Analysis

This analysis of “Remarks by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to apologise to LGBTQ2 Canadians” is inspired by the rhetorical pentagram model. Below you will find a short overview of the main points in our analysis.

The topics of the speech are the formal apology for Canada’s mistreatment of LGBTQ2 people, and the future of Canada.

The speaker is Justin Trudeau, who delivers the apology from his position as Prime Minister, on behalf of the Canadian Parliament and Government.

The audience of the speech consists of the members of parliament present at the speech, as well as LGBTQ2 Canadians. In particular, Trudeau addresses LGBTQ2 Canadians who were targeted by the Purge, their families, friends, and partners, LGBTQ2 Indigenous Peoples, LGBTQ2 people around the world, and those who have fought for LGBTQ2 rights. 

Trudeau uses various language tools to engages his audience. He uses powerful words related to Canada’s past and future and maintains a formal tone while he appeals to the audience’s emotions, trust, and reason. 

The circumstances of the speech are the Canadian government’s past discrimination against and oppression of LGBTQ2 Canadians, and especially of LGBTQ2 public servants, and to the political context in which this took place, as well as the current status of LGBTQ2 people in Canada.  

Trudeau’s intentions are, broadly, to offer a formal apology to LGBTQ2 Canadians, to build LGBTQ2 communities’ trust in the Canadian government, to announce the introduction of new legislation and of a settlement meant to address LGBTQ2-related issues, and to encourage all Canadians to fight for LGBTQ2 equality. These intentions are connected to the circumstances and the topics of the speech, and they are achieved by using language tools.

You can read the full analysis of the speech in the next pages.

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