Linguistic strategies to present complexity in a time of crisis: How European leaders discussed the Covid-19 pandemic

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, world leaders were expected to discuss complex notions with their constituents. In this paper, I analyze how four European leaders - Erna Solberg (Norway), Giuseppe Conte (Italy), Emmanuel Macron (Macron), Boris Johnson (UK) - broke down the complexity associated with Covid-19 measures. I look at 57 speeches given in the period of March 2020 - October 2020. Solberg chose to tackle complexity through oversimplification, for instance by overusing numbered lists and the intensifier mange (‘many’). Macron used self-directed questions to structure the discourse into more manageable units. Johnson made extensive use of signposting, slogans and catchphrases. No particular strategy was used by Conte to tackle complexity; this highlights the effect of increased time pressure in communicating a crisis.