Language of a Public Figure The opening of the speech is very clear and direct, setting a serious essence for the audience to appreciate the detailed fashion in which Obama will go on to explain the effects of Osama Bin Laden, America’s actions, the assassination, and the important distinguishing of Islam and Pakistan from Al Qaeda. Obama is very profound for his use of emotive language; in this speech, he exemplifies this immediately. His use of antitheses opens with, “a bright September day was darkened”.
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He then goes on to take the spectators back to the tragic day of 9/11. He says, “Hijacked planes cutting through a cloudless September sky, the Twin Towers collapsing to the ground, black smoke billowing up from The Pentagon”. These noun phrases instantly create an emotional rapport between Obama and the viewers. The snapshots are also very deliberately articulated using the present tense; showing that memories will never be forgotten.
Obama cleverly changes his pace for a greater emphasis when delivering each noun phrase; he opens the first one slowly, giving a more dramatic prominence, and then speeds up with more power when reminding us of the collapsing of the Twin Towers, inducing a more serious, painful experience. The use of the word “seared” sums up the horrific event, construing pain, trauma and permanence. The president’s use of the united pronouns, “we”, “our” and “us” are ever present in nearly all of his speeches.
These key words speak to the subconscious of the listener, giving a strong sense of unity and togetherness; also an extremely common factor in Barack’s speeches. Barack Obama also shows a greater understanding of the effects of 9/11 by mentioning, “The empty seat at the dinner table, children who were forced to grow up without their mother or their father, parents who would never know the feeling of their child’s embrace” This use of nouns phrases proves to the audience that Barack feels pain and suffering too; but mostly that he understands what his people went through.
This puts trust, respect and faith into him. Obama takes it to the next level when describing; he uses potent phrases such as, “gaping hole in our hearts”. These types of idioms really add colour to an image, creating a more powerful depiction. Whenever Barack mentions a depressing expression like this, he always pauses longer than usual just before; adding to the dramatic, disastrous feeling. The introduction sets a grieving, hurtful mood for the viewers over what Bin Laden did to the U. S. A. Obama’s unified ssence is mainly established when first describing America’s actions. He states, “the American people came together”. One could not think of a more Obama-like opening to a paragraph. His use of repetition then features with him stating, “We offered” two times in the space of one sentence. These peaceful words exemplify a morally sound environment, with care, support and love intertwined; an environment Obama noticeably aims for: he states, “our love of community and country” as well as “united as one American family”.
When expressing these good things, Obama picks up the pace and speaks with more motivation; consequently making the population feel more like an amalgamated nation. Obama goes on to justify the war against Al Qaeda by using prevailing methods, such as the rule of three, to back up his statement. Obama affirms the ruling with the stand out phrase, “to protect our citizens, our friends and our allies”. This rhetorical device is further supported with the use of powerful hand gestures and slowing down of pace to induce a more dramatic effect.
The President asserts his justified decision by explaining how the war not only protects America but also many other places around the globe; making the judgment much harder to criticize. He raises his voice with hints of anger when explaining how Al Qaeda was “committed to killing innocents”. This raises the antagonism of the viewing population as well, setting the mood just right for them to accept the justifying the war. Barrack Obama later adds that they, “removed the Taliban Government” which seemingly suggests the Americans did what they did nicely, as opposed to killing and torturing many of them, which they probably did.
Obama then attempts to give good reason for his point, again, by adding that the Taliban Government had given “safe haven and support” to Al Qaeda. This justification convinces the American population that what their army was doing necessary as well as peaceful. When elucidating the assassination, Obama is sure to assert his role in affairs. This is initially made obvious when he switches from his habitual collective pronouns to speaking in first person. He opens with, “I determined” and then “at my direction”.
This intentional change has the purpose of soaking up all the credit, indenting his mark in the history of the USA. He goes on to explain how it was “the most significant achievement to date in our nation’s effort to defeat Al-Qaeda. ” This imperative description will turn out to be very significant for the re-election in 2012. The use of the words, “bring him to justice” and “took custody of his body” also make the situation seem more justified and peaceful.
The public then have a more generous view on the government, the army and the impacts they have both had on protecting their nation. When commencing a new, more momentous, paragraph, Obama uses his clenched hand to emphasize each syllable giving a dominant influence with great leadership. He also again uses the key phrase, “Our country and our friends and our allies” to return the mood to a collective unified togetherness. To conclude the assassination, Obama clarifies that this is not a time of complete celebration as he realistically predicts Al Qaeda will continue their attacks.
He uses the commanding expressions, “We must and we will remain vigilant” to assure this. The President then clarifies that the U. S. A is not at war with Islam. The common issues within America of racism towards the Asian population have been a direct result of Bin Laden’s acts. Obama, therefore, peacefully and inspirationally addresses this issue very imposingly to dismiss this foul behaviour. Barack also affirms America’s co-operation with Pakistan, distinguishing them as their allies too.
He states, “it is essential that Pakistan continue to join us in the fight”. Although Pakistan pragmatically do not have a choice, this rational clarification distinguishes the true enemy and therefore calls for peace and respect between the citizens of the U. S. A as well as between the world leaders. Obama finishes the speech with a strong, clear message emphasized with strong alliteration and other rhetoric devices. He makes clear the consequences of war: “service, struggle and sacrifice” to show his reasonable thinking as a leader.
He concludes with confident commands and emotive methods, such as: “We will be relentless” and the revisiting of the emphatic phrase, “our citizens and our friends and our allies” These exemplify his great leadership and control; putting more faith and respect from the public into him and the government. Although he speaks with authority, Obama perfectly balances his phrases to be humble and not seem over-confident; a skill only the greatest of world leaders have. This kind of quality, as well as the success of the assassination, proves to the world that Obama is the right person to take the nation forward with unity, hope and perseverance.
