Language

In this section of the study guide, we will help you analyze the language employed by Michelle Obama in her Democratic National Convention speech from 2016. We will focus on choice of words, sentence structure, and to…

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Choice of words

In the first part of the speech, when Michelle Obama talks about her husband Barack Obama, daughters, and family life, she uses a variety of words with positive connotations: “conviction” (l. 5), “decency” (l. 5), “grace” (l. 5), “poised” (l. 11), “role models” (l. 35), etc. With the help of these words, she reminds the audience of her husband’s two successful presidential terms and of the graceful and firm way in which he has led the country and raised his daughters.

Several words, such as “hateful” (l. 28), “cruel” (l. …

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Sentence structure

Michelle Obama’s speech is dominated by middle-length and long sentences. While shorter sentences help the audience focus on important matters, longer sentences help create vivid images in the minds of the audience. The following example, for instance, helps the public visualize the way in which Malia and Sasha, Obama’s daughters, have been raised and developed into young women during their father’s presidency:

I also told you about our daughters — how they are the heart of our hearts, the center of our world. And during our time in…

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Tone

In her speech, Michelle Obama has an emotional tone, which is noticeable when she talks about her family life and the way in which her daughters have been raised: “See, because at that moment, I realized that our time in the White House would form the foundation for who they would become, and how well we managed this experience could truly make or break them.” (ll. 19-23)

Her tone is positive when she discusses her husband’s presidency and the ability of Hillary Clinton to influence her daughters’ belief that a woman could be president (ll. 137-139). This is affirmed by the fact that she laughs and smiles in the first half of her speech.

Her tone is also supportiv…