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“Aurel Vlaicu” University of Arad

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Studies of Anglo-Saxon Language and Literature

Barack !ama"s S#eec$es

Scientific coordinator% &onf' univ' dr' tilia Hu iuț

  Student% ()curar *manuela

Arad+ ,./

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Background information

  0r' !ama $as delivered s#eec$es #lus several #residential candidate de!ates 1it$ 0r '

2omney in ,.,' Some s#eec$es are !ased on t$eir #olitical delivery im#ortance to

 #in#oint r$etorical strategies+ nominali3ation+ #assivi3ation and modality incor#orated in

t$em' All t$e s#eec$es are delivered on military strategy 4 on 5$ird (residential State of

t$e Union4 on (residential 6omination Acce#tance4 t$e United 6ations 7eneral Assem!ly

and finally on Second (residential *lection Victory S#eec$ res#ectively' 0edia discussed t$e

*lected (resident"s s#eec$es and t$e c$anges t$at 1ill come to America' Ho1ever+ t$ere 1ere

several gestures of (resident !ama 1$ic$ caused controversy and attracted 1ides#read

criticism'

8 suggest t$ree of t$ese articles 1$ic$ covers t$e su!9ect'

.'  !ama *lected (resident as 2acial Barrier Falls

a) The Social Action

“!ama *lected (resident as 2acial Barrier Falls” is an article #u!lis$ed on 6ovem!er / t$ ,:in t$e online version of New York Times, an American maga3ine engaged in conveying ne1s'

b) The Text

Barack Hussein !ama 1as elected t$e //t$ #resident of t$e United States on 5uesday+ s1ee#ing

a1ay t$e last racial !arrier in American #olitics 1it$ ease as t$e country c$ose $im as its first

 !lack c$ief executive'

5$e election of 0r' !ama amounted to a national cat$arsis ; a re#udiation of a $istorically

un#o#ular 2e#u!lican #resident and $is economic and foreign #olicies+ and an em!race of 0r'

!ama<s call for a c$ange in t$e direction and t$e tone of t$e country'

But it 1as 9ust as muc$ a strikingly sym!olic moment in t$e evolution of t$e nation<s fraug$t

racial $istory+ a !reakt$roug$ t$at 1ould $ave seemed unt$inka!le 9ust t1o years ago'

0r' !ama+ /=+ a first-term senator from 8llinois+ defeated Senator  >o$n 0c&ain of Ari3ona+ =,+

a former #risoner of 1ar 1$o 1as making $is second !id for t$e #residency'

5o t$e very end+ 0r' 0c&ain<s cam#aign 1as ecli#sed !y an o##onent 1$o 1as not$ing s$ort of

a #$enomenon+ dra1ing $uge cro1ds e#itomi3ed !y t$e tens of t$ousands of #eo#le 1$o turned

out to $ear 0r' !ama<s victory s#eec$ in 7rant (ark in &$icago'

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0r' 0c&ain also foug$t t$e $ead1inds of a relentlessly $ostile #olitical environment+ 1eig$ted

do1n 1it$ t$e !aggage left to $im !y (resident Bus$ and an economic colla#se t$at took #lace in

t$e middle of t$e general election cam#aign'

“8f t$ere is anyone out t$ere 1$o still dou!ts t$at America is a #lace 1$ere all t$ings are #ossi!le+ 1$o still 1onders if t$e dream of our founders is alive in our time+ 1$o still ?uestions

t$e #o1er of our democracy+ tonig$t is your ans1er+” said 0r' !ama+ standing !efore a $uge

1ooden lectern 1it$ a ro1 of American flags at $is !ack+ casting $is eyes to a cro1d t$at

stretc$ed far into t$e &$icago nig$t'

“8t<s !een a long time coming+” t$e #resident-elect added+ “!ut tonig$t+ !ecause of 1$at 1e did

on t$is date in t$is election at t$is defining moment+ c$ange $as come to America'”

0r' 0c&ain delivered $is concession s#eec$ under clear skies on t$e lus$ la1n of t$e Ari3onaBiltmore+ in ($oenix+ 1$ere $e and $is 1ife $ad $eld t$eir 1edding rece#tion' 5$e cro1d reacted

