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英语文体学学期论文范文

　　英语文体学学期论文范文-Stylistic Analysis of Brack Obama’s Victory Speech

英语文体学学期论文范文

　　Abstract: Public speech is an art. It presents the features of formal written language while exhibiting characteristics of the spoken. Barack Obama ,an excellent speaker, addressed his victory speech on NOV 5, 2008 in Chicago. This speech, which is very convincing, is considered a classic. This paper analysis the speech from four aspects: content, grammatical features, lexical features and semantic features. Through the essay, we can have a better understanding of the public speech.

　　Key Words: Obama, victory speech; stylistic analysis

　　On NOV 5,2008,Barack Obama was elected the 44th president of America, becoming the first national leader in American history. On the evening, Obama addressed his victory speech in Chicago.

　　The theme of Obama’s victory speech is “change is coming to America” in response to the special period of US. Form the perspective of stylistics, the speech can be analyzed form four aspects: content, grammatical features, lexical features and semantic features.

　　1.Introduction of the content

　　In terms of the main idea of the speech, it can be divided into five parts, including:celebration(para.1-5),thanks(para.6-10),challenge(para.30-32).Those parts are developed naturally and connected with each other coherently, which serves for the unity of the theme.

　　2.Grammatical features

　　2.1Variation in sentence length

　　There are 83 sentences and 2067 words in Obama’s Victoty Speech. The length of sentences varies with the change emotional state of mind of the Obama. The average length is 25 words per sentence, which show the trait of formal written language. But Obama does not use too much long sentence to confuse the audience. Short sentences, which are easier to remember and to understand also server to deliver his massage clearly.

　　2.2Different sentence types

　　In this speech, composite sentences are very common, while simple sentences just account for a little part. Obama rarely uses “s” structure. Instead, he applied “of”, that and “who” to put the modifier part behind. By using postposition structure, he makes the content more precise and adds a sense of elegance and gravity to the speech.

　　Besides, all the sentences in the speech are statement without a few questions. Because the aim of speech is to deliver the massage of “yes we can”, he utilizes affirmative tone to emphasize his and American people’s confidence. The application of command also helps to enhance the interaction of the addresser and the addresses.

　　3 lexical features

　　3.1Diction

　　As Obama’s victory speech has been meticulously prepares, every word has been carefully chosen to express the accurate meaning. It is clearly that Obama avoids using too much big words in order to make his speech easy to understand and popular. However, as a political speech, abstract words are indispensable. Therefore, we can find “democracy”, ”enormity”, ”mortgage”, ”humanity” and “determination” this kind of words. These words which may increase the difficulty to understand to some extend. can make the speech very formal and compelling.

　　Furthermore, there are less than 100 adjectives in this 2,067-word speech. Apparently, Obama uses adjectives as few as possible to keep his stand objective and fair. But those he uses clearly express his emotions: like ‘thriving”, “hopeful”, “steep”, “long” and so on.

　　3.2Various personal pronoun

　　When delivering his speech, Obama uses various personal pronouns to address the audience.

　　Obama uses first person frequently. “We”, “our”, and “us” contribute to involve the audience, making them feel that they are on equal terms with the president. Thus it is easier for the speaker to win the support of the listeners, who immediately feel close to the speaker when hearing the expression “we” ,“our”, and “us” contribute to involve the audience, making them feel that they are on equal terms with the president. Thus it is easier for the speaker to win the support of the listens, who immediately feel close to the speaker when hearing the expression “we” or “our”. Obama involves all the audience and makes them feel that they are the ones whom he is speaking to . In this speech, he changes personal pronoun from time to time. By the conversion of personal pronouns, he manage to make the speech flexible and rousing.

　　4. Semantic features

　　To make the speech an impressive one instead of a political cliché, a variety of figures of speech are used, which includes phonetic stylistic devices, lexical stylistic devices and syntactical stylistic devices.

　　4.1 phonetic stylistic devices

　　In order to make the speech sound fluent, a lot of alliterations are applied, For example, in the sentence “Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that have poisoned our politics for so long. “Partisanship” and “pettiness” “poisoned” and “politics” have the same consonants, which sound rhythmical and harmonious and clearly embodies the determination of the president. The frequent use of alliteration makes the narration brief but precise, which can easily draw the attention of the audience and show the speaker’s opinion powerfully.

　　4.2 Lexical stylistic devices

　　Metaphors and allusions are highlights in the speech. In the sentence “The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep,” the tenors for “the road” and “our climb” are actually the hardship that Americans will be confronted with. Then, Obama encourages American people that “American’s beacon still burns as bright,” and here he uses metaphor to convey the information that America is still very strong and will be strong enough to conquer the difficulties. By comparing the abstract content to concrete things, he adds vitality to the whole speech.

