Language has played an important role in society. Language allows people to exchange information with one another, to interact and to share ideas. Language also has power to inspire people to action. To understand how language is used to persuade the audience, discourse analysis can be used. Discourse is a language that shows underlying systems of beliefs, values and attitudes. Discourse analysis is the analysis that ‘examines patterns of language and relationship between language, social and cultural contexts’ (Paltridge, 2012). Discourse analysis also looks at linguistic techniques used by a speaker to reach out to the audience.
This essay will explore a speech of Martin Luther King Jr. “I have a Dream” and the ways language is used by
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him to persuade the audience. In order to do this, I will refer to the two academic texts ‘Language and Politics in language and power’ by Simpson & Mayr (2009) and ‘Language, Society and Power: An introduction’ by Mooney & Evans (2015), and look at the three strategies of persuasion that they discuss. Then I will show how these strategies are reflected in the Martin Luther King’s speech. The essay will also consider social, historical and political context of this oration. Martin Luther King Jr.
was a minister and professor of theology in the 20th century that strived for justice and called for an end of racial segregation in the US. He was known for his role in the Civil Rights Movement in America in 1960s and advocated for using nonviolent civil disobedience to stop discrimination against Afro-Americans. Martin Luther King Jr. was significantly influenced by the doctrines of Protestant and other Christian traditions. The speech “I have a Dream” was presented on 28 August, 1963, to show the importance of resolving the racial problems that was located at Washington, D.C., Lincoln memorial which put an end to …show more content…
racism. Firstly, it is necessary to discuss the social and political context of the speech. The speech by King Jr. ‘I have a dream’ explores how different minorities groups were discriminated in schools, transport, shops, and elsewhere. Racial equality is the social issue, such as the speech suggested that individuals should not be judged by their skin colour they should be judged by the content of their characters. However, Luther King Jr. presents the speech which changed the history of race relations, and made different minority groups equal and free, that had put an end to racism. Secondly, Luther King Jr. uses three strong strategies in his speech that pulls attention to the audience which brings an outcome of why he is significant for what he has made changes to. According to Simpson & Mayr (2009), one of the strategies used to persuade their audience is pronouns, pronouns have an important persuasive purpose which is used by political speakers where they are referring to themselves to their party or nations. In addition Luther King Jr. speech presents findings of the use of pronouns of “we can never be satisfied as long as the Negro is the victim of the unspeakable horrors of police brutality”, which indicates that Luther King Jr. is referring to society as them all using the pronoun of “we” that shows he is speaking for everyone not just himself and different minorities. Thirdly, Metaphor is another important feature that is used to persuade audience, Mooney (2015), states ‘metaphor is a common part of language, which is commonly used which links to ideology with political discourse by providing models for making sense of the world’. Therefore, metaphor is a strategy that is used for political issues and constructing world views, which help understand one concept of another. As well as J.S. Mio (2014), highlights that metaphor is the message of one of the most feature of persuasive communication that is in control of the designers of the communication. In Luther King’s speech “I have a Dream” presents the use of metaphor through “This momentous decree came as a great beacon light of hope to millions of Negro slaves who had been seared in the flames of withering injustice. It came as a joyous daybreak to end the long night of their captivity”. This quote depicts that Luther King Jr. associate’s freedom through his speech. Luther King Jr. desired to put an end to the slavery due to the Negro’s being treated unfairly during the time of slavery, where his “I have a Dream” speech become famous. Furthermore, Luther King Jr.
uses parallelism in his speech to present and make clear of what he is trying to say. According to Simpson & Mayr (2009), parallelism is the expression of different ideas through grammatical structures which is used by politicians to make their point of statement stand out, to get audience’s attention. Luther King Jr. uses parallelism in his speech to point out to society and pull their attention, which is shown through, the quote of “Go back to Mississippi, go back to Alabama, go back to South Carolina, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana, go back to the slums and ghettos of our northern cities, knowing that somehow this situation can and will be changed”, this quote bring that Luther King Jr. is trying to draw attention to the society by making this quote memorable, and is representing the equality of the people fighting
together. To conclude, language has played a significant role which had made society easier, where language allowed people to interact with one another and share ideas among each other. The way of understanding language was to persuade audience, where discourse analysis was introduced that showed patterns between languages. Overall, Martin Luther King Jr. speech “I have a Dream” has presented the use of language to persuade audience, where the speech had brought an end of racial segregation in the US.