1it$ scattered !oos as $e offered $is congratulations to 0r' !ama and saluted t$e $istorical

significance of t$e moment'

“5$is is a $istoric election+ and 8 recogni3e t$e significance it $as for African-Americans and for

t$e s#ecial #ride t$at must !e t$eirs tonig$t+” 0r' 0c&ain said+ adding+ “@e !ot$ reali3e t$at 1e

$ave come a long 1ay from t$e in9ustices t$at once stained our nation<s re#utation'”

 6ot only did 0r' !ama ca#ture t$e #residency+ !ut $e led $is #arty to s$ar# gains in &ongress'5$is #uts emocrats in control of t$e House+ t$e Senate and t$e @$ite House for t$e first time

since .C+ 1$en Bill &linton 1as in office'

5$e day s$immered 1it$ $istory as voters !egan lining u# !efore da1n+ $ours !efore #olls

o#ened+ to take #art in t$e culmination of a cam#aign t$at over t$e course of t1o years

commanded an extraordinary amount of attention from t$e American #u!lic'

As t$e returns !ecame kno1n+ and 0r' !ama #assed milestone after milestone ;$io+ Florida+

Virginia+ (ennsylvania+ 6e1 Ham#s$ire+ 8o1a and 6e1 0exico ; #eo#le rolled s#ontaneously

into t$e streets to cele!rate 1$at many descri!ed+ 1it$ #er$a#s overstated if understanda!le

ex$ilaration+ a ne1 era in a country 1$ere 9ust ./D years ago+ 0r' !ama+ as a !lack man+ could

$ave !een o1ned as a slave'

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For 2e#u!licans+ es#ecially t$e conservatives 1$o $ave dominated t$e #arty for nearly t$ree

decades+ t$e nig$t re#resented a !itter set!ack and left t$em contem#lating 1$ere t$ey no1 stand

in American #olitics'

0r' !ama and $is ex#anded emocratic ma9ority on &a#itol Hill no1 face t$e task ofgoverning t$e country t$roug$ a difficult #eriod% t$e likeli$ood of a dee# and #rolonged

recession+ and t1o 1ars' He took note of t$ose circumstances in a s#eec$ t$at 1as nota!le for its

so!riety and its a!sence of t$e trium#$alism t$at $e mig$t understanda!ly $ave dis#layed on a

nig$t 1$en $e 1on an *lectoral &ollege landslide'

“5$e road a$ead 1ill !e long+ our clim! 1ill !e stee#+” said 0r' !ama+ $is audience $us$ed and

attentive+ 1it$ some+ including t$e 2ev' >esse >ackson+ 1i#ing tears from t$eir eyes' “@e may

not get t$ere in one year or even one term+ !ut America+ 8 $ave never !een more $o#eful t$an 8

am tonig$t t$at 1e 1ill get t$ere' 8 #romise you+ 1e as a #eo#le 1ill get t$ere'” 5$e roster ofdefeated 2e#u!licans included some nota!le #arty moderates+ like Senator  >o$n *' Sununu of

 6e1 Ham#s$ire and 2e#resentative &$risto#$er S$ays of &onnecticut+ and signaled t$at t$e

2e#u!lican conference convening early next year in @as$ington 1ill !e not only smaller !ut

more conservative'

0r' !ama 1ill come into office after an election in 1$ic$ $e laid out a num!er of clear

 #romises% to cut taxes for most Americans+ to get t$e United States out of 8ra? in a fast and

orderly fas$ion+ and to ex#and $ealt$ care'

8n a recognition of t$e difficult transition $e faces+ given t$e economic crisis+ 0r' !ama is

ex#ected to !egin filling @$ite House 9o!s as early as t$is 1eek'

3) Topic Development. The Structure of the Discourse

5$e article is a #iece of comment a!out !ama elected #resident 1ritten !y Adam 6agourney'

