analyzes an important genre in the public debates before popular votes in Switzerland: the TV addresses
in which the Swiss government presents its standpoint and main arguments for or against the proposal put to the vote. The paper
investigates a series of addresses in order to characterize the argumentation in them. The question is whether the addresses show
similarities and, if there are any, what their pragmatic effects on the argumentation might be. The addresses are studied with
concepts and methods from linguistics and argumentation theory: with regard to the role of the non-verbal modes, the composition,
the relation between argumentation and other practices, the argumentative macro- and micro-structure, and personal references. In
all these aspects, recurrent features can be identified. Many of these features can be understood as highly functional for the
Swiss political system with its far-reaching direct democratic rights. They effectuate an argumentation that is rather informative
than confrontational.
2017a[TV address on the] Bundesgesetz “Unternehmenssteuerreform III”, produced by SRG SSR. [URL]. Accessed 26 November 2019.
Federal Council
2017b[TV address on the] Energiegesetz, produced by SRG SSR. [URL]. Accessed 26 November 2019.
Federal Council
2016[TV address on the] Initiative “Für Ehe und Familie gegen die Heiratsstrafe”, produced by SRG SSR. [URL]. Accessed 26 November 2019.
Federal Council
2015a[TV address on the] Änderung des Bundesgesetzes über Radio und Fernsehen, produced by SRG SSR. [URL]. Accessed 26 November 2019.
Federal Council
2015b[TV address on] Präimplantationsdiagnostik, produced by SRG SSR. [URL]. Accessed 26 November 2019.
Federal Council
2014a[TV address on the] Beschaffung des Kampfflugzeuges Gripen, produced by SRG SSR. [URL]. Accessed 26 November 2019.
Federal Council
2014b[TV address on the] Initiative “Für den Schutz fairer Löhne”, produced by SRG SSR. [URL]. Accessed 26 November 2019.
Federal Council
2014c[TV address on the] Initiative “Gegen Masseneinwanderung”, produced by SRG SSR. [URL]. Accessed 26 November 2019.
Federal Council
2014d[TV address on the] Initiative “Pädophile sollen nicht mehr mit Kindern arbeiten dürfen”, produced by SRG SSR. [URL]. Accessed 18 April 2018.
Federal Council
2013[TV address on the] Bundesbeschluss über die Familienpolitik, produced by SRG SSR. Video provided by SRG SSR.
Federal Council
2010[TV address] Zur Ausschaffungsinitiative und zum Gegenentwurf des Bundesrates, produced by SRG SSR. Video provided by SRG SSR.
Schröter, Juliane, and Stefan Keller
Forth. Transkripte von elf Video-Ansprachen der Schweizer Regierung vor Volksabstimmungen. Transcripts of eleven TV addresses given by the Swiss government before popular votes. Zenodo.
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