King’s speech is isocolon. Isocolon is a parallel structure that is made up of words, clauses, or phrases of equal length, sound, meter, and rhythm. One example of isocolon is when Dr. King said, “Go back to Mississippi, go back to Georgia, go back to Louisiana” (King 2). Dr. King used isocolon to emphasize to the audience the places where segregation was strictly enforced. The second example is revealed when Dr. King claimed, “from every village and every hamlet, from every state and every city” (King 4). This isocolon merely summarized his claim about freedom ringing from all parts of America. Overall, these two usages of isocolon are intended to boost the emotion of Kings’ speech towards conquering the ability to be
On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave the historical I Have a Dream speech on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C for the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. With an audience of about 250,00 people from all racial backgrounds, Dr. King addressed discrimination, prejudice and police brutality against African Americans, and his hopes and dreams of freedom for all people in the United States. Dr. King needed to have a dream because of the mistreatment African
On August 28, 1963 more than 250,000 civil-rights supporters attended the March on Washington. Addressing the protesters from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Profoundly, he proclaimed for a free nation of equality where all race would join together in the effort to achieve common ground. King stated his yearning for all colors to unite and be judged by character, not by race. African Americans would not be satisfied until their desire for freedom from persecution, bitterness, and hatred prevailed. Not only were the points in his speech powerful, but also the delivery he gave was so persuading and real that it changed the hearts of many people across America. By using four artificial proofs, mythos, logos, ethos, and pathos, Martin Luther King was able to open the eyes of people who were blinded by the color of skin.
Martin Luther King uses a lot of repetition in his speech. They are scattered throughout but very close. One of the repetitions in his speech is “I have a dream.” He uses this phrase to show what he sees in the future of America. One of the phrases he uses with it is: “I have a dream that one day this nation will and live out the true meaning of its creed: we hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal.” Another is “I have a dream that my four children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their nature. I have a dream today.” (King, M. L. Jr. (1963, Aug.28) Para 12) Two other repetitions he uses is “Let freedom ring” and “Free at last.” (King, M. L. Jr. (1963, Aug.28) Para 16&17)
Dr. King’s speech “I Have a Dream” is one of the most famous and important speeches ever given. On August 28, 1963 on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C Dr. King gave his speech to bring freedom to African Americans across the United States. The audience who Dr. King is talking to is the American People. To get the message out Dr. King uses logos, pathos, and ethos, by doing this he captivates an entire nation using just words.
Martin Luther King Jr’s most compelling point was that every person has the same rights
The author of the “I Have A Dream” speech is Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. King, known for his work in Civil Rights during the 1960s. In this informative speech, Dr. King inspires individuals to have a change in both white and black citizens during the Civil RIghts era in the United States. Moreover, the premise of the speech is that both sides of the discussion must accept change in a non-violent yet effective way. He spoke about the injustices of segregation and discrimination of black citizens that was occurring in our nation. As he opened, “I am happy to join with you today in what will go down in history as the greatest demonstration for freedom in the history of our nation,” he explained what he was there to do for all citizens. He is
On August 28th, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered his famous and powerful speech I Have a Dream, at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. The purpose of his speech was to fight for the civil rights, equality, and to stop the discrimination against African-American people. His use of imagery, repetition, and metaphor in his speech had created an impact with his audience. King used the three rhetorical devices, ethos, pathos and logos to help the audience understand the message of his speech.
Dr. King uses ethos, logos, and pathos effectively throughout his letter to address a large audience. He intertwines the three rhetorical strategies seamlessly to support his argument. Although Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. has his critics in the clergy who argue against his civil rights demonstrations in Birmingham, he effectively uses all three types of rhetorical strategies to effective persuade his critics by explaining why his actions are just and timely in his “Letter from Birmingham Jail.”