His comment follo1s a##roximately t$e #attern of an ex#ository discourse% problem-solution-

 supporting argumentation-evaluation' n 6ovem!er /+ ,:+ Barack !ama gave a victory

s#eec$ in 7rant (ark of &$icago to a##reciate $is su##orters and cele!rated t$e success ofelections' A!out /+ Americans got t$ere and 1itnessed t$e $a##y moment' So $ere+ 1e can

find t$at t$e t1o sam#le s#eec$es mainly use sim#le 1ords and s$ort sentences' 5$e language

is easy and collo?uial' 5$e audience of t$e s#eec$es is usually various+ including t$e ric$+ t$e

 #oor+ t$e !lack+ t$e 1$ite and so on' 8n order to s$orten t$e distance !et1een t$e #resident and

t$e audience+ 1e can find !ama used a lot of s#oken *nglis$' 0oreover+ t$e su!9ect of t$e

t1o s#eec$es is extensive+ 1$ic$ isn t on account of one or t1o concrete issue' 5$at is !ecause‟

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t$e #residential s#eec$es usually reflect t$e #olitical #latforms of t$e candidate+ so t$e field is

large+ suc$ as American $istory+ #resent crisis+ glo!al issues and so on'

,' !ama"s 8naugural Adress

b) The Text

 Barack Hussein Obama became the 44th president of the nited !tates on Tuesda" and called on

 #mericans to confront $our collective failure to make hard choices%& 'or coverage of the

inaugural balls go to $ Having a Ball %&

Dress-Up Time |7:! p.m. kay+ readers+ time to get ready for your galas and !alls' @e<ll !e

 !ack later tonig$t 1it$ (art 888 of our live !logging of 8nauguration ay' See you s$ortly'

"#$ %ea& %el& %i'h( | 7:* p.m. Here<s one sign t$at you<re not #resident anymore ; 1$en

most c$annels don<t !ot$er #icking u# your s#eec$ and one of t$e fe1 t$at does+ Fox+ cuts a1ay

 !efore it<s over'

0r' Bus$ told a small 1elcoming cro1d in 0idland+ 5exas+ muc$ of 1$at $e $as !een saying in

$is fare1ell s#eec$es and intervie1s over t$e last fe1 1eeks' But in lig$t of 0r' !ama<s

8naugural Address today and t$e ne1 #resident<s stark re#udiation of 1$at $is #redecessor left

 !e$ind+ 0r' Bus$<s s#eec$ almost seemed like a re!uttal'

“8 al1ays felt it 1as im#ortant to tackle t$e toug$ issues today and not try to t$em on to future

 #residents+ and future generations+” 0r' Bus$ said' “8 never took an o#inion #oll to tell me 1$atto t$ink' And 8<m coming $ome 1it$ my $ead $eld $ig$ and a sense of accom#lis$ment'”

After the +ara&e | ,: p.m. @ell+ it got dark long ago+ and finally t$e #arade ended' 5$e

!amas 1ent inside+ $olding $ands+ and are getting ready for t$eir !alls' @$ile everyone 1aits

to see 1$at 0rs' !ama is 1earing+ let<srun t$roug$ 0r' Bus$<s s#eec$'

ac in Texas | ,:/ p.m. 0r' Bus$ $as landed in 0idland and is addressing t$e cro1d'

"Simple 0ati'ue( | !:!* p.m. *d1ard Aulisi+ c$airman of neurosurgery at @as$ington Hos#ital

&enter+ $as released t$is statement% “Senator *d1ard Eennedy ex#erienced a sei3ure today 1$ileattending a lunc$eon for (resident Barack !ama in t$e U'S' &a#itol' After testing+ 1e !elieve

t$e incident 1as !roug$t on !y sim#le fatigue' Senator Eennedy is a1ake+ talking 1it$ family

and friends+ and feeling 1ell' He 1ill remain at t$e @as$ington Hos#ital &enter overnig$t for

o!servation+ and 1ill !e released in t$e morning'”

b)  The text

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After G !illion+ t1o do3en #residential #rimary election days+ a #air of national conventions+

four general election de!ates+ $undreds of &ongressional contests and more television

advertisements t$an anyone 1ould ever 1ant to 1atc$+ t$e t1o ma9or #olitical #arties in America

essentially foug$t to a standstill'

