An Intertextual Analysis Of English Political Speeches

Intertextuality is a term and concept coined by the French semiotician Julia Kristeva in the late 1960s. Since then, intertextuality has become one of the most important key words of literary theory and discourse analysis, and also one of the central research issues in these fields. With the development of society and more co-operations between countries, the ability of political speeches is indispensable in international and domestic affairs. The most fundamental functions of English political speeches are to inform, to move, to persuade and inspire the audience to take some actions that the speaker expects. This thesis is aimed to explore intertextuality in English political speeches. It analyzes the intertextual classification and functions in several recent English political speeches systematically, and reveals the important functions of appropriately using these intertextual skills.This thesis adopts a theoretical model and classification of intertextuality based on the typology proposed by Xin Bin, and identifies specific intertextuality and generic intertextuality. Specific intertextuality is actually a result of Xin Bin's manifest intertextuality proposed by Fairclough, strong intertextuality pointed out by Jenny, and those unmarked but quote intertextual relations. Generic intertextuality is dynamic with the mixture of genres and text types.Detailed analysis of abundant data reveals that most manifest intertextual devices, such as references, allusions, quotations, proverbs and parodies, are adopted by the speakers for the purpose of reforcing their proposals and making their propositions persuasive and convincing. At the same time, the use of these devices also enables the speeches to arouse the enthusiasm from the audience, to win their sympathy and support, finally to make them follow their ideas and take actions. That reflects the testimony strategy which is commonly used in speeches. Cliche and conventionalism have the impact of assimilating the audience into a community with the same habitual ways of thinking and expressing, a community under the support of God. That is an inclusive strategy. The generic intertextual devices, like mixture of biographic genres and the documental genres, also serve as the inclusive strategy; and the mixture of persuasion text type and narrative text type can serve as a testimony strategy. In a word, intertextuality is of great significance for the creation and interpretation of political public speeches.