English paper

Abstract

 

Speech is a comprehensive art. Although it is not broadcast, but it must have clear pronunciation and mellow voice just like the broadcast; Although it is not telling stories, but it must be vivid just like the story; Although it is not read, but it should have passion just like read ; Although it is not drama, but it must have the conflict just like the drama; Although it is not host, but it must face a play just like the host .

Key words: speech important rhetorical effect

 

 

Appreciation & Analysis of Rhetoric in Speeches

 

Name : Wen Guangkuo

 

1. Introduction

As we all known, Speech is a comprehensive art. Although it is not broadcast, but it must have clear pronunciation and mellow voice just like the broadcast; Although it is not telling stories, but it must be vivid just like the story; Although it is not read, but it should have passion just like read ; Although it is not drama, but it must have the conflict just like the drama; Although it is not host, but it must face a play just like the host . So speech is very important .It is a language communicative activity , which happens in public places, with sound language as the main means to posture language for assistance method . It aims at a specific issue, and expresses the speakers’ opinions , claims and feelings brightly and completely , or expounds the affairs . Therefore, when you are making a speech, you should have very good speech posture, body language , pronunciation and intonation, besides, the most important one is the speech’s content. A good speech word is the best reflects of the speaker’ soul. It includes rhetorical strategies 、rhetorical devices and typical sentences, etc. Especially rhetoric, it plays a vital role in speech.

   In order to give us a better understanding of the importance of good speech, I give two examples to compare and explain. One is Do You Believe in Me? The other is a part context of a movie named Scent of A Woman. I'll analysis and appreciate the two speeches about their backgrounds, purposes, contents, speakers’performances and effects. I Hope it can help us know the effects of the rhetoric in the speech.

2. Backgrounds

The first speech , Do You Believe in Me? was delivered by a 10-year-old 5th grade student – Dalton Sherman from Charles Rice Learning Center in South Dallas . And it happened at the Dallas Independent School District (D.I.S.D.) Teachers’ Conference on Monday, August 25, 2008, the beginning of a new school year . Speech time was about 8 minutes. The other speech was a movie speech . It happened at a private school conference, in 1992. And the speaker was Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade (Al Pacino), a bad-tempered, blind, medically retired Army officer.

3. Purposes

The former speech’s purpose was to motivate over 20,000 teachers and staff, to remind them of what their mission is all about. The latter speech’s purpose was to defense for Mr. Simms ,an excellent student in the film.

4. Contents

As to the contents, from the angle of rhetoric, wa can put them respectively into two parts to analyze and appreciate, rhetorical strategies and rhetorical devices. Meanwhile, the rhetorical devices also can be divided into several aspects, such as figures of speech, organization of the speech，style of language and so on.

4.1. Rhetorical Strategies

The first speech is concentrating solely on one particular aspect: confidence and trust, which is on the premise that if we, teachers, staffers and students have confidence and faith in each other, we can achieve anything. Then it uses key-oriented way: to find and concentrate on the key point. The latter speech also focuses on a vital point, that is, Mr. Simms,the Baird School’s student, his behavior does not violate the school’s rules. On the contrary, his courage and character of his behavior that he does’t sell anybody out to buy his future should be protected not be destroyed by the school committee and his classmates.

4.2. Rhetorical Devices

4.2.1. Figures of Speech

The former speech uses three figures of speech: repetition parallelism and rhetorical questions. Firstly, we come to the repetition. In the speech , there are lots of repetition. Here I choose some typical repetitions: “do you believe”, “anything”, “whether it's”， “we need you”，etc. The effects of these repetitions are to strengthen the power of the speech ,highlight the theme and mark major division of the speech and speech cohesive. Secondly, about the parallelism. In this speech we can see parallel structure of sentences almost everywhere. For instance, “I can do anything, be anything, create anything, dream anything, become anything…” “You are the ones who feed us, who wipe our tears, who hold our hands or hug us when we need it. You are the ones who love us when sometimes it feels like no one else does …”They express the paper’s  thoughts fuller, more deeply and more distinct. The last one is rhetorical question. For example, “Do you believe … ?” “Am I right? ” “Can I get an Amen? ” Obviously, these rhetorical questions can enhance the language power and increase motivating effect.

The latter speech uses more than five figures of speech : antithesis, rhetorical questions, innuendo, parallelism and simile, etc. The first one is antithesis. The speaker compared Charlie with George who hid in big daddy's pocket, and compared the students with some younger boys on the battlefield. The purpose is to highlight Charlie’s noble conduct and the importance of the spirit of not betraying friends. The second one is rhetorical question. “Out of order?” “Who the hell do you think you're talking to?” “ I've been around, you know?” and so on. The third one is innuendo. For example，“And why? Because he is not a Baird man”. Then, parallelisms. Such as “some guys run and some guys stay”, “I'm too old, I'm too tired, I'm too… ” “their arms torn out, their legs ripped off ”and “protect it, embrace it”, etc. Finally, it is about simile.At the end of the speech, the speaker said “I heard those words: cradle of leadership.” Evidently, this compare the school to a cradle. So it is much more vivid and visual.

4.2.2). Organization of Speech

Both of the speeches are clear in organization and cohesive in content. In the speech Do You Believe in Me? the author centered on the topic, thoroughly explained bit by bit. From believe in me to believe in my classmates, then, from believe in your colleagues to believe in yourself. Well, in the other speech, the speaker, Lieutenant Colonel Frank Slade, spoke closely around Charlie's behavior and mental quality. Through comparing and setting examples he concluded that Charlie's behavior is correct and that he should be protected not be destroyed by the school committee and his classmates.

4.2.3. Style of Language

 The style of language means the choice of words and structures. The first speech uses many Simple and informal words and phrases, namely, daily language. Such as “rub off on”, “C'mon, Am I right?”, “ Can I get an Amen?” and so forth. Another example, “anything”, although it is vague but effective. The other speech’s language style is serious, grave but also has some oral even slang inside. Here are some examples, “here's Charlie, facing the fire and there's George hiding in big daddy's pocket.” “What the hell is that?” “Baird men, you hurt this boy, you're gonna be Baird bums.” etc. In general, the two speeches are powerful in language and logical in reasoning. They not only express the themes, but also very accord with the speakers’ age and personality traits. 

5. Speakers’Performances

Both of the speakers’performances are courageous, confident, cool and passionate, and effective in using proper speed, tone. The difference is their body language. The former speaker is a ten-year-old boy, and he must prepare before givig the speech. What’s more, he has a free stage to perform. However, the latter speaker is a blind man and his speech is improvised speech. As a result of these, the former speaker is natural, humorous in body language while the latter speaker has little body language. He just kept calm, serious, imposing and dignified, and sat there with deep voice. Some of his words were rude but powerful and deep. His eyes were blind but his mind was bright. Facing this bad phenomenon，Of course，he is a little angry and serious. Because of the different topics, their tone is also different.

6. Effects

As to the effects, I have mentioned them. Besides above, some rhetorical effects are major and we should know. First of all, using these rhetorics makes the speeches simple, but touching, appealing and motivating. The two speeches are definite in goal, clever in strategy, clear in theme and concise in content.

7. Conclusion

To sum up, we know that speech is an important art, and rhetoric is a necessary factor for it. As I mentioned above, using rhetoric correctly can make a speech reach a climax. They can convey the speaker's emotions and aspirations, also can strengthen the power. So we should pay more attention to the using of rhetoric.

 

 

 

Bibliography

 

Zeng Qingmao  English Rhetoric Appreciation & Writing ( Tongji University Press, 2007 )