Posted by
Always Learning on Tuesday, January 20, 2009 4:36:05 PM
What follows is a semantic analysis of President Obama’s Inaugural Speech delivered on January 20, 2009. I have outlined my methodology in a previous post. I will not bore the reader with a repeat.
2,380 Words Spoken
Citizens – 1 occurrence
Citizenship – 1 occurrence
America (country) – 9 occurrences
American(s) (people) – 5 occurrences
United States – 0 occurrences
Constitution – 0 occurrences
State(s) – 0 occurrences
Nation(s) - 15 total occurrences
World – 7 occurrences
Earth – 3 occurrences
Planet – 2 occurrences
Crisis – 4 occurrences
Hard/hardship – 5 occurrences
Hope – 3 occurrences
Summary
Based upon this semantic analysis, President Obama today delivered an inaugural address with a world-wide focus, not a focus on the United States of America.
Virtues of those who have come before us in our country were mentioned; the positive attributes of America were mentioned; the concept of “crisis” was likewise mentioned; yet these sub-themes were short-lived and eclipsed by the