A critical discourse analysis of power in d j trump’s inaugural speech

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES ****************** NGUYỄN THỊ MINH TÂM A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF POWER IN TRUMP’S INAUGURAL SPEECH (Bài phân tích diễn ngơn phê phán việc sử dụng quyền lực phát biểu nhậm chức Tổng Thống Mỹ D.J Trump) M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS Field : English Linguistics Code : 8220201.01 Hanoi – 2019 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF POST-GRADUATE STUDIES ****************** NGUYỄN THỊ MINH TÂM A CRITICAL DISCOURSE ANALYSIS OF POWER IN TRUMP’S INAUGURAL SPEECH (Bài phân tích diễn ngôn phê phán việc sử dụng quyền lực phát biểu nhậm chức Tổng Thống Mỹ D.J Trump) M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS Field : English Linguistics Code : 8220201.01 Supervisor : Prof Dr NGUYỄN HÒA Hanoi - 2019 DECLARATION I hereby warrant that this thesis granted “A Critical Discourse Analysis of Power in D.J.Trump’s inaugural Speech” is a study of my own research for the Degree of Master of Arts at the University of language and International Studies Vietnam National University, and the thesis has never been published in any forms Hanoi, 2019 Nguyễn Thị Minh Tâm i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS For the fulfillment of this study, first and foremost, I would like to express my deep gratitude and appreciation to my supervisor, Prof Nguyễn Hòa, the lecturer at Faculty of Postgraduate Studies, ULIS, VNU for his enthusiastic and valuable suggestions, comments as well as his advice I would like to thank all the lecturers of Faculty of Postgraduate Studies, ULIS, VNU, for their training and support in all my M.A.study process implement this M.A thesis Besides, I would like to express my thanks to all the faculty specialists who helped me a lot Finally, I also would like to express my deep thanks to my family and friends for their love, support and encouragement ii ABSTRACT This study presents a CDA of the Inaugural Speech of Presidential Donald Trump which was delivered on 20th, January 2017 The data in this research is a Trump‟s speech published on December 8th, 2017, on CNN channel, on YouTube The main purpose of this analysis is to explore and discover the relationships between language, ideology and power through social practice, discourse process of Donald Trump‟s speech, based mainly on Fairclough‟s CDA framework (1992, 2001): Description, Interpretation, and Explanation, it also focused on the analysis of language features, the relationship between situational and intertextual context, and social process The method applied in this research is descriptive qualitative method The results of the analysis have shown that Trump used soft skills to express his ideology, his own way to inspire the Americans, to give the future plans and lead the Americans to follow him, with strategies to get vast support and trust from the Americans iii ABBREVIATIONS CDA Critical Discourse Analysis SFG Systemic Functional Grammar DA Discourse Analysis MR Members’ Resources DHA Discourse History Analysis iv TABLES OF CONTENTS DECLARATION i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii ABSTRACT iii ABBREVIATIONS iv TABLES OF CONTENTS .v LIST OF TABLES vii LIST OF FIGURES viii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale .1 Aims of the study .2 1.3 Method of the study .2 1.4 Scope of the study .2 1.5 Significance of the study 1.6 Structure of the thesis CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW& THEORETICAL BACKGROUND 2.1 Defining CDA .5 2.2 Some key concepts in CDA .6 2.2.1.Ideology 2.2.2.Power 2.2.3.Discourse 2.3 CDA approaches .11 2.3.1.The socio – cognitive approach by Teun van Dijk 11 2.3.2 The discourse – historical approach by Ruth Wodak .12 2.3.3.The dialectical – relational approach by Norman Fairclough 13 2.4 Review of previous studies .17 CHAPTER 3: RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 20 v 3.1 Data 20 3.2 Social context of the speech .21 3.3 Analytical framework 22 CHAPTER 4: FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION 27 4.1 Textual description and analysis .27 4.1.1.Vocabulary analysis 27 4.1.2 Grammar features 32 4.1.3.Transitivity .37 4.1.4.Macro – structure of the text 38 4.2 Interpretation of the relationship between the productive and interpretative processes .41 4.3.Explanation of the relationship between discourse and social process 43 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION .46 Recapitulation and Conclusion .46 Limitations 48 Implications and Recommendations for further study 48 REFERENCES 49 APPENDICES I APPENDIX I APPENDIX III APPENDIX VIII APPENDIX XIII APPENDIX XIX APPENDIX .XXIV vi LIST OF TABLES Table Overview of process types (adapted from Halliday, 1994) 16 Table 2: Common pronouns in the speech 32 Table 3: The summary of transitivity analysis data 38 vii LIST OF FIGURES Figure Socio-political and socio-historic context (Fairclough, 1992) 15 Figure 2: Aspects of interpersonal management (Thompson, 1996:69) 17 Figure 3: Formal features: experiential, relational and expressive values (Fairclough, 2001, 94) .22 Figure 4: Interpretation (Fairclough, 2001, p 119) 25 Figure 5: Explanation (Fairclough, 2001, p 36) .26 Figure 6: The analysis of the macrostructure of the speech .39 viii borders while refusing to defend our own; and spent trillions of dollars overseas (48) || while America's infrastructure has fallen into disrepair and decay (49) || We've made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, (50) || and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon (51) || One by one, the factories shuttered (52) and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind (53) || The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes (54) and then redistributed across the entire world (55) || But that is the past (56) || And now we are looking only to the future (57) || We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power (58) || From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land (59) || From this moment on, it's going to be America First (60) || Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families (61)|| We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs (62) || Protection will lead to great prosperity and strength (63) || I will fight for you with every breath in my body – (64) || and I will never, ever let you down (65) || America will start winning again, winning like never before (66) || We will bring back our jobs (67) || We will bring back our borders (68)|| We will bring back our wealth (69) || And we will bring back our dreams (70) || We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation (71) || We will get our people off of welfare and back to work rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor (72) || We will follow two simple rules: (73) || Buy American (74) || and hire American X (75) || We will seek friendship and good will with the nations of the world – (76) || but we so with the understanding (77) || that it is the right of all nations to put their own interests first (78) || We not seek to impose our way of life on anyone,(79) || but rather to let it shine as an example for everyone to follow (80) || We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones – (81) || and unite the civilized world against radical Islamic terrorism, which we will eradicate completely from the face of the Earth (82) || At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, (83) || and through our loyalty to our country, (84) || we will rediscover our loyalty to each other (85) || When you open your heart to patriotism, (86) || there is no room for prejudice (87) || The Bible tells us, "How good and pleasant it is (88) || when God's people live together in unity." (89) || We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, (90) || but always pursue solidarity (91) || When America is united, America is totally unstoppable (92) || There should be no fear we are protected,(93) || and we will always be protected (94) || We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, (95) || we are protected by God (96) || Finally, we must think big (97) || and dream even bigger (98) || In America, we understand (99) || that a nation is only living as long as it is striving (100) || We will no longer accept politicians (101) || who are all talk and no action constantly complaining but never doing anything about it (102) || The time for empty talk is over (103) || Now arrives the hour of action (104) || Do not let anyone tell you it cannot be done (105) || No challenge can match the heart (106) || and fight and spirit of America XI (107) || We will not fail (108) || Our country will thrive (109) || and prosper again (110) || We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the mysteries of space, to free the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow (111) || A new national pride will stir our souls, (112) || lift our sights, (113) || and heal our divisions (114) || It is time to remember (115) || that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: (116) || that whether we are black or brown or white, (117) || we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, (118) || we all enjoy the same glorious freedoms, (119) || and we all salute the same great American Flag (120) || And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept plains of Nebraska, (121) || they look up at the same night sky, (122) || they fill their heart with the same dreams, (123) || and they are infused with the breath of life by the same almighty Creator (124) || So to all Americans, in every city near and far, small and large, from mountain to mountain, and from ocean to ocean, hear these words: (125) || You will never be ignored again (126) || Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams will define our American destiny.(127) || And your courage and goodness and love will forever guide us along the way (128) || Together, We will make America strong again (129) || We will make wealthy again (130) || We will make America proud again (131) || We will make America safe again (132) || And yes, together, we will make America great again Thank you bless you And God bless America XII God APPENDIX Transitivity analysis Clause Participant We Participant type Carrier Process Process type are now Material joined Together , we Actor will Material determine We Actor will face Material We Carrier will confront Material But we Carrier will get Material We Actor gather Material and we Carrier are Relational They Sensor have been Material Today‟s ceremony Carrier has Material 10 we Carrier are not Relational transferring 11 but we Carrier are Relational transferring 12 For …….Capital Sensor has reaped Material 13 while the people Sensor have borne Mental 14 Washington Actor flourished Material 15 but the people Behaver did not share Behavioural 16 Politicians Receiver prospered Material 17 but the jobs Carrier left Material 18 and the factories Carrier closed Material 19 The establishment Actor protected Material 20 Their victories Carrier have not been Relational XIII 21 and while they Actor celebrated Material 22 That Actor all changes Material 23 because this