Language

The language of Arnold Schwarzenegger's speech at the Republican National Convention from 2004 is official and formal, although there are a few instances in which the speaker has a more casual tone or makes jokes: “This – This is like winning an Oscar. As if I would know!” (l. 3); “Anyway, my fellow Americans, this is an amazing moment for me.” (ll. 11-12)

Also, you could also pay attention to the speaker’s gestures if you watch a video of it. During most of the speech, he has open arms, possibly s…

...

Choice of words

The choice of words is related to American politics—particularly Republican policies and the War on Terror. The speaker uses the first-person “I” whenever he wants to share his experience to build legitimacy and credibility: “I saw their tanks in the streets. I saw communism with my own eyes.” (ll. 32-34)

He uses the personal pronoun “you” to address the audience directly, and to enga…

...

Sentence structure

The sentence structure reveals a repetitive, emphatic style, with many of the speaker’s new ideas beginning with a repetition: “As long as I live – As long as I live, I will never forget the day 21 years ago when I raised my right hand and I took the oath of citizenship.” (ll. 23-25); “As a kid – As a kid I saw socialist – the socialist country that Austria became after the S…