Abstract
Empathy is, as a prosocial act, encompasses understanding and sharing other people’s emotions to give an emotional support. Though empathy is common , such topic has not yet received its due attention from a discourse analysis perspective. Hence, in terms of Biden’s speeches supporting Israel after acts on October, this paper tries to answer the following : What are the categories of empathy that Biden utilizes ? What are the most and the least utilized categories? What are the strategies of empathy in those speeches? What are the most and the least implemented strategies? Consequently , in terms of Biden’s speeches , the paper aims to specify categories of empathy, pinpoint the most and the least utilized categories, uncover the strategies of showing empathy and finally, determine the most and the least implemented . To achieve the aims, an eclectic model is followed from van Dijk’s (2006,200)and Fairclough’s(1989)models. It is concluded that Biden employs four categories of empathy in his speeches .They are Perspective-taking,Fantasy, Empathic concern and personal distress. Perspective taking is the most common one in addition to empathetic concern. Both help Biden achieve his aim of showing empathy towards Israel. Personal distress is the least used one due to the idea that the president tries to prove that what he says is related to truth rather than mere feelings.As for the strategies, Biden implemented Compassion, Victimization, Presupposition, Lexicalization, and Number Game. Lexicalization is the most employed strategy Its recurrence gives the discourse its force by using effective words. Next , presupposition asserts that what is said is presumed knowledge or common sense. Finally, Victimization and number game are the least used strategies.