Carrier is Relational moment 24 It Carrier belongs to Relational 25 This Carrier is Relational 26 And …… America Carrier is Relational 27 What truly matters Actor is Relational 28 but whether our Carrier is controlled Relational Carrier will be Relational government 29 January 20th 2017 remembered 30 The……….country Actor will be Relational forgotten 31 Everyone Carrier is listening Relational 32 You Actor came Material 33 At the center of this Actor is Relational movement 34 Americans Sensor want Mental 35 These Actor are Relational 36 But …… reality Sensor exists Material 37 but which Carrier leaves Material 38 and beautiful Actor deprived Material Actor stops Material students 39 This American carnage 40 we Carrier are Relational 45 The ….today Carrier is Relational XIV 46 For many decades, Actor „ve enriched Material we 47 We Actor „ve defended Material 48 while America‟s Actor has fallen Material infrastructure 49 We Actor „ve made Material 50 and confidence of Carrier has Material our country 51 One by one, the disappeared Carrier shuttered Material Carrier has been Relational factories 53 The … class ripped 54 and then Carrier reattributed Material 55 But that Carrier is Relational 56 And now Actor are looking Material 57 We Actor assembled Material 58 From this day Carrier will govern Material forward, a new vision 59 From ……….it Carrier „s going to be Relational 60 Every …… affairs Actor will be made Relational 61 We Actor must protect Material 62 Protection Carrier will lead Material 63 I Actor will fight Material 64 and I Actor will never, Material ever let 65 America Actor will start Material 66 We Carrier will bring Material XV 70 We Actor will build Material 71 We Carrier will get Material 72 We Actor will follow Material 75 We Actor will seek Material 76 but we Actor Material 77 that it Actor is Relational 78 We Actor not seek Material 80 We Actor will reinforce Material 82 At ……politics Carrier will be Relational 84 We Actor will Material rediscover 85 When you Actor open Material 86 there Carrier is Relational 87 The Bible Sayer tells Verbal 88 when God‟s people Actor live Material 89 We Sayer must speak Verbal 90 but always Existent pursue Existence 91 When America Actor is united Relational 92 There Carrier should be Relational 93 and we Sensor will always Relational be protected 94 We Actor will be Relational protected 95 we Actor are Relational 96 Finally, we Sensor must think Mental 98 In America, we Sensor understand Mental 99 that a nation carrier is Relational 100 We Actor will no longer Material XVI accept 101 Who Actor are all talk Relational/mental 102 The time for empty Actor talk is Relational 103 Now Carrier arrives Material 104 Do not let anyone Actor tell Material 105 No challenge Actor can Material match/fight 107 We Actor will not fail Material 108- Our country Carrier will thrive Material 109 /prosper 110 We Actor stand Material 111 A new national Actor will Material pride stir/lift/heal 114 It Carrier is Relational 115 that old wisdom Sensor will never Material our soldiers forget 116 that whether we Carrier are Relational 118 we Actor enjoy Material 119 and we Actor salute Material 120 And whether a Carrier is born Relational child 121 they Actor look Material 122 they Actor fill Material 123 and they Sensor are infused Relational 124 So ………… ocean Sensor hear Mental 125 You Carrier will never be Relational ignored 126 Your ……dreams Actor XVII will define Material 127 And ……… love Actor will forever Material guide 128 Together, we Actor will make Material 129 We Actor will make Material 130 We Actor will make Material 131 We Actor will make Material 132 And, Yes, Together, Actor will make Material We XVIII APPENDIX Personal pronoun analysis Instances of the use of “we” in the text The use of “we” Clause We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people Together, we will determine the course of America and the world for years to come We will face challenges We will confront hardships But we will get the job done 10 11 Every four years, we gather on these steps to carry out the orderly and peaceful transfer of power and we are grateful to President Obama and First Lady MichelleObama for their gracious aid throughout this transition Because today we are not merely transferring power from one administration to another, or from one party to another but we are transferring power from Washington, D.C and giving it back to you, the American People 40 We are one nation 44 We share one heart, one home, and one glorious destiny For many decades, we've enriched foreign industry at the expense of 46 American industry; subsidized the armies of other countries while allowing for the very sad depletion of our military; 47 we've defended other nation's borders while refusing to defend our own; and spent trillions of dollars overseas 49 We've made other countries rich while the wealth, strength, 56 And now we are looking only to the future XIX 57 We assembled here today are issuing a new decree to be heard in every city, in every foreign capital, and in every hall of power We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries 61 making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs 66 We will bring back our jobs 67 We will bring back our borders 68 We will bring back our wealth 69 And we will bring back our dreams 70 71 We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation We will get our people off of welfare and back to work rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor 72 We will follow two simple rules: 75 We will seek friendship and good will with the nations of the world 76 but we so with