@$en all t$e s$outing 1as done+ t$e American #eo#le on 5uesday more or less ratified t$e status

?uo t$at existed at t$e start of t$e day% t$ey returned (resident !ama to t$e @$ite House for

anot$er four years+ reaffirmed 2e#u!lican control of t$e House and ke#t t$e Senate in

emocratic $ands' As of @ednesday+ t$e margins in t$e House and t$e Senate $ad eac$ c$anged

 !y 9ust t1o or t$ree seats'

5$e tie in effect 1ent to t$e emocrats+ 1$o $ad more to lose !ut did not' 6ot only did t$ey

retain t$e #residency+ t$ey $eld off a concerted drive to take over t$e Senate and instead added

slig$tly to t$eir ma9ority'

5$e 2e#u!licans lost a signal o##ortunity to 1in Senate seats in states t$at !y most measures

s$ould !e t$eir territory ; 8ndiana+ 0issouri and 6ort$ akota ; 1$ile losing seats t$ey $ad

$eld in 0aine and 0assac$usetts'

For $is #art+ 0r' !ama 1on a clear victory !ut less decisively t$an ot$er #residents 1$o 1ere

re-elected' He garnered 9ust C #ercent of t$e #o#ular vote+ t$ree #ercentage #oints lo1er t$an in

,:+ in a sign of 9ust $o1 divided t$e country remains over $is leaders$i#' His margin in t$e

*lectoral &ollege 1as stronger+ !ut even if $e 1ins Florida+ 1$ic$ remained too close to call+ $e

1ill !e t$e first #resident since Franklin ' 2oosevelt to 1in anot$er term 1it$ fe1er electoral

votes t$an in $is first election+ suggesting a narro1ing of $is coalition'

5$e !ottom-line scorecard left @as$ington as divided as ever+ 1it$ no resolution of most of t$e

fundamental issues at stake' 5$e #rofound de!ate t$at $as raged over t$e si3e and role of

government+ t$e !alance !et1een stimulus s#ending and austerity and t$e #ro#er level of

taxation $as not !een settled in t$e least' 5$e next t1o years could easily du#licate t$e last t1o as

t$e #arties !attle it out'

At least in #u!lic+ t$e t1o sides 1ere #ledging on @ednesday t$at t$ings 1ould c$ange' 8n $is

victory s#eec$+ t$e #resident said $e 1as “looking for1ard to reac$ing out and 1orking 1it$

leaders of !ot$ #arties to meet t$e c$allenges 1e can only solve toget$er% reducing our deficit+reforming our tax code+ fixing our immigration system+ freeing ourselves from foreign oil'”

S#eaker >o$n A' Boe$ner+ 2e#u!lican of $io+ struck a conciliatory tone @ednesday afternoon+

saying $e 1as ready to acce#t a !udget deal t$at raised federal revenues if it 1as linked to an

over$aul of entitlement #rograms and an over$aul of t$e tax code'

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8f not$ing else+ one issue does seem resolved !y t$e election' 5$e #resident<s $ealt$ care

 #rogram+ 1$ic$ 0itt 2omney $ad vo1ed to !egin dismantling on t$e first day of $is #residency+

no1 seems certain to survive' @$ile House 2e#u!licans continue to o##ose it and may find 1ays

to attack it t$roug$ legislation+ t$ey no1 kno1 t$at t$ey do not $ave t$e a!ility to overturn it'

8t also may !e #ossi!le for t$e t1o sides to come toget$er on anot$er !ig issue% immigration' 8n

$is victory s#eec$+ 0r' !ama listed revam#ing t$e system as one of four s#ecific goals' @$ile

$e made little mention of immigration during cam#aign s#eec$es+ emocrats argue t$at

2e#u!licans may no1 !e 1illing to find com#romise given t$e election results and t$e gro1ing

 #o1er of t$e Latino vote' Some moderate 2e#u!licans agree+ alt$oug$ it is not clear 1$et$er t$e

 #arty as a 1$ole $as come to t$at conclusion'

Bi!liogra#$y%

Huiu+ ' 

 (iscourse #nal"sis% Note de curs

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