DOI: 10.25136/2409-8698.2021.8.36334

Abstract: The subject of this research is the expressive potential of prosody in the 2021 inaugural speech of Joe Biden. Analysis is conducted on the peculiarities of functionality of such prosodic means as melody, accentuation, pausation, rhythm and other. Assessment is given to their interaction with the widespread stylistic techniques, as well as their role in carrying out the traditional functions for inaugural rhetoric that determine its genre distinctness. The article employs the method of auditory scene analysis of speech of the political, which vividly illustrates the significance of modifications of suprasegmental parameters for conveying the communicative intent of the speech. The scientific novelty lies in studying the expressive capabilities of prosodic means within a specific variety of political discourse – the inaugural speech as a genre of epideictic rhetoric, viewing the implementation of specific functions in the unity of linguistic and extralinguistic factors. Attention is given to the general peculiarities of discursive practice of the inaugural speeches, as well as the context of a specific communicative situation – unprecedented circumstances of delivering speech by the the 46th President of the United States, as well as the personal traits of the speaker. The acquired results demonstrate the expressive potential of prosodic modifications in the oral speech, which can be used in teaching students majoring in philology the principles of text analysis of the political discourse through the prism of prosody, expressive syntax, stylistics, and rhetoric.

DOI: 10.25136/2409-8698.2021.6.35917

Abstract:  This article reviews the expressive potential of prosodic means in Hillary Clinton's speech at the 2016 United States presidential debates. Special attention is given to the discursive characteristics of the text, such prosodic parameters as pitch variation, pausing, pace and intensity, as well as use of word accent. The author employs the method of auditory analysis of politician’s speech, and dwells on its certain fragments, which illustrate the effectiveness of suprasegmental modifications of speech for achieving an optimal rhetorical effect. The relevance of this research is substantiated by the need for comprehensive assessment of political discourse as a variation of communication with high manipulative potential. The scientific novelty consists in viewing the expressive capabilities of prosodic means in political discourse in light of extralinguistic factors that characterize the communicative situation, as well as in analysis of their functionality within a specific type of political discourse – the agonal genre, which brings its adversarial nature to the fore. The acquired results demonstrate the expressive potential of modifications of the key prosodic parameters in oral speech, and can be implemented in teaching the principles of analysis of political discourse texts from the perspective of expressive syntax, prosody, stylistic, and rhetoric to students majoring in philology.