From Riorda to SDED: a multimodal model for political communication

Abstract

This article revisits and extends Mario Riorda’s influential triadic model of political communication—discourse, emotion, and strategy—by proposing a fourth, under-theorized dimension: delivery. Drawing on interdisciplinary literature in prosody, political performance, and multimodal discourse analysis, the article introduces the SDED model (Strategy, Discourse, Emotion, Delivery) to capture the embodied and vocal dynamics of contemporary political messaging. Through critical engagement with three of Riorda’s major works and comparative illustrations from Latin America and beyond, the analysis demonstrates how delivery—prosody, tone, vocal charisma—operates as a strategic resource in the construction of credibility, affective resonance, and populist appeal. The article further considers how synthetic speech, algorithmic dissemination, and platform-native vocality reshape the performative landscape of political leadership. By situating the SDED model within global debates on mediatization, legitimacy, and affective publics, this contribution advocates for a multimodal approach to political communication that better reflects the complex interplay of content, emotion, and embodiment in the current era.