A critical discourse analysis of pragma-rhetorical strategies in Barak Obama's speech on the Syrian chemical weapons case

Abstract EN

This study is concerned with investigating the pragma-rhetorical devices and strategies utilized by Obama in his speech to the Americans on ‘chemical weapons’ claimed to be used in Syria.

It attempts to answer the following questions: a.What are the pragma-rhetorical strategies used by Obama in his speech to the nation? b.What are the functions of rhetorical questions in his speech? c.

How are pragma-rhetorical aspects utilized in his speech? Hence, it is hypothesized that Obama has used several rhetorical strategies to affect the public opinion on the reality of what happened in Syria.

Moreover, he uses some rhetorical hedges to achieve his goals depending on the three rhetorical aspects of pathos, logos and ethos.

It is concluded that the main pragma-rhetorical strategies manipulated by Obama include accusation of others, compassion move, sympathization, presuppositions, rudeness with others, falsification, negative lexicalization and generalizations.

Other rhetorical devices involve rhetorical questions and rhetorical aspects of pathos and logos.