Speech analysis: „Yes we can“, Barack Obama

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the moon as our new frontier; and a King who took us to the mountaintop and pointed the way to the Promised Land. metaphor /reference 2 Yes we can to justice and equality. Yes we can to opportunity and prosperity. 15 Yes we can heal this nation. Yes we can repair this world. Yes we can. And so tomorrow, as we take this campaign South and West; as we learn simile that the struggles of the textile worker in Spartanburg are not so different than the plight of the dishwasher in Las Vegas; that the hopes of the little girl who goes to a crumbling school in Dillon are the same as the dreams of the boy who learns on the streets of LA; we will remember that there is something happening in America; that we are not as divided as our politics suggests; that we are one people; we are one nation; and together, we will begin the next great chapter in America's story with three words that will ring from coast to coast; from sea to shining sea-Yes. We. Can. metaphor 20 25 AMERICA, YES WE CAN! 1 American Society January 2008 In his speech Barack Obama states that there are still many issues that need to be solved in their society and that they need to be working on them. He talks about healing the nation (1.16) and fixing the world (1.16) But he emphasizes that everything is possible, as long as the whole nation sticks together because solidarity is the key in changing for the better. 2. Analysing the language: Barack Obamas speech "America, yes we can!", was held in January 2008, after the New Hampshire primary. It emerges the message that solidarity within a nation is very important for positive growth and achieving goals To emphazise that he is using many rhetorical devices. The most obious, nontheless one of the most meaningful rhetorical devices he uses is the repitition of the phrase "Yes we can" (1.5, 1.7, 1.8..). This underlines that as a unity, as one nation everything can be mastered, because united we are strong. To create that feeling of togetherness within the listeners he is using reciever including pronouns, especially "we" (1.2.1.3.1.5..). This stresses that everybody is important because everybody is equal and it makes him as the president seem more down to earth. By refering to some historical moments, such as freedom for slaves or the right to vote for women, wich are incidents that seemed out of reach for a very long period of time.he highlights that even the greatest obstacles can be overcome together and dreams of the citizens that seem inaccesible may come true. From Line 17 to 21 he uses a simile. He compares people who struggle or hope, but that are completly different in general and concludes that their struggles and hopes connect them in some way. That shows that even though we may seem far apart and different there is always something holding us together and making us a unity and that we do not have to fight for our dreams alone, but hand in hand. To sum up Barack Obama wants to unit America and stresses the importance of solidarity. He wants to motivate the citizens to work on their and the nations goals. He conveys all of this in a very sovereign way, not only because of the rhetorical devices, but by bridging the gap between him and the audience.