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西安外国语大学英文学院 陕西 西安 710128
Abstract: According to Aristotle, three kinds of appeals need to be applied for a successful speech; they are logos, ethos and pathos. In this paper, the author will analyze how three appeals are applied in Trump’s inaugural speech to realize his intention.
Key words: three appeals; Trump’ inaugural speech
As a successful businessman without prior military or government service, since the day Trump announced his candidacy for President of the United States, there has been a hot discussion about him. Therefore, this paper aims to provide a rhetorical analysis of Trump’s inaugural speech from the perspective of three appeals—logos, ethos and pathos. Through the detailed study, it is easy to have a better understanding of Trump’s speech and how Trump applies the three appeals in his speech to realize his purpose.
1 Application of Ethos in Trump’s Inaugural Speech
Ethos or ethical proof means to convince an audience of the author’s credibility or character (Crowley & Hawhee 195). Trump’s inaugural speech has many words about the inequalities in America, for example: “For too long, a small group in our nation’s capital has reaped the rewards of government while the people have borne the cost…” What Trump says has shown that he is an objective and righteous man, he has shown his sympathy toward those people and underlined his human qualities. By these words, Trump hopes to secure his goodwill toward the audiences and attain their supports and trust.
Ethos can also be realized by using pronouns. Appropriate use of pronouns clears the barrier between the speaker and the audience, thus makes the speaker more sincere and trustful. In this speech, Trump employs many different pronouns to establish his connections with the audience, for example: “We will bring back our jobs. We will bring back our borders. We will bring back our wealth. And we will bring back our dreams…”The plural first-person pronoun “we” may establish a level of intimacy that presumes much in common between the rhetor and the audience, though, in fact, a great power differential exists between them. Trump uses “we” to indicate that he stands together with all American people, which shortens the distance between them and builds a sense of unity.
2 Application of Pathos in Trump’s Inaugural Speech
Pathosor the emotional proof means to persuade an audience by appealing to their emotions (Crowley & Hawhee 246). For example: “Their victories have not been your victories; their triumphs have not been your triumphs…”In America, there are rich businessmen, successful politicians who are enjoying their lives in prosperous cities, but they are just a small group of people. This is an explicit example of emotional appeal by appealling to the audiences’ woes and pains, in this way, Trump has successfully aroused their emotions and persuaded them to believe that he will be a compassionate president, and leads them to do something to change their lives.
Trump ends his speech by repeating: “Together, we will make America strong again. We will make America wealthy again… And, yes, together, we will make America great again.” These repeated sentences help to emphasize and enhance the emotion of the audiences and show Trump’s determination to lead American people to realize their American dream. He appeals to the national pride every American holds deep in their hearts and reminds them of a great America. Their emotion may arrive at the climax at this time.
3 Application of Logos in Trump’s Inaugural Speech
Logos refers to the appeal to reasoning or rationality (Crowley & Hawhee 158). In this speech, logos is mainly achieved by logical organization. Trump first lists some problems that exist in America, and then gives his promises to make them change. But there is no statistics or testimony which can make the speech more solid and irrefutable.
4 Conclusion
Whether Trump is aware of it or not, he actually employs three appeals for his persuasive aim in his speech. But some shortcomings can be found in Trump’s inaugural speech. For example, we know that there are situated ethos and invented ethos. Before Trump becomes the president, he is a businessman without political training, how can he prove that he is qualified as a leader of the whole country. That is to say, Trump needs to enhance his situated ethos and he’d better show his competence as a president in the speech which may make him more trustful. Sometimes, statistics and testimony speak loud to persuade people than some empty words, while this is what Trump lacks in his speech.
References
Bizzal, Patricia, and Bruce Herzberg.(2001). The Rhetorical Tradition: Readings from Classical Times to the Present (2nd edition). NY: Bedford/St. Martins.
Crowley S, Hawhee D.(2004). Ancient Rhetorics for Contemporary Students. New York: MacMillan.
作者简介：乔思敏， 1994年5月9日出生，女，汉族，籍贯安阳县，现就读于西安外国语大学英文学院2016级应用语言学专业。主要研究方向：二语习得。
论文作者:乔思敏
论文发表刊物:《语言文字学》2017年5月
论文发表时间:2017/8/28
标签：西安论文; 英文论文; 安阳县论文; 汉族论文; 外国语大学论文; 期刊论文; 学院论文; 《语言文字学》2017年5月论文;