On the characteristics and effects of verbal behavior in the political process in Japan : Inquiring the relationship between politicians and their audiences

通过分析候选人在竞选期间在政治集会上的演讲，能够识别他们使用的修辞手段，区分“含蓄”和“显性”的修辞手段，并详细说明听众的附属反应(掌声、笑声、欢呼、Aizuchi以及这些反应的组合)的总体模式。候选人的选举成功与总体的从属响应率或掌声、笑声或欢呼率都没有显著的相关性。有人建议，在这些会议上发出附属性回复邀请的主要作用与其说是争取选票，不如说是让听众有机会表达他们对候选人及其所代表的政党的支持。

Analysis of candidates' speeches in political gatherings during Japanese election campaign period enabled to identify the rhetorical devices they used, to distinguish between "implicit" and "explicit" rhetorical devices, and to detail the overall pattern of the audience' affiliative responses (applause, laughter, cheering, aizuchi, and combinations of these responses). The candidates' electoral success showed no significant correlations either with overall affiliative response rate, or with rates for applause, laughter or cheering. It is proposed that the prime function of affiliative response invitations at these meetings is not so much to win votes as to give the audience the opportunity to express their support both for the candidates and for the political parties they represent.