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Arab Academy for Science, Technology, and Maritime Transport College of Language and

Communication

College of Language and Communication (CLC)

MA in ESP (Professional Track)

Course Title: Semantics and Pragmatics

Course code: AP704

Illocutionary acts in Barak Obama`s 2008 presidential election victory speech

Prepaid by: Amira F. Abo Sedaa

Registration No.: 20125063

Email: Amira-fouad@cic-cairo.com

Date: March 2021

Lecturer’s Name: Nashwa El-Yamani

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CONTENTS

1. Introduction.……………………………………………….……………...………...................3

2. Discussion..………………………………………………………………………………...….3

2.1 Expressives……………………………………………………………...……...…….…...4
2.2 Representatives………………………………………………………………...………….5
2.3 Directives………………….……………………………………………...………..…..….7
2.4 Commissives..……………………….……………………………………...……...….......8
3.5 Declarations……………………………………………………………………...………..9

3. Presuppositions………………………………………………………………………………..9
3.1 Presuppositions triggers …………………………………………………………………..9
3.2 Presuppositions in the speech and their implications……………………………………..10

4. Conclusion......................…………………………...…...………………………….………..10

5. References.……………...………...……………………...………………......………............11
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1. Introduction

The main aim of this study is to analyze the illocutionary acts in Barack Obama's victory
speech in 2008 entitled Yes, we can! This study illuminates the five types of speech acts according
to Searle’s Classification to discover the dominant act and the rationale behind it.

Barack Obama gave his speech at Grant Park (Chicago) on November 4, 2008, He discussed
the core issues facing the USA at the time, such as the economic situation and the War in Iraq.
Obama highlighted the challenges, sought help from the Americans, made pledges, and delivered
an implicit message to America`s enemies, friends, and citizens.

I`ve chosen this speech as I admire his speeches, Barak Obama has oratorical skills that
made him one of the greatest speakers of the 21 st century. It is worth mentioning that this speech
has many online copies, I have attached the two links I`ve chosen as references.

Another word document is attached to this paper, it has Barak Obama's 2008 presidential election
victory speech analyzed in depth. It is worth mentioning that the speech covers the five acts in a
different variation.

Keywords: illocutionary acts, directives, representatives, Expressives, Barak Obama

2. Discussion

Illocutionary acts according to Searle`s classifications are five, he practices speech analysis
in the spirit of Austin whose theory was very general. Searle`s classification provides a reasonable
account of illocutionary acts and makes them more comprehensive. He set up the following
classification of illocutionary speech acts:

Speech Act Examples

Declarations Declaration from an authorized person
Representatives Facts/ Statements /conclusion/Assertation/ Description
Expressives Emotions / likeness/ dislikes / sorrow / accomplishment/ congrates
Directives Commands/ orders/ requests/suggestions/directing someone
Commissives Promises or threats
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2.1 Expressive; are used to reflect the speakers` feelings and psychological state. Those
feelings can be negative or positive. It’s a smart act of Obama to always start his speeches with
expressive speech acts. Americans are emotional and this is the main access Obama uses to reach
them. This table analyzes 17 expressive speech acts found in the speech.

Sample Indication
Hello, Chicago. Welcoming
Because they believed that this time must be different Faith
For the country that he loves Love
I congratulate him; ………….. Palin for all that they've achieved Congratulating
I congratulate Governor (Sarah) Palin for all that they've achieved Congratulating
I want to thank my partner in this journey, a man who campaigned from his Gratitude
heart
And I would not be standing here tonight without the unyielding support of Appreciation
my best friend for the last 16 years,
I love you both more than you can imagine Love
I know my grandmother's watching, …………I miss them tonight. Sorrow
I am grateful Gratitude
Thank you so much for all the support that you've given me Appreciation
I am forever grateful Gratitude
This is your victory Accomplishment
I have never been more hopeful than I am tonight that we will get there Hope
What we've already achieved gives us hope for what Accomplishment
Thank you. Gratitude
God bless you. And may God bless the United States of America Faith

Various emotional acts are detected in this speech. Obama started his speech by welcoming
the Americans, showing gratitude then congratulating Palin. This technique of his creates a positive
environment that helps him convey his message. Expressing gratitude is the dominant expressive
speech act (23%) followed by appreciation, love, and faith (12%) each. Obama always shows
gratitude to his family, partners, and citizens as this thoughtful act breaks the ice easily and makes
his speeches likable.

Most of the Expressives are positive yet he showed sadness when he spoke about his
grandmother. He also sounds religious as he always mentions GOD in his speeches and sends his
blessings to the USA and the Americans.
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When he highlights any accomplishment, he tends to give a credit to the Americans and his
partners before himself. This act increases the feeling of intimacy and the need for a unified nation.

Expressives

Sorrow Accomplishment
Welcoming 6%
Love 6% 11%
Appreciation
12%
12%
Hope
6% Congratulating
12%
Faith
Gratitude
12%
23%

2.2 Representatives; as they reflect the speakers` beliefs and thoughts, they are extensively
used in political speeches. Barak Obama used to share his ideas, principles, expectations with the
Americans all the time as a sort of audience involvement. Below 30 examples show his pattern
of using Representatives.

Sample Indication
It belongs to you; it belongs to you Assertion
If there is anyone out there who still doubts that America ..tonight is your answer Conclusion
Senator McCain fought long and hard in this campaign. Fact
David Plouffe, …. Built the best - the best political campaign, Description
David Axelrod who's been a partner with me every step of the way. Description
You did it because you understand the enormity of the task that lies ahead. Conclusion
But I hear your voices. Assertion
I was never the likeliest candidate for this office Statement
We didn't start with much money or many endorsements Description
In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Conclusion
This is our chance to answer that call. This is our moment. Assertion
Our campaign was not hatched in the halls of Washington. Description
It was built by working men and women……. Assertion
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It grew strength from the young people who rejected the myth of their generation's Description
apathy……….pay and less sleep
We know the government can't solve every problem Fact
This victory alone is not the change we seek Fact
It's the answer spoken by young and rich and poor, Democrat and Republican….. Assertion
We know there are brave Americans waking up in the deserts of Iraq and the Fact
mountains of Afghanistan to risk their lives for us.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. Conclusion
Those are values that we all share. ………… that have held back our progress. Conclusion
This election had many firsts and many stories that will be told for generations Fact
At a time when women's voices were silenced and their hopes dismissed, Fact
When the bombs fell on our harbour and tyranny threatened the world Fact
Yes we can (6 times) Assertion

The analysis shows Obama`s tendency to constantly use facts (29%) as they reflect honesty
and guarantee trust. It is noticeable that historical facts enhance his speeches and make his
messages logical to convey. Assertions come next with a percentage of (40%) to tell his people
that he will be the president they ever dreamt of. Conclusions and descriptions are used equally as
Obama provides life samples and evidence to show his beliefs in the Americans as one nation.

Representatives

Fact
23%
Statement
Assertion 3%
40%
Description
17%
Conclusion
17%
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2.3 Directive; are commonly used in all speeches. They make the audience perform an act
according to the speaker`s desire. They are used for future courses of action such as commanding,
inviting, and ordering. Those 13 examples from Obama`s speech and their indications show how
he gives his people the feeling of involvement in political life.

Sample Indication
Stand up and speak out and reach for the ballot. Request
Let's resist the temptation to fall back Suggestion
Reclaim the American dream and reaffirm that fundamental truth……we Request
hope
We can and must achieve tomorrow Command
I will ask you to join in the work of remaking this nation……221 years Request
Our union can be perfected. Suggestion
Americans can change Suggestion
I need your help Request
It must not break our bonds of affection Command
Let's remember that it was a man from this…..unity Command
It is only the chance for us to make that change. Request
So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, Suggestion
Work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other Command

Directives

Suggestion Commands
31% 31%

Requests
38%
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The analysis shows that the highest use is for requests as Obama tends to soften his tone
with the citizens to argue them to participate in the political and social journey. Most used
commands are positive as a sort of motivation and the suggestions he is making are already part
of his plan in the presidential period.

2.4 Commissive; are what speakers use to commit to a certain course of actions. They are
commonly performed by the personal pronouns “I” or “we” for promising, threatening, or
offering. Below 14 examples show that Obama tends to oblige himself a lot, but he plays it smart,
he asks for support and commitment from his people and shows his commitments as a reflection
of their acts.

Sample Indication
To those - to those who would tear the world down: We will defeat you Threat
I promise you, we as a people will get there Pledge
It is only the chance ….. cannot happen if we go back to the way things were Refusal
But I will always be honest with you about the challenges we face Pledge
I will listen to you, especially when we disagree Pledge
Because of what we did....change has come to America Promise / positive
We cannot have a thriving Wall Street while Main Street suffers. Refusal
Renew this nation's promise in the months ahead. Promise / positive
You have earned the new puppy Promise / positive
I will never forget who this victory truly belongs to Promise / positive
What began 21 months ago in the depths of winter cannot end on this autumn Promise / positive
A new dawn of American leadership is at hand Promise / positive
To those who seek peace and security: We support you Promise / positive
This is our time, ……… to work and open doors of opportunity Promise

Around 60% of the Commissive are promises of a better future. The image of a committed
president who listens to his people, argues them, and defeats their fears was implicitly delivered.
Obama used refusals to show the negative impact of not participating in making the USA one
nation as they plan to. He takes all chances to threaten terrorists and highlights his willingness to
defeat them.
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Commissive

Refusal Threat
14% 7% Pledge
22%
Promise
57%

2.5 Declarative; are commonly used in specific content that is institutional or official, they
perform declarations and governmental statements. They also present changes in the world such
as approving, endorsing and disclaiming. They were not found in Obama`s speech due to the
unsuitable circumstances.

3. Presuppositions

In linguistics, Presuppositions are implicit assumptions made by speakers based on the

knowledge they share with their hearers. They are manipulative; speakers use them to deliver
certain ideas despite those ideas being right or wrong. They can also be used to communicate
ideologies and share feelings.

3.1 Presuppositions Triggers; They can be simply found by checking linguistic constructions
and lexical resources speakers use to deliver their message implicitly. Presuppositions triggers
are Existiontional, Factive, Non-Factive, Lexical, Structural, and Counterfactual.

3.2 Presuppositions triggers in the speech and their implications; the below table shows some
triggers that Obama used in his speech. It is pretty obvious that Factive triggers domain the speech,
they are used to present facts that both hearers and speakers know and Obama used them to build
on the shared knowledge as a sort of audience involvement. Using facts in speeches enhances them
and increases the speaker`s credibility. Existential triggers are the second domain, Obama used
them to make his voice heard and share experiences surrounding the topics he decided to discuss
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in this speech. Non-Factive, Structural, Counterfactual triggers are not used much, my personal
opinion is that Obama minimized using them as they are the sort of assumptions with the possibility
of not achieving what the speaker talks about and contain some doubts. Lexical triggers can never
be missed as they rely on lexical resources that form a speech.

Type Utterance
• The dream of our founders is alive in our time
• America is a place where all things are possible
Existential • He has endured sacrifices for America that most of us cannot begin to
imagine.
• This is your victory
• Our destiny is shared

• I know that my debt to them is beyond measure

• We know the challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of
our lifetime
• This victory alone is not the change we seek
Factive • There are many who won't agree with every decision or policy I make
as president
• I know that my debt to them is beyond measure
• And I know you didn't do this just to win an election. And I know you
didn't do it for me.
• She knows how America can change.

• I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

Lexical
• Challenges that tomorrow will bring are the greatest of our lifetime
• They still wonder if the dream of our founders is alive in our time.
• Who left their homes and their families for jobs that offered little pay
and less sleep.
• I think about all that she's seen throughout her century in America

Structural • What can we achieve to put their hands on the arc of history
……..better day?

• if our children should live to see the next century….let`s

Counterfactual • And that cannot happen if we go back to the way things were.
• Who have wondered if America's beacon still burns as bright:

Non-factive • For America that most of us cannot begin to imagine.

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4. Conclusion

Illocutionary acts in Barak Obama's 2008 victory speech show that Obama is a remarkable
speaker of all time. There are four Illocutionary acts used in this speech, they are Commissives,
Representatives, Declaratives, and Expressives. This study analyzes 74 Illocutionary acts and the
result shows the following;
* Representatives in a percentage of 40% * Expressive in a percentage of 25%
* Commissives in a percentage of 21% * Directives in a percentage of 19%

Obama follows a certain pattern in his speeches that relies on the excessive use of
Representatives as he tends to make the audience trust him, believe in his ideas, and let him lead.
On the other hand, Expressives are the second-high percentage of use as he aims to have more
participants on his side and emotions are the finest way to do so after using facts. Commissives
help him show a complete image of his plans with lots of pledges. It's very suitable for the situation.
Finally, Obama knows well what he is doing, he used Directives less than any other illocutionary
acts to not sound authoritative as it's his first speech and the last thing he wants it to be
misunderstood by his people.
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References

The full text of Barack Obama's victory speech

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/the-full-text-of-barack-obama-s-victory-
speech-993008.html

Transcript and Audio recording Of Barack Obama's Victory Speech

https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96624326

Information about the speech itself

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barack_Obama_2008_presidential_election_victory_speech

Illocutionary Acts
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Illocutionary_act#:~:text=Searle%20(1975)%20set%20up%20the
,truth%20of%20the%20expressed%20proposition&text=expressives%20%3D%20speech%20a
cts%20that%20express,e.g.%20congratulations%2C%20excuses%20and%20thanks
Presuppositions
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Presupposition