Rhetorical Devices in Bill Clinton’s Speech at the Democratic Convention.

Rhetorical Devices in Bill Clinton’s Speech at the Democratic Convention.

            A rhetorical device is a type of language that is used by a speaker or a writer, and is intended to have an effect on the audience. However, it is mostly expected to persuade the audience on a particular topic from a different perspective. At the democratic convention in 2012, the former American President, Bill Clinton, uses various rhetorical devices as he campaigns in support of the current president; Barrack Obama.

            Bill Clinton says that “…how bad we are for the economy. This REPUBLICAN NARRATIVE, THIS ALTERNATIVE UNIVERSE”. This is a type of rhetorical device known as innuendo (using terms that can be considers as abuses but when analyzed the speaker is found innocent).This is proven by the way Bill Clinton refers to the republicans ideologies as republican narrative. A narrative is a story that is told but does not have to be true. Due to this one can argue that President Bill Clinton is insulting the republicans but he can not prove that to be true thus leaving the president innocent.

            Secondly, he says that” ….every politician wants every voter to believe that THEY WERE BORN IN A LOG CABIN AND THEY BUILT THEMSELVES”. The type of rhetorical device used here is known as rhetorical analogy. This is because President Clinton says that all politicians want every voter to know that they came from a background of hardship and they worked hard to get to where they are. Even though this is what the president means he does not say it directly.

                He  also  says “….for  52  years  now  THE  REPUBLICANS  HAVE  HELD  THE WHITE  HOUSE  28  YEARS,  THE  DEMOCRATS  24.In  those  52  years, our  private  economy  has  produced  66  million  private  sector  jobs  so  what’s  the  jobs  score. REPUBLICANS 24 MILLION, DEMOCRATS 42.”Here he uses rhetorical comparison. This  is  because  he  compares  the  two  parties  on  the  basis  of  how  many  jobs  that  have  been  created  by  each  party.

            He also says that “….he inherited a deeply damaged economy, HE PUT A FLOOR UNDER THE CRUSH, HE BEGAN THE LONG HARD ROAD TO RECOVERY AND LAID THE FOUNDATION FOR A MORDERN WELL BALANCED ECONOMY”. Here he uses rhetorical definition whereby he explains how president Barrack Obama worked hard to mend the week economy that he found when he took office. He gives his explanation in a different perspective but to give the actual meaning.

            He also uses a rhetorical devise known as loaded question. This is when he says ….ARE WE WHERE WE WANT TO BE TODAY? No, IS THE PRESIDENT SATISFIED? ARE BETTER OF THAN WHEN HE TOOK OFFICE? ARE WE DOING BETTER THAN THAT TODAY? The answer is yes “Here he asks questions on how the economy has been since Barrack took office.

            He also says that”…here is the challenge that he faces and all of you who support him face. I GET IT, I KNOW IT IVE BEEN THERE” From this statement we see that he uses a device known as euphemism. This device is used to avoid panic amongst the audience thus he uses it to avoid the audience from panicking from what he was about to say.

            We also see that he uses hyperbole (exaggeration) when he says”…and cut it by a third over the coming ten years.Ofcourse that’s gonna really hurt a lot of poor kids. But that’s not all,…..ITS GONNA END MEDIC CARE AS WE KNOW IT” This is highly exaggerated since governor Romney’s plan will only make medic care to be worse but not fully destroy it.

            Lastly he says that”…one of three things is about to happen. ASSUMING THAT THEY WILL DO WHAT THEY SAY THEY WILL DO” Here he uses a device known as weasler whereby he shields his statement from criticism.

           

                       

Works cited

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaJD3EIXYdw

http://literary.edublogs.org/

http://www.speaklikeapro.co.uk/Rhetorical_devices.htm.htm