Public accusations of corruption leveled against public figures and institutions in Jordan have recently become a prominent feature of public discourse in the country. Informed by positioning theory as an analytical framework, this study focuses on public responses to such accusations through a discourse analysis of two major apologetic statements, or apologiae, issued in Jordan in 2018 and 2019: one by a controversial former royal court chief and minister of planning in response to public accusations of corruption and appropriation of public funds, and the other by the Office of Queen Rania of Jordan in response to accusations of wardrobe extravagance and overspending. The analysis shows that these two apologiae employed discourses that not only positioned the accused as blameless, but also as victims of defamation. Reference to one’s history, such as public service to the nation and one’s accomplishments, was exploited. In contrast, the accusers were explicitly or implicitly positioned as unjust, biased, vindictive, or motivated by hidden agenda. A variety of discursive strategies were deployed, particularly invoking cultural moral orders, resorting to banal nationalism, expressing pride in one’s public service and allegiance to the monarchy, and invoking a constellation of religious, professional and national identities. In the case of the royal apologia, it was implicitly positioned in western discourses, such as invoking feminine ‘corporeal modernity’, to respond to the wardrobe overspending accusations.

中文翻译：

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辩护话语：约旦对腐败指控的公开回应中的自我和其他定位

最近，针对约旦公众人物和机构的腐败公开指控已成为该国公共话语的一个突出特点。本研究以定位理论为分析框架，通过对 2018 年和 2019 年在约旦发布的两份主要道歉声明或道歉声明进行话语分析，重点关注公众对此类指控的反应：一个是有争议的前皇家法院院长兼外交部长。计划应对公众对腐败和挪用公共资金的指控，另一项由约旦拉尼娅王后办公室应对衣橱奢侈和超支的指控。分析表明，这两个道歉使用的话语不仅将被告定位为无可指责，而且将其定位为诽谤的受害者。参考一个人的历史，例如为国家提供公共服务和一个人的成就，被剥削了。相比之下，指控者被明确或隐含地定位为不公正、有偏见、报复性强或受隐藏议程驱动。部署了各种话语策略，特别是援引文化道德秩序，诉诸平庸的民族主义，表达对公共服务的自豪感和对君主制的忠诚，并援引一系列宗教、职业和民族身份。在皇室道歉的情况下，它被含蓄地定位在西方话语中，例如援引女性的“肉体现代性”，以回应衣橱超支的指责。或受隐藏议程的驱使。部署了各种话语策略，特别是援引文化道德秩序，诉诸平庸的民族主义，表达对公共服务的自豪感和对君主制的忠诚，并援引一系列宗教、职业和民族身份。在皇室道歉的情况下，它被含蓄地定位在西方话语中，例如援引女性的“肉体现代性”，以回应衣橱超支的指责。或受隐藏议程的驱使。部署了各种话语策略，特别是援引文化道德秩序，诉诸平庸的民族主义，表达对公共服务的自豪感和对君主制的忠诚，并援引一系列宗教、职业和民族身份。在皇室道歉的情况下，它被含蓄地定位在西方话语中，例如援引女性的“肉体现代性”，以回应衣橱超支的指责。