Strategic Communication in English-Language Interviews: A Linguistic Analysis

The study undertakes a comprehensive analysis of the interview as a communicative genre in contemporary media discourse. The interview is conceptualised as a dialogic encounter in which participants exchange information, opinions, emotions, and ideas of social relevance. A typology of interviews is presented, encompassing classifications by textual structure, communicative purpose, organisational format, and mode of information delivery. Each type is shown to require different levels of preparation, with television interviews identified as the most complex and time-consuming. Their distinctive advantage lies in the visibility of non-verbal cues – facial expressions, gestures, and emotional reactions – which enrich the communicative process and enhance audience engagement. The research outlines the structural stages of interview preparation and execution, emphasising the interviewer’s role as the initiator and the necessity of combining organisational, technical, and psychological skills to achieve a productive dialogue. Beyond logistics, the interviewer’s ability to employ communicative strategies determines the quality of the exchange. The second part of the study focuses on the notion of image, understood as a constellation of recognisable traits and associations that shape public perception. Case analyses illustrate how celebrities deliberately construct their image to enhance their reputation and visibility. Communicative strategies are further explored through examples from Alan Carr’s Chatty Man. The analysis reveals that Carr relies on strategies of inquiry and contact to guide the conversation, while respondents typically adopt informative strategies to promote their careers and projects. Within these strategies, tactics such as direct response, explanation, humour, and anecdotal storytelling are employed to sustain audience interest and build rapport. The study demonstrates that language functions as the central instrument of interview discourse: carefully chosen words and tactics not only shape the character of the dialogue but also ensure that the interaction fulfils both journalistic and promotional purposes.