Speeches

Throughout time, there has been conflict, war, poverty, depression, and times of crisis - all which have required a leader. Within these differing contexts these leaders often explore universal ideas of peace and unity. The ability of these individuals to express their message attains a far greater influence upon their audience, as they are able to appeal to the patriotic and autonomous values of the people. Consequently the relevance which is associated with these speeches transcends time, becoming applicable to various generations. Such speeches are Paul Keating’s ‘Funeral Service for the Unknown Australian Soldier’ and Sir William Dean’s address on the occasion of an ecumenical service for the victims of the canyoning tragedy. Both of these express similar ideas of humanity, compassion and unity. Both of these composer’s effectively use the rhetoric to portray their messages, allowing for an emotional and sincere response among not only their given audiences, but through many generations. Rhetoric is the art and study of the use of language with persuasive effect. Throughout European History, ethos, logos and pathos rhetoric appeals have apprehensively involved themselves with persuasion in public and political settings. An ancient art, still vibrant today, it’s the key dependency to create an affinity with an audience, to enforce there opinion and there belief. Matters entwined with rhetoric in speeches are generally the speeches, which transcend time. Paul Keating’s Funeral Service of The Unknown Soldier, given on Remembrance Day, Is one of Australia’s most symbolic, captivating speeches. The Eulogy Broadcasted Nationally to televisions across the vast country the soldier once fought for, was sentimental, reflecting the selfless sacrifice thousands of Australians had made in armed conflict. In this, Keating unites a country in remembrance where a national identity based on courage and mateship is created. Buried in a Tasmanian Blackwood coffin, the unknown soldier is symbolic exemplum of all soldiers lost in WW1, as Keating uses this somber eulogy as an opportunity to remember those who sacrificed their lives in the war. This catalyzed an outpour of pride amongst all Australians, a key reason to being an effective speech. Keating, a republican was pushing for an expression of unity, and progressing forward as an independent nation. Anaphora is apparent in the opening stages of the speech with ‘We do not know’. Ethos is the device emphasing that the soldier’s identity is unknown, consequently there will be no specific characterization about him throughout the speech. This enigma is key to the main symbolism which is reiterated throughout the speech, being an honor of the memory of all men and women who laid down their lives in war. As characteristics are not known, the soldier can only be depicted with the stereotypical qualities of Australian diggers. Those who ‘endure hardship, to show courage, to be bold as well as resilient, to believe in ourselves, to stick together’. Keating delineates a man he may have been. Another way Keating classifies the Unknown in a known view is the inclusion of inclusive first person pronouns. “ours” is one of these, which restate the fact he is one of us. Keating uses numerous contradictions to play on the listeners emotions. “But, in honoring our war dead, as we always have and as we do today, we declare that this is not true”. Through Pathos, here audiences can see that the war was a waste of life, as Keating later states that the “soldier died in vain”. Keating then announces the ANZAC legend, which convey his republican beliefs, by no untying dependence with Britain. Such a legend isolates Australia as an independent country. Within the speech, there are two messages. The main, which is a somber message about the mass loss of innocent life in war, the sub-message, stating Keating’s republic ideology where the unnecessary deaths of soldiers could have been prevented if Australia was an independent country. Similarly Sir William Deane, Governor general of the commonwealth of Australia’s motivating tribute On the occasion of an ecumenical service for the victims of the canyoning tragedy, alike Keating’s eulogy’s prime purpose is to create a formal memorial of individuals untimely deaths. A speech, emphasizing emotions on behalf of the deceased family’s delivered on the 5th of August 1999, 5 days after the flash flood burst through the Saxeten River near the Swiss Alpine resort of Interlaken. Killing 21 people including 14 young Australians. It incorporates similar values to Keating’s speech such as unity. Similar to Keating’s Eulogy, both speeches turn individual tragedies into messages about national unity. Both speeches are tied to major events, and provide values, which hold worth in societies, connecting countries on the one extrinsic motivating message. A differing aspect of this equally effective speech is that this message was delivered on a personal level. The Victims of this unfortunate tragedy were known. All with identifies, with memories and qualities known to friends and families. Deane didn’t need to emphasise any generalisations, as the audience of the eulogy knew the identities of the deceased. Circumstances to surrounding possible cause of death were clear. Anaphora was evident in this speech too, with repetition of we pray, the young people, certainly the young Australians, and Australians. This device shows a religious inclusion, to show compassion towards the loss of life. Hyperbolic emotive language manipulating the feelings is continual throughout the speech. The term profound tragedy is the communication technique pathos, where this term, given the circumstances is suitable for the grief relatives and friends would be experiencing. Deane try’s to further the idea that we can all have the grief stricken feeling. The metaphor ‘flower of their youth’ liken their lives to the bloom of the sprigs of wattle, our national floral emblem, and realism in association with their Australian heritage. The speech is made personal, when Deane stated he ‘with family members and friends of the Australian victims, visited the canyon where the accident occurred. There, in memory of each of the 14 young people who came from our homeland, we cast into the saxetnbach 14 sprigs of wattle” this is symbolic to the audience as they not only took part in this symbolic act, but in a sense, it’s bringing part of Australia to the victims to be at home. Deane is genuinely empathetic and somber in his speech, as he feels the pain people linked to the 14 victims are feeling. The previous two speeches through rhetoric and textual devices are flawless examples of effective speeches. Transcending time - with beliefs still being enforced to modern societies today, the composers effectively engage and persuade listeners.