　　4.3 Syntactical stylistic devices

　　The diversity of syntactical structure makes the speech eminent. At the very beginning of the speech, he uses a paralleled sentence to claim the audience’s attention. After the opening-up, a number of parallelisms used in the speech. Besides, a lot of repetitions can also appear, such as “block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand” and the impressive slogan “Yes we can” which appears 7 times(in para 24,25,2627,28,29 and 31) and gradually pushes the speech to the crescendo of emotion. The application of repetitions and parallelism actually has similar effect: it makes the whole speech organized in order and highlight the topic, which is overwhelming and convincing.

　　Furthermore, antithesis, a rhetorical device which is favored by many president of America, plays a significant role in the speech. In paragraph 3,Obama says “It’ s the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, whiten Hispanic, Asian, Native American ,gay, straight, disabled and not disabled…” Here, by addressing people from all walks of life, Obama shows his concern for every single American. It reflects the American’s belief: “all men are created equal”. By using antithesis, he emphasizes his opinions and delivers his message clearly.

　　5.Conclusion

　　From what has been discussed above, we can see that the victory speech of Obama embodies the characteristics of public speech. By covering rich content, Obama creates an inclusive sense of history; by using diversified rhetorical devices, he spruces up the whole speech and makes it infectious; by quoting former great men’s dictums, he echoes with the great spirit of America and marks himself as one of the great speakers. To sum up, the victory speech of Obama shows his distinct style and speaks out the inner voice of American in that crucial period.

　　参考文献：

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　　[2]文秉龙,李智允.Obama的演讲艺术[M].北京:机械工业出版社,2010

　　[3]王佐良,丁往道.英语文体学引论[M].北京:外语教学与研究出版社,1978

　　[4]曾亚平,黄振定.论Obama总统竞选获胜演讲的文体风格[J]湖南大学学报:社会科学版,2009,5(3)

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　　Appendix:

　　SENATOR BARACK OBAMA: (Cheers, applause.) Hello, Chicago. (Cheers, applause.)

　　If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America is a place where all things are possible, who still wonders if the dream of our Founders is alive in our time, who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer. (Cheers, applause.)

　　It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and churches in numbers this nation has never seen, by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different, that their voices could be that difference.

　　It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled -- (cheers) -- Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been just a collection of individuals or a collection of red states and blue states; we are and always will be the United States of America. (Cheers, applause.)

　　It's the answer that -- that led those who've been told for so long by so many to be cynical and fearful and doubtful about what we can achieve to put their hands on the arc of history and bend it once more toward the hope of a better day. It's been a long time coming, but tonight, because of what we did on this day, in this election, at this defining moment, change has come to America. (Cheers, applause.)

　　A little bit earlier this evening, I received an extraordinarily gracious call from Senator McCain. (Cheers, applause.) Senator McCain fought long and hard in this campaign, and he's fought even longer and harder for the country that he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine. We are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. (Applause.) I congratulate him, I congratulate Governor Palin for all they've achieved, and I look forward to working with them to renew this nation's promise in the months ahead. (Cheers, applause.)

　　I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his heart and spoke for the men and women he grew up with on the streets of Scranton, and rode with on the train home to Delaware, the vice president-elect of the United States, Joe Biden. (Cheers, applause.)

　　And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of my best friend for the last 16 years, the rock of our family, the love of my life, the nation's next first lady, Michelle Obama. (Cheers, applause.)

　　Sasha and Malia, I love you both more than you can imagine, and you have earned the new puppy that's coming with us to the White House. (Cheers, applause.)

　　And while she's no longer with us, I know my grandmother is watching, along with the family that made me who I am. I miss them tonight, and know that my debt to them is beyond measure.

　　To my sister Maya, my sister Auma, all my other brothers and sisters, thank you so much for all the support that you've given to me. I am grateful to them. (Cheers, applause.)

　　And to my campaign manager, David Plouffe -- (cheers, applause) -- the unsung hero of this campaign who built the best -- (cheers) -- the best political campaign I think in the history of the United States of America -- (cheers, applause) -- to my chief strategist, David Axelrod -- (cheers, applause) -- who has been a partner with me every step of the way, to the best campaign team ever assembled in the history of politics -- (cheers) -- you made this happen, and I am forever grateful for what you've sacrificed to get it done. (Cheers, applause.)

　　But above all, I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to. It belongs to you. (Cheers, applause.) It belongs to you. (Cheers.)

　　I was never the likeliest candidate for this office. We didn't start with much money or many endorsements. Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington; it began in the backyards of Des Moines and the living rooms of Concord and the front porches of Charleston. It was built by working men and women who dug into what little savings they had to give $5 and $10 and $20 to the cause. (Cheers, applause.) It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's apathy -- (cheers) -- who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep. It drew strength from the not-so-young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers, and from the millions of Americans who volunteered and organized, and proved that more than two centuries later a government of the people, by the people and for the people has not perished from the Earth. This is your victory. (Cheers, applause.)

　　Now, I know you didn't do this just to win an election, and I know you didn't do it for me. You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. For even as we celebrate tonight, we know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime: two wars, a planet in peril, the worst financial crisis in a century. Even as we stand here tonight, we know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us. There are mothers and fathers who will lie awake after their children fall asleep and wonder how they'll make the mortgage or pay their doctors' bills or save enough for their child's college education.

　　There's new energy to harness, new jobs to be created, new schools to build, and threats to meet, alliances to repair.

　　The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even in one term, but America, I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there. I promise you: We as a people will get there. (Cheers, applause.)

　　AUDIENCE: Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can! Yes, we can!

　　MR. OBAMA: There will be setbacks and false starts. There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make as president, and we know the government can't solve every problem. But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face. I will listen to you, especially when we disagree. And above all, I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation the only way it's been done in America for 221 years -- block by block, brick by brick, calloused hand by calloused hand.

　　What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn night. This victory alone is not the change we seek; it is only the chance for us to make that change.

　　And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were. It can't happen without you, without a new spirit of service, a new spirit of sacrifice. So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves, but each other.

　　Let us remember that if this financial crisis taught us anything, it's that we cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers. In this country, we rise or fall as one nation; as one people.

　　Let's resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long. Let's remember that it was a man from this state who first carried the banner of the Republican Party to the White House -- a party founded on the values of self-reliance and individual liberty and national unity. Those are values we all share. And while the Democratic Party has won a great victory tonight, we do so with a measure of humility and determination to heal the divides that have held back our progress. (Cheers, applause.)

　　As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends -- though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection." And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices, I need your help, and I will be your president too. (Cheers, applause.)

　　And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of the world, our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of American leadership is at hand. (Cheers, applause.) To those -- to those who would tear the world down: we will defeat you. (Cheers, applause.) To those who seek peace and security: we support you. (Cheers, applause.) And to all those who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright: tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals -- democracy, liberty, opportunity and unyielding hope. (Cheers, applause.)

　　That's the true genius of America, that America can change. Our union can be perfected. And what we have already achieved gives us hope for what we can and must achieve tomorrow.

　　This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations. But one that's on my mind tonight's about a woman who cast her ballot in Atlanta. She is a lot like the millions of others who stood in line to make their voice heard in this election, except for one thing: Ann Nixon Cooper is 106 years old. (Cheers, applause.)

　　She was born just a generation past slavery; a time when there were no cars on the road or planes in the sky; when someone like her couldn't vote for two reasons, because she was a woman and because of the color of her skin. And tonight, I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America: the heartache and the hope, the struggle and the progress, the times we were told that we can't, and the people who pressed on with that American creed, yes we can.

　　At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, she lived to see them stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Yes we can.

　　When there was despair in the Dust Bowl and depression across the land, she saw a nation conquer fear itself with a New Deal, new jobs, a new sense of common purpose. Yes we can.

　　AUDIENCE: Yes we can!

　　MR. OBAMA: When the bombs fell on our harbor and tyranny threatened the world, she was there to witness a generation rise to greatness and a democracy was saved. Yes we can.

　　AUDIENCE: Yes we can!

　　MR. OBAMA: She was there for the buses in Montgomery, the hoses in Birmingham, a bridge in Selma, and a preacher from Atlanta who told a people that "We shall overcome." Yes we can.

　　AUDIENCE: Yes we can!

　　MR. OBAMA: A man touched down on the Moon, a wall came down in Berlin, a world was connected by our own science and imagination. And this year, in this election, she touched her finger to a screen and cast her vote, because after 106 years in America, through the best of times and the darkest of hours, she knows how America can change.

　　Yes, we can.

　　AUDIENCE: Yes, we can.

　　MR. OBAMA: America, we have come so far. We have seen so much. But there's so much more to do. So tonight let us ask ourselves, if our children should live to see the next century, if my daughters should be so lucky to live as long as Ann Nixon Cooper, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?

　　This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. This is our time -- to put our people back to work and open doors of opportunity for our kids; to restore prosperity and promote the cause of peace; to reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth that out of many, we are one; that while we breathe, we hope; and where we are met with cynicism and doubt and those who tell us that we can't, we will respond with that timeless creed that sums up the spirit of a people: Yes, we can.

　　AUDIENCE: Yes, we can.

　　MR. OBAMA: Thank you. God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America. (Cheers, applause.)