Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address: Metaphor and Values as Captivating Strategies to Celebrate a Presidency

Barack Obama's rhetorical style is broadly acknowledged to be one of the most outstanding examples of communication strategy in recent political oratory. His political success reinforces the thesis that language is a powerful tool to influence citizens. The relationship between power, di...

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Main Author: Mª Pilar Guitart Escudero
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad de Cádiz 2011-11-01
Series:Pragmalingüística
Subjects:
Online Access:http://localhost:8888/ojs-uca.3.3.x/index.php/pragma/article/view/463
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author Mª Pilar Guitart Escudero
author_facet Mª Pilar Guitart Escudero
author_sort Mª Pilar Guitart Escudero
collection DOAJ
description Barack Obama's rhetorical style is broadly acknowledged to be one of the most outstanding examples of communication strategy in recent political oratory. His political success reinforces the thesis that language is a powerful tool to influence citizens. The relationship between power, discourse and cognition provides the theoretical framework for the present analysis of Obama´s Inaugural Address; a speech which relies on literal meanings, and above all on figurative ones. Using this speech I will demonstrate how metaphor is a powerful strategy since first, it facilitates the understanding of abstract concepts in a short time span; second, it conveys positive images that benefit the orator; and, finally, because the message conveyed is doubly powerful as it works through both auditory and visual channels.  
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spelling doaj.art-df043d07e5a54c3cb04d16d217638d2d2025-01-16T09:36:32ZengUniversidad de CádizPragmalingüística1133-682X2445-30642011-11-0119Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address: Metaphor and Values as Captivating Strategies to Celebrate a PresidencyMª Pilar Guitart Escudero Barack Obama's rhetorical style is broadly acknowledged to be one of the most outstanding examples of communication strategy in recent political oratory. His political success reinforces the thesis that language is a powerful tool to influence citizens. The relationship between power, discourse and cognition provides the theoretical framework for the present analysis of Obama´s Inaugural Address; a speech which relies on literal meanings, and above all on figurative ones. Using this speech I will demonstrate how metaphor is a powerful strategy since first, it facilitates the understanding of abstract concepts in a short time span; second, it conveys positive images that benefit the orator; and, finally, because the message conveyed is doubly powerful as it works through both auditory and visual channels.   http://localhost:8888/ojs-uca.3.3.x/index.php/pragma/article/view/463political oratorypowerstrategymetaphorcognition
spellingShingle Mª Pilar Guitart Escudero
Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address: Metaphor and Values as Captivating Strategies to Celebrate a Presidency
Pragmalingüística
political oratory
power
strategy
metaphor
cognition
title Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address: Metaphor and Values as Captivating Strategies to Celebrate a Presidency
title_full Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address: Metaphor and Values as Captivating Strategies to Celebrate a Presidency
title_fullStr Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address: Metaphor and Values as Captivating Strategies to Celebrate a Presidency
title_full_unstemmed Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address: Metaphor and Values as Captivating Strategies to Celebrate a Presidency
title_short Barack Obama’s Inaugural Address: Metaphor and Values as Captivating Strategies to Celebrate a Presidency
title_sort barack obama s inaugural address metaphor and values as captivating strategies to celebrate a presidency
topic political oratory
power
strategy
metaphor
cognition
url http://localhost:8888/ojs-uca.3.3.x/index.php/pragma/article/view/463
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