Language

The language used by Tony Blair in his speech on terror is formal and clear, and accessible for a general audience. His style is both straightforward and rhetorical, which helps him achieve his intention of convincing the audience that actions need to be taken against terrori…

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Sentence structure

The sentences used by the speaker are well structured and uninterrupted by interjections, as the speech was prepared in advance. Most of the sentences are of short or medium length, conveying direct and focused points: “Women denied even rudimentary rights. People living in abject poverty and oppression.” (ll. 40-41). This helps Blair to emphasise his key points and to make a…

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Tone

Tony Blair’s tone is serious, grave, and determined. This is noticeable from the beginning of his speech, which lacks any introduction and starts by pointing out how dangerous terrorism is: “The greatest danger is that we fail to face up to the nature of the threat we are dealing with.” (ll. 1-2). The lack of introduction suggests the urgency of the problem as well as Blair’s determination to tackle terrorism immediately.

As the speech continues…