Place, Genre, and Polyphony in Barack Obamas Election Night Address - Case Study Example

First Part: Genre Transformation Introduction The inaugural address of President Obama as a genre is a social form transformation. The president is more of a changing leader to a partisan politician. The project will be explored to find out the extent of his inaugural speech. Secondly, the statement is translated into a news article that is further analyzed to find the difference between the two genres (Cap &Piotr, pp.48-60). Transformation Dimensions taken from the address is a social change. The speech is transformed from fiction to nonfiction in the article described below. Different arguments on the concept of genre translation are explored including definitions. It contains rhetoric elements like coherence and forgiveness (Cap &Piotr, pp.48-60). The two genres discuss in details the choice of vocabulary within the speech as the use of metaphors. The expression was anchored on the economic transformation of the nation where the president uses different rhetoric (Cap &Piotr, pp.48-60). Article Translation The speech given by the president on the day of inauguration took different dimensions. The president made a formal public declaration of him taking up full responsibility as the top most executive of the nation for a period of four years. Traditionally inaugurals indicate the conclusion of the election campaign season and initiation of a new authority. The constitution does not recognize the process yet every president does not always perform it before taking up the office. The concept was borrowed from the first president George, who gave out an elaborate speech during his tenure (Cap &Piotr, pp.48-60). Every incoming leader has got standards and political philosophies outlining their policies to the public. The inauguration was marked with the celebration of a kind that was attended by various audiences including American and Non-American citizens. Inaugurals are of high value because of what they present in the political scene correct principles of politics and presidential enactment. Their political implication becomes vivid. The speech tries to convince the citizens that the newly elected leader is capable of performing and fit for the political role and that he will deliver the set objectives. The addresses shed some light on the legitimacy of power politics and the general worldview. The political intention was to gain support from those who own power and the general public during their tenure (Cap &Piotr, pp.48-60). Conventionally, the inauguration is a ritual of passage in which the agreements are reviewed. This article tries to determine the traditional features linked with any inaugural speech (Cap &Piotr, pp.48-60). Second Part: Analytical Articles Comparison between News Articles and the Speech Unique difference and similarities exist between the speeches released by President Obama and the article. The translation from fiction to nonfiction can be analyzed to be similar on one side. They are both stories that contain a particular setting and participants. They are both told in first person and seem to sound truthful from all angles (Sheckels & Theodore, pp.394-405). However, the difference exists, the translated speech is more of a fiction, and an author composes the storyline. It is based on specific period, and the ideas are conceived in the mind. A good example is when the president announced his mission of changing America publicly. In the inaugural speech, he now changes the tone and content of his sentiments. He talks about politics as opposed to revolution (Sheckels & Theodore, pp.394-405). Genre Analysis The focus is on an inaugural speech made by the president as a genre. In some definitions, the genre is an appreciatable element of communication characterized by intentions that are well understood by people (Sheckels & Theodore, pp.394-405). A genre is linked with the communicative purpose it achieves; among other factors include the audience, content and the channel (Sheckels & Theodore, pp.394-405). The address is characterized by a situational context. The president gives vision that holds the countries future in his speech. He assures the citizens that he will be a leader for all (Sheckels & Theodore, pp.394-405). Purpose of Communication The communicative intention of the speech is to address the American citizens. He tries to explain to the people his political will and that he will oversee their interest at the expense of political differences that exist. The Inaugural speech as a genre is directed towards the attitudes, beliefs and ethnicity of the nation. It symbolizes the ideals and aspirations that the Americans possess. The President directed the talk towards identity and religion that brings unity to the nation (Cap &Piotr, pp.48-60). Sender versus Audience The sender of the address is the new President of US Barrack Obama who intends to pass a message to the Americans and the world at large. He becomes the representative of the people in all society ranging from the poor to the rich (Cap &Piotr, pp.48-60). The audience of the inaugural address includes a variety of people with unique backgrounds. As a leader, he must try do deliver the speech in a relevant language and topic that is conversant with many people. In so doing, the target audience will increase who will be encouraged to collaborate and achieve the set objectives (Cap &Piotr, pp.48-60). Both the sender and the audience have common aspirations like uniting the nation towards economic development. The address also reminds the population about the dreams of America as a nation. From the past, they believe in the ideology that every person is responsible for his success and that hard work pays (Cap &Piotr, pp.48-60). Another aspect touched by the speech is on religion; the president builds confidence to the people by the fact that he is a Christian and believes in God. It upholds the integrity of the nation, and he is being viewed to be of enough interest to the people going to the founder’s religion (Cap &Piotr, pp.48-60). Rhetoric Analysis Analysis of the text used in the speech can be grouped into vocabulary and grammar in addition to cohesion. Vocabulary Critical analysis of the vocabulary goes with the use of metaphors. For instance, there is argument connected to metaphors of war when Obama’s speech is attacked on a wrong strategy (Sheckels & Theodore, pp.394-405). The president describes the present turmoil as a hindrance to growth in the nation. He connects the crisis to a crippled economy with a lack of employment. Over wording is used in both senses to describe the progress. Emphasis is put when the president says they accumulate because of a good selection of hope over fear, togetherness of purpose over conflict and lack of harmony. This example shows that the president is advocating for change to the American community. The use of over wording is to highlight the new beginning to the nation (Sheckels & Theodore, pp.394-405). Grammar The speech has taken many modalities towards the end that makes the president’s perception of the world sounds factual. For instance when he said that what is required of the people is a new regime of responsibility (Sheckels & Theodore, pp.394-405). The auxiliary verb ‘must’ is used to denote a course of action and necessity in which direction the nation has to take in future (Sheckels & Theodore, pp.394-405). Cohesion The president uses coherence in his speech when he repeats words. For example, he keeps saying “We will” when elaborating on job creation and growth (Sheckels & Theodore, pp.394-405). Coherence Referring to other genres during speech making is one form of logic used by the president in his speech. For example, he uses the words “Swing Time” without indicating the source of the text (Sheckels & Theodore, pp.394-405). Conclusion The purpose of this project indicated characteristics of the inaugural speech as a genre and explores the relevance of the statement to the particular type. Lastly, the project has examined categories of rhetoric strategies used in the address giving out an analysis of the type used. Work Cited Cap, Piotr, and Urszula Okulska, eds. analyzing genres in political communication: theory and practice. Vol. 50. John Benjamin’s Publishing, (2013): 48-60 Sheckels, Theodore F. "Place, genre, and polyphony in Barack Obama’s election night address." American Behavioural Scientist 54.4 (2010): 394-405. Read More