美国总统演讲分析

美国总统演讲风格分析公众演讲作为一种极为特殊的文体,既不同于日常谈话、即席演说等口语体裁,又不同于小说、戏剧、诗歌等文学体裁。它兼具口语和书面语两种文体的语言特点,同时,又和这两种文体有着明显的差异。它扬口语浅显易懂之长,弃口语松散杂乱之短;既保留了书面语庄重文雅之风,又不失口语生动感人之韵,使人听来感到铿锵悦耳,感情充沛,极富感染力和号召力。就语言文体风格方面,从修辞特征、语篇风格等方面对美国总统的演作一些具体的分析。一、修辞特征 政治演说的目的主要在于向听众宣扬政治主张,使他们信服并按演说者的意图采取行动。这样的演说、必需有力，且具有强烈的煽动性。为达此效果演讲者常常借助于修辞手段。排比（Parallelism）：由三项或以上的词语或句子构成，其并列的结构相同或类似，意义相关，语气连贯。排比句结构平衡,音韵和谐,语义紧凑,高潮迭起,极富感召力与鼓动性。排比手法常与反复,层进等修辞手法结合使用以增强表达效果。（1）Americans who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of individuals or a collection of Red States and Blue States: we are, and always will be, the United States of America.“我们是,我们永远是美利坚合众国”是极度富有感染力的,演讲在这里达一个高潮。（奥巴马）（2）I just received a very gracious call from Senator McCain. He fought long and hard in this campaign, and hes fought even longer and harder for the country he loves. He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to imagine, and we are better off for the service rendered by this brave and selfless leader. . .在这一段奥巴马高度赞扬了自己的竞选对手美国共和党总统候选人麦凯恩参议员,而且是极其诚恳和足够力度的评价,不带半点讽刺。（奥巴马）（3）Tonight I ask for your prayers for all those who grieve, for the children whose worlds have been shattered, for all whose sense of safety and security has been threatened.这句话透露出布什总统对遇难者的深深地哀悼，情感真切。（布什）（4）I ask you to share mu prayer that God will search me and know my heart ,try me and know my anxious thought, see if there is any hurtfulness in me ,and lead me toward the life everlasting.这段话情真意切，流露出克林顿总统的悔改之心。（克林顿）从以上例子我们也可以看出, 演讲中排比句的使用成功地加强了语势, 阐明了观点, 层层递进。用来抒情时, 由浅入深地抒发感情, 节奏和谐, 显得感情洋溢;用来说理时, 条理清晰, 鼓动性强.对比可以使听众更好地理解演讲者的意图, 突出其讲话的重点。演讲中也不时地运用对比手段来进一步阐释演讲者的观点,例如:(1) Its the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, Democrat and Republican, black, white, Latino, Asian ,Native American, gay, straight, disabled and not disabled. . .这里将年轻人和老人,有钱人和没钱人,民主党的和共和党的,黑人,白人,西班牙裔人,亚裔人,美国本土人,同性恋,异性恋,残疾的和不残疾的进行罗列对比,这在各类公众演讲中都实属罕见。这种对比的使用显示了奥巴马仁慈、博大的心胸以及人人平等的美国基本理念。（奥巴马）(2) It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generations apathy; who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay and less sleep; from the not- so- young people who braved the bitter cold and scorching heat to knock on the doors of perfect strangers. 这里将young people与not so young people进行对比。（奥巴马）暗喻(metaphor)暗喻作为一种非常重要的修辞手段, 是将两种本质不同的事物进行比较, 从而突出其共性的手法。在奥巴马的演讲中也有一些运用,例如:(1) Its 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 very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference. 这里“声音”用来暗喻“民主”、“民声”。（奥巴马）(2) America was targeted for attack because were the brightest beacon for freedom and opportunity in the world. And no one will keep that light from shining.这里“beacon”用来比喻美国，强调美国充满自由、机遇。（布什）二、语篇风格宗教是西方社会文化的重要组成部分,西方社会继承了古罗马基督教的传统,许多西方人信仰上帝,将圣经律条作为精神支柱。因此,不少政治演说家都运用基督教义,借助上帝的力量,使其演讲更具感召力。总统就职演说辞也具有浓郁的宗教色彩。（1） And I pray they will be comforted by a power greater than any of us spoken through the ages in Psalm 23: Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me.运用圣经的格言，布什向人民传达一个信念：我与你们一起打击恐怖主义，一起维护国家的安全。（布什）（2） the father of our nation ordered these words198be read to the people:“Let it be told to the future worldthat in the depth of winter ,when nothing but hope and virtue could survivethat the city and the country，alarmed at one common danger ,came forth to meet(it).”我们的国父们这样说：“我们要让未来的世界知道在深冬的严寒里，唯有希望和勇气才能让我们存活下去面对共同的危险时，我们的城市和国家要敢于上前去面对。”（奥巴马）（3） “Now is the time for turning. The leaves beginning to turn green to red to orange. The birds But unless we turn, we will be trapped forever in yesterdays ways. Lord help us to turn ,from callousness to sensitivity, from hostility”这段话引用圣经，克林顿用它为自己的