Acknowledgements

This is a first book. Foremost acknowledgement should therefore go to the editors – Joanna Gavins for her encouraging and insightful advice at the beginning of the project, and Sonia Zyngier for her meticulous and constructive comments on the draft versions of the manuscript. The finished volume is a much better text for their suggestions. Thanks, too, to Alison Gibbons, Sam Kirkham and Sara Whiteley who all provided valuable feedback on earlier chapter drafts (especially Alison, with whom I share an office and who often acted as a sounding board for my ideas). Of course, if there are any errors left in the text, they are all my own.

In my view, Sheffield is one of the most intellectually exciting cities in which to do this kind of research. Some of the chief contributors to this stimulating and supportive atmosphere are the members of the Cognitive Poetics Research Group: Alice Bell, Isabelle van der Bom, Joe Bray, Finn, Sarah Jackson, Jess Mason, Jess Norledge and Peter Stockwell (and others I have already mentioned). My understanding of many of the ideas used throughout this volume has been deepened and enriched immeasurably by our conversations. On this account, thanks are also due to my friend and colleague at Sheffield Hallam, Hugh Escott.

Just as literary linguists require a grounding in the literary cannon, so too do political discourse analysts in politics and current affairs. I am also indebted, then, to Paul Scarrott, Sian Errington, Matt Willgress and James Williamson. Our discussions have frequently caused me to rethink my perceptions of what political communication is for, and certainly what is interesting about it.

Huge thanks should also go to my family – my mum, Pat Aird, my sister, Jo Browse, and my amazing partner, Jess Meacham – whose support has been invaluable in writing this book. Thanks especially, mum, for the copy of Ad Herrenium (and the accompanying – helpful! – edition of Gwynne’s Latin). This is for you.

Finally, I am grateful to the following for permission to reproduce copyrighted material: