Language

The language of George W. Bush’s 2002 State of the Union address is formal, but overall it is easy to understand for a general audience. He is explicit and straightforward, making the topics and message of the speech easy to grasp. The speech is carefully structured and has very few interjections and linking words, suggesting that it was written in advance rather than improvi…

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Choice of words

The choice of words reflects the topics and circumstances of the speech with no less than 19 references to terrorism and 13 references to war, given that the speech was delivered only four months after the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York. Most of the first part of the speech includes words (adjective, adverbs, nouns) that have negative connotations: “shock and suffering” (l. 6), “brutal oppression” (ll. 10-11), “sorrow, and pain” (l. 34), “madness of the destruction” (l. 50), “dangerous killers” (l. 58), “axis of e…

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Sentence structure

The sentence structure in the speech is clear and generally grammatically correct. If you watch the video of the speech you will notice that the speaker has a script in front of him which he flips through. This is because the speech was prepared in advance. However, you will also notice…

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Tone

The tone of the speaker can be generally described as calm, but grave and determined. This is appropriate considering the context of the recent 9/11 terrorist attacks, in which around 3000 Americans died. More than once, the speaker uses strong words, talks about the victims of terror, and announces actions against terrorists: “I will not wait on events, while dangers gather. I will not stand by, as peril draws closer and closer.” (ll. 118-119)

His determination …

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Personal stories

The speaker uses personal stories several times—both his own and those of other people. Such stories are meant to create empathy and create an emotional connection between the speaker and the audience. Here are two such examples: “The last time we met in this chamber, the mothe…