From the steps of the Lincoln Memorial more than two score years ago, Dr. Martin Luther King electrified America with his momentous "I Have a Dream" speech. Aimed at the entire nation, King’s main purpose in this speech was to convince his audience to demand racial justice towards the mistreated African Americans and to stand up together for the rights afforded to all under the Constitution. To further convey this purpose more effectively, King cleverly makes use of the rhetorical devices — ethos, pathos and logos — using figurative language such as metaphors and repetition as well as various other techniques e.g. organization, parallel construction and choice of title.
From time immemorial, the promoters of social justice utilize rhetorical strategies to persuade theirs opponents of theirs claims. The proponents of the movement for civil rights for African Americans have made an intensive use of those strategies to advocate their cause. On April 16, 1963, from the jail of Birmingham, Martin Luther King, Jr. wrote an extensive missive to eight clergymen who had attacked his work for civil rights in a public statement released on April 12, 1963. Martin Luther King, Jr. primarily aimed this letter at those eight leaders of the white Church of the South. However, the eight clergymen's letter and the response from Martin Luther King, Jr. were publicly published. Martin Luther King, Jr. wanted to convince of the utility of his commitment in this particular area at this specific moment. To persuade his readers, Martin Luther King, Jr. predominantly employs Aristotle's three types of persuasion that are appeals to ethos, pathos, and logos. First, he appeals to his own reputation and wisdom. Second, he tries to arouse emotions or sympathy in the readers. Finally, he appeals to logic, supported with evidence and citations from influential thinkers.
Martin Luther King did not know that his “I Have a Dream” speech would still be iconic 50 years later. In 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech at the March on Washington. He was facing the problem of racial injustice for himself and everyone like him. He needed to create a speech that everyone could and would understand, could learn from, and could draw inspiration from. He had to address blacks and whites, he had to say things that everyone could relate to and he had speak in a way that he get the
The famous speech, “ I Have a Dream”, was held in 1963 by a powerful leader of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950s and 60s. He was born January 15,1929 the son of an Atlanta Pastor. Martin Luther King Jr. always insisted on nonviolent resistance and always tried to persuade others with his nonviolent beliefs. In 1963, King spoke from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial and almost 200,000 people attended his speech. All his listeners were Civil Rights supporters who rallied behind him and the people who watched his appearance on television. King traveled the country making speeches and inspiring people to become involved in the Civil Rights Movement. He organized non violent student sit-ins and fought for the rights of the black population.
I Have a Dream was a speech given by Martin Luther King Jr. This speech was delivered on the afternoon of Wednesday, August 28, 1963, on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The speech was intended for the 250,000 civil rights supporters that attended. The speech addressed the topic of equality for the African Americans and the White people. The purpose of the speech was to address the issues of segregation and racism as a whole. King speaks about the issues of racism and segregation in America during the 1960’s. He encourages the use of non-violent protests and to fight for equality to help America solve the issue.
Martin Luther King Jr 1963, I have a dream speech. This speech against to discriminations of afro Americans between black Africans It is art, politics, struggle, peace, brotherhood. Martin Luther King Jr began by talking about the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the hope of the African American. He then continued to talk about the injustice and discrimination faced by African Americans. King Jr stated that this was just the beginning and that African Americans would not be supported until they were considered equal, he wants people to protect their dignity and discipline; people do not want to resort to violence. He continues to encourage people to be faithful and to put pressure on the dream until the reality and the citizens of different races live in peace. Luther King ends the sermon on all children of God in the United States, which has the right to live in a free and equal world. When we look at Martin Luther King Jr's speech, he were talking about the problems of black people in general, but there is a lot in common for humanity. He suggested that the unity of the union our peaceful life in peace and tries to do so in a nonviolent manner. At the same time, the solution of problems included in that speech and the history of the facts, the difficulties that people have experienced discriminations of races. This conversation has inspired a lot of songs, and the title of the conversation is found in