Language
The language of President Barack Obama's 2015 State of the Union address is formal as the context is an official address to Congress by the US President. However, the language is not overly complex, as the speaker’s argumentation is meant to be explicit and readily understood by a wide audience, including the general US pub…
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Sentence structure
The sentence structure is formal and grammatically correct. The speaker combines short, medium, and long sentences, making the speech sound more balanced. He begins with short sentences like “We are 15 years into this new century.” (l. 4) which capture the audience’s attention but continues with longer sentences which are…
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Tone
Overall, the speaker’s tone is serious, but there are occasional instances of humor, slight aggression, or a triumphant attitude.
The general seriousness of the tone is understandable given the fact that the speaker explores difficult economic issues in America and the country’s foreign policy: “Second, we’re demonstrating the power of American strength and d…
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Anecdotes and personal stories
The speech also includes a few anecdotes and personal stories: “Seven years ago, Rebekah and Ben Erler of Minneapolis were newlyweds.” (ll. 65-67); “…
