Has the approach to making political speeches changed over time?

George Luxton 12F

This was their finest hour

War on Iraq

Personal Pronouns

Total Use
Blair We % I % Their % 66 1.34% 33 0.67% 7 0.14% Churchill 90 2.06% 32 0.73% 36 0.82%

They %

23 0.47%

29 0.66%

Use of we
Blair 66 1.34% Churchill 90 2.06%

We %

Use of we
Here is where we come to the Navy--and after all, we have a Navy. Some people seem to forget that we have a Navy. We must remind them. ..we could give no air support to our surface ships, and consequently, lying as we did close to the enemy's main air power, we were compelled to use only our submarines. We could not enforce the decisive blockade or interruption which is possible from surface vessels

Why We is used often Responsibility

Unity

Linguistic Analysis

Rule of Three
That was our constant fear, one blow after another, terrible losses, frightful danger
- Churchill

Freedom, democracy, tolerance

- Blair

Subliminal Emphasis on Rule of Three

Force... Force... force Wait... Waiting... waiting Dangerous... dangerous... dangerous Dispute... dispute... dispute I know... I know... I know... We know

Rhetorical Questioning
We may now ask ourselves: in what way has our position worsened since the beginning of the war?
- Churchill

Rhetorical Questioning
But why does it matter so much? So: why does it matter so much?

What changed his mind? (the threat of force) What changed his mind? (the threat of force)
- Blair

Metaphor
All Europe writhing and starving under its (Nazi) cruel heel.
- Churchill

Rousing
Our fighter pilots, these splendid men, this brilliant youth who will have the glory of saving their native land, their island home, and all they love.
-Churchill

... brave men and women of whom we can feel proud, whose morale is high, and whose purpose is clear.
- Blair

Language to Create Fear

The enemy is crafty and there is no dirty trick he will not do.
- Churchill

Just last week someone slandering Saddam, was tied to a lamp post in a street in Baghdad. His tongue was cut out, mutilated, and left to bleed to death as a warning to others.
- Blair

Humour
Some people seem to forget we have a Navy, we must remind them.
- Churchill

The Ending
We have the courage to do the right thing
- Blair

For a thousand years, men will still say, this was their finest hour
- Churchill

Conclusion
Has the approach to making political speeches changed over time?

Conclusion
Rule of Three Rhetorical Questioning Language to Create Fear Metaphor Humour Personal Pronouns

References
Heffer, S. (2007) Great British Speeches London: Quercus. Churchill, W (1940) Their Finest Hour Speech given to house commons on 18th June. Available at www.churchill-society-london.org.uk Blair, T (2003) Speech given to parliament , and the public on the 18th of March. Richards, J (2007) Rhetoric Abingdon: Routledge