discourse analysis of the first inaugural address by Abraham Lincoln and the first inaugural address by Barack Obama on properties of discursive manipulation; including lexical, macro details, and grammatical elements. The rhetorical styles used by both presidents in their Addresses unquestionably influenced their degrees of success in achieving their political goals. Additionally political discourse is especially interesting to look at for this type of research since the speakers address the audience
President Barack Obamas’s Inauguration Speech There is little doubt that rhetoric is used by individuals of the political world and anyone linked to politics every where in the World. In our history, most presidents have used rhetoric to make their case and to address important issues when speaking to the nation. During president Obama’s journey that brought him to the White House, his speeches have contained many types of rhetoric and rhetorical devices. Throughout his inaugural speech, we can
For example, Richard Vatz argues in, “The Myth of the Rhetorical Situation,” that for something to be considered rhetorical, words must be involved. This is not the case, however, considering the powerful effect that pictures, images, and sounds, all have in the persuasion of an audience. Since images and sounds have the power to appeal to an audience’s pathos, logos, and ethos, they are in actuality, rhetorical objects. Vatz also argues, “We view the communication of an event as a
In “Address to the Nation”, a speech released by President Barack Obama on December 6th of 2015, Obama discusses the ubiquitous issue of terrorism, specifically referring to ISIL. An analysis of the first section of this speech uncovered the anomaly of a tragedy depicting 14 American soldiers who were killed in the hands of a terror organization formally known as ISIL. As the president advances in his national address, he elucidates all aspects of terrorism in this tragedy, but also details pertaining