Language

In this section, we will discuss the language that Barack Obama employs in his remarks to the people of Israel. We will focus on word choice, sentence structure, and tone.

Note that Barack Obama is an experienced political speaker, so it will be interesting to analyze different devices that are often used in political speec…

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Choice of words

In the first part of his speech, Barack Obama employs a variety of adjectives, nouns, and structures with positive meanings. He uses words such as “honor” (l. 4), “friendship” (l. 7), “shining future” (l. 13), “vibrant democracy” (l. 23), “perseverance” (l. 39), and “faith” (l. 40), which give an overall positive note to the speech. There are several more examples of positive nouns and adjectives that you could find in the speech.

Nevertheless, Obama also employs dramatic words that have an impact on the audience. For example, he makes references to the Holocaust (l. 197), “slavery” (l. 38), “suffering” (l. 44), “imperfect world” (l. 65), “exile, prejudice, pogroms and even genocide” (ll. 76-77). These words have a dramatic effect and are used to influence the audience emotionally. Through t…

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Sentence structure

Obama’s sentence structure varies in different parts of the speech. However, you should note that he mostly employs middle-length or long sentences, which fits with the formal style of the speech.

For example, longer sentences are employed when Obama talks about the history of Israel, suggesting his interest, understanding, and respect for Israel:

Tomorrow, I will pay tribute to that history – at the grave of Herzl, a man who had the foresight to see that the future of the Jewish people had to be reconnected to their past; at the grave of Rabin, who …

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Tone

Overall, Obama’s tone is formal and diplomatic. Nevertheless, his tone changes at times, particularly when parts of his speech seem to address different audiences.

For instance, when he addresses the people of Israel, Obama’s tone is optimistic and encouraging. He advises Israelis to remain faithful to their dreams and not give up, although he knows that the nation goes through difficult times.

When he addresses Americans and Israelis…