Distinctive Voices free essay sample

Every type of text, whether it is a film, song, poem or speech portrays a distinctive voice. The distinctive voice is usually a result of how the composer wants to get their point of view across to the audience. John F Kennedy’s Inaugural Address, 9th Earl Spencer’s Eulogy for Princess Diana and George W. Bush’s 9/11 Address to the Nation are all speeches, which makes it easier to hear the distinctive voice within each one, along with the numerous language techniques, stylistic features and their structures. John F. Kennedy’s Inaugural Address took place in Washington D. C on 20th January, 1961 and was his very first speech as president. Kennedy spoke from a strong moral and humanitarian position, which made it difficult for people to disagree with him on certain points, for example, when Kennedy called all American citizens to be active participants in the future. This was emphasised by one of Kennedy’s most notable quotes â€Å"And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country. We will write a custom essay sample on Distinctive Voices or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page A couple of distinctive voices he aimed to achieve with this speech were as president, as he was speaking on behalf of his citizens and as a humanitarian as he was a spokesman for equality and justice for all people. The Cold War was an overwhelming issue at the time of his election and throughout his presidency. Kennedy used euphemisms such as â€Å"the hand of mankind’s final war† in relation to the possibility of a nuclear war, to play down any fear that was created by the cold war. He uses tone to illustrate that he is a dedicated, fearless president when he says, â€Å"I do not shrink from this responsibility, I welcome it. This use of tone also indicates that he is a confident, visionary president when he says, â€Å"The energy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this endeavour will light our country and all who serve it. † The 9th Earl of Spencer’s Eulogy for Princess Diana, former wife of Prince Charles, took place at West Minster Abbey in England on the 6th September 1997, delivered at the funeral of his sister, Diana Spencer, to celebrate her life. It implicitly blamed and condemned the media and the royal family for hounding Diana to her death. Spencer starts the speech by using amplification in the very first sentence to try to highlight the connection between his family and wider world, when he says â€Å"A family in grief, in a country in mourning, before a world in shock. † Some examples of the distinctive voices he uses are a grieving brother, when he talks about his personal lose and says â€Å"Only now you are gone do we truly appreciate what we are now without† and a guardian, when he talks about keeping William and Harry from a similar fate to Diana’s, by saying â€Å"We will not allow them to suffer the anguish that used regularly to drive you to tearful despair. Spencer uses tone sneeringly, not only to the media but also to speak out against the Royal Family, by saying â€Å"Genuine goodness is threatening to those at the opposite end of the moral spectrum. † In effect this puts the Royal Family and the media against world! George W Bush’s 9/11 Address to the Nation took place in the Oval Office in the White House on the 11th September 2001. This speech was given shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks took place on the World Trade Centre’s in New York, the Pentagon in Arlington country and flight which crashed into the ground near Shanksville Pennsylvania. Bush uses language techniques to ease the worries of his citizens, provide hope and a solution for them. Bush uses biblical references and religion to create peace of mind for Americans after the horrific incident which caused thousands of deaths. He quotes Psalm 23 â€Å"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil for you are with me. † Bush also uses metaphors such as â€Å"Terrorist attacks can shake the foundations of our biggest buildings, but they cannot touch the foundation of America. † And â€Å"These acts can shatter steel, but they cannot dent the steel of American resolve. to show that America as a nation has a resilient spirit and that the American people are stronger than a few buildings. This speech also illustrates that, regardless of the nature of the attacks, Americans are still able to act in a positive way. In conclusion all three of these speeches impact the audience in very different ways, but that is because they are about very different issues. However I believe that in all three of the texts, the composers are able to get their points of view across to the audience, through the use of structure, stylistic features, language techniques and their own unique distinctive voice.