Language

In this part of the study guide, we will focus on the language employed by Barack Obama in his statement on the shooting in Oregon. We will focus on Obama’s choice of words, sentence structure, and to…

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Choice of words

In his statement on the shooting in Oregon, Obama often employs adjectives and nouns with negative connotations which are meant to highlight his shock and pain but which also express his frustration that America constantly experiences gun-related deaths. For example, he uses “stunned” (l. 5), “anguish” (l. 7), “scared” (l. 8), “heartache” (l. 25), “grief” (l. 26), “anger” (l…

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Sentence structure

The sentence structure varies in Obama’s speech. For instance, shorter sentences are employed when Obama wants his audience to focus on key points of his speech. For example, he emphasizes that his speeches have become a sad routine: “That day! Somehow this has become routine. The reporting is routine. My response here at this podium ends up being routine. The conversation in the aftermath of it. We've become numb to this.” (…

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Tone

Obama’s tone throughout his speech on the shooting in Oregon is serious. He also comes across as frustrated, sad, and angry that the country he leads is unable to prevent deaths related to guns:

This is a political choice that we make to allow this to happen every few months in America. We collectively are answerable to those families who lose their loved ones because of our inaction. When American…