Logico-Structural Integration in American Presidential Speeches

Mgr. Rami Ibrahim

Master's thesis

Abstract:

This thesis investigates the degree of coherence and accord in the corpus of American presidential speeches. It conducts a linguistic research concerned with semantics and socio-pragmatics to study the American presidential speeches in their overall cultural context and analyze the first inaugural addresses of William J Clinton, George. W. Bush and Barack Obama respectively. It traces the linguistic strategies that these presidents adopt to achieve their short-term and long-term objectives. In other words, it traces the role of the language in shaping cultures when used or invested by the institutional systems or the highest organization in society. It also defines the type of discourse under analysis and sets it apart from other American presidential output stressing its unique characteristics. As far as the socio-pragmatic research is involved and the social context is concerned, this thesis touches on some areas and concepts which are originally related to sociology, psychology and cultural studies.

Abstract:

This thesis investigates the degree of coherence and accord in the corpus of American presidential speeches. It conducts a linguistic research concerned with semantics and socio-pragmatics to study the American presidential speeches in their overall cultural context and analyze the first inaugural addresses of William J Clinton, George. W. Bush and Barack Obama respectively. It traces the linguistic strategies that these presidents adopt to achieve their short-term and long-term objectives. In other words, it traces the role of the language in shaping cultures when used or invested by the institutional systems or the highest organization in society. It also defines the type of discourse under analysis and sets it apart from other American presidential output stressing its unique characteristics. As far as the socio-pragmatic research is involved and the social context is concerned, this thesis touches on some areas and concepts which are originally related to sociology, psychology and cultural studies.

Keywords

logico-structural integration, coherence, harmony, consistency, collectivism, collective narcissism, generality, cultural meaning system, cultural entities, emotive approach, propositional approach

Language used: English

Date on which the thesis was submitted / produced: 8. 1. 2014

Thesis defence

• Date of defence: 28. 2. 2014
• Supervisor: Mgr. Jana Pelclová, Ph.D.
• Reader: doc. Mgr. Jan Chovanec, Ph.D.

Masaryk University

Faculty of Arts

Master programme / field:
Philology / English Language and Literature (Eng.)