Speeches (Mr Sawyer)

Question 1

When were Chief Joseph’s speech(s)?

Answer 1

1877/1879

Question 2

When was Edward’s abdication speech?

Answer 2

1936

Question 3

When was Julia Gillard’s speech?

Answer 3

2012

Question 4

When was George Saunders graduation speech?

Answer 4

2013

Question 5

Register within the abdication speech.

Answer 5

High due to education and high status as King. Some prestige language.

Question 6

Register within Chief Joseph

Answer 6

Relatively high, shifts in formality, lack of education / different formal American cultures, non-English valediction at end which affects formality.

Question 7

Register within the graduation speech.

Answer 7

High due to higher education level and it being a formal occasion, regularly approaches informal register with lower words, likely to appeal to younger audience.

Question 8

Register within Julia Gillard’s speech

Answer 8

High due to importance of role as prime minster, high education, drop in formal register ‘man’s bitch’ which is not ameliorated.

Question 9

Structural features of Julia Gillard’s speech.

Answer 9

Paragraphed, regular argument and speech, cyclical ‘well this must not be tolerated’ keeping argument in sight, temporal discourse markers which are used for listing ‘and then’. Repetition to show passion, power and emotive side ‘I was offended’, ‘repulsive double standards’.

Question 10

Structural features of George Saunders text.

Answer 10

Organised methodically into sections, anecdotes to failures of kindness to how to be kinder to reflection of success to future advice, cyclical structure as he keeps purpose in sight at end, many discourse markers to keep anecdotes and speech flowing. Short sentences to show regret and keep audience involved. Hypophora, ask a question and answer it.

Question 11

Structure within the abdication speech.

Answer 11

Carefully structured to convey key messages in almost tabloid paragraphs, repetition of second person ‘you’ show personal connection to his people. Cyclical structure, key motifs of ‘new king’ and ‘burden’ appearing in early paragraphs and being repeated in end. Adjacency pairs to keep speech flowing.

Question 12

Structure within Chief Joseph’s speech.

Answer 12

Transcript of spoken text, cyclical structure ‘I was granted permission’ to ‘spoken for his people’, past present to future structure as ‘the Indian is waiting’.

Question 13

Semantics in the abdication speech

Answer 13

Constitutional, monarchy, political, emotional, love, patriotism.

Question 14

Chief Joseph semantics

Answer 14

Deception, political, freedom, emotion, equality.

Question 15

George Saunders semantics

Answer 15

Education, life, future, emotive language about kindness, personal pronouns.

Question 16

Semantics in Julia Gillard’s speech

Answer 16

Politics, gender, misogyny, emotive showing passion.

Question 17

Syntax (fluency) within abdication speech.

Answer 17

Very fluent, pre-written, minor slip up ‘her family’ rather than his.

Question 18

Syntax (fluency) within Chief Josephs Speech.

Answer 18

Asyndetic listing, short sentences inaccuracy of translation?, first person pronouns as sentence starters. Quite fluent, pre-thought out.

Question 19

George Saunders Syntax/fluency

Answer 19

Fluent as pre-planned and pre-written, writer so well thought out structured writing.

Question 20

Syntax within Julia Gillard’s speech.

Answer 20

Well planned, flows well and fluent, adversarial nature, short sentences.

Question 21

Lexis in Julia Gillard’s speech.

Answer 21

High range due to higher education and role as prime minister, more suited with more choice.

Question 22

Lexis in George Saunders’ speech.

Answer 22

High range due to higher education, profession makes him more suited with more choice, not very complex to appeal to younger audience.

Question 23

Lexis in abdication speech.

Answer 23

Larger due to high level of education, high role as King of England, input of multiple people? Pre written.

Question 24

Lexis in Chief Josephs Speech

Answer 24

Narrower due to education, may be smaller due to inaccurate translation.

Question 25

Context of Chief Josephs Speech

Answer 25

• Led his people to resist takeover of his lands by white settlers, surrendered in 1877.
• In 1879 made a speech to President Rutherford to plead his people’s case, unsuccessful.
• His people eventually resettled many miles from their home.

Question 26

Abdication Speech Context

Answer 26

• Edward VIII’s proposal to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee, led to a constitutional crisis.
• Delivered to people of Britain and British empire as a wireless broadcast.

Question 27

Julia Gillard’s speech context.

Answer 27

• Speaking against Tony Abbott’s motion to remove Peter Slipper as speaker.
• ‘misogyny speech’ attracting both positive and negative attention across the world.

Question 28

George Saunders speech context

Answer 28

• Prize winning American writer celebrated for short stories.
• Professor at Syracuse University and delivered the convocation speech.