the understanding 78 We not seek to impose our way of life on anyone 80 We will reinforce old alliances and form new ones 84 we will rediscover our loyalty to each other 89 We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly, 93 94 and we will always be protected We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, 95 we are protected by God 96 Finally, we must think big 97 and dream even bigger 98 In America, we understand 99 that a nation is only living as long as it is striving XX 100 We will no longer accept politicians 107 We will not fail We stand at the birth of a new millennium, ready to unlock the 110 mysteries of space, to free the Earth from the miseries of disease, and to harness the energies, industries and technologies of tomorrow 116 that whether we are black or brown or white, 117 we all bleed the same red blood of patriots, 118 we all enjoy the same glorious freedoms 119 and we all salute the same great American Flag 128 Together, We will make America strong again 129 We will make wealthy again 130 We will make America proud again 131 We will make America safe again 132 And yes, together, we will make America great again Thank you God bless you And God bless America Instances of the use of “OUR” in the text Clause The use of “OUR” We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild our country and to restore its promise for all of our people 12 For too long, a small group in our nation's Capital has reaped the rewards of government 19 The establishment protected itself, but not the citizens of our country 21 and while they celebrated in our nation's capital, there was little to celebrate for struggling families all across our land 27 What truly matters is not which party controls our government, 28 but whether our government is controlled by the people 30 The forgotten men and women of our country will be forgotten no longer XXI 36 But for too many of our citizens, a different reality exists: Mothers and children trapped in poverty in our inner cities; rusted-out factories scattered like tombstones across the landscape of our nation; an education system flush with cash, 37 but which leave our young and beautiful students deprived of knowledge 38 and the crime and gangs and drugs that have stolen too many lives and robbed our country of so much unrealized potential 41 and their pain is our pain 42 Their dreams are our dreams; 43 and their success will be our success 47 we've defended other nation's borders while refusing to defend our own; 50 and confidence of our country has disappeared over the horizon 52 and left our shores, with not even a thought about the millions upon millions of American workers left behind 53 The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes 58 From this day forward, a new vision will govern our land 61 We must protect our borders from the ravages of other countries making our products, stealing our companies, and destroying our jobs 66 We will bring back our jobs 67 We will bring back our borders 68 We will bring back our wealth 69 And we will bring back our dreams 70 We will build new roads, and highways, and bridges, and airports, and tunnels, and railways all across our wonderful nation 71 We will get our people off of welfare and back to work rebuilding our country with American hands and American labor XXII 78 We not seek to impose our way of life on anyone, 82 At the bedrock of our politics will be a total allegiance to the United States of America, 83 and through our loyalty to our country, 84 we will rediscover our loyalty to each other 89 We must speak our minds openly, debate our disagreements honestly 94 We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law enforcement and, most importantly, 107 We will not fail (108) || Our country will thrive (109) || and prosper again 111 A new national pride will stir our souls 112 lift our sights, 113 and heal our divisions 115 that old wisdom our soldiers will never forget: 126 Your voice, your hopes, and your dreams will define our American destiny XXIII APPENDIX Passive analysis Line Passive voice We, the citizens of America, are now joined in a great national effort to rebuild 32 our government is controlled by the people 33 January 20th 2017, will be remembered as the day the people became the 66-67 The wealth of our middle class has been ripped from their homes and then redistributed across the entire world 73-74 Every decision on trade, on taxes, on immigration, on foreign affairs, will be made to benefit American workers and American families 105 There should be no fear – we are protected, and we will always be protected 106 We will be protected by the great men and women of our military and law 107 enforcement and, most importantly, we are protected by God 114 Do not let anyone tell you it cannot be done No challenge can match the heart 125 And whether a child is born in the urban sprawl of Detroit or the windswept 127 the same dreams, and they are infused with the breath of life by the same 131 You will never be ignored again XXIV ... social classes, ages, nation, and party, etc Many studies in CDA have focused on the presidential inaugural speech which attracted a great deal of attention around the world, made many researchers... presents an overview and mention some definitions of CDA that give knowledge in understanding of CDA as a discipline Some key concepts in CDA including power, ideology, discourse and some approaches... to conduct this researched titled: A critical discourse analysis of power in Donald Trump’s inaugural speech 1.2 Aims of the study The aim of this study focuses on exploring and discovering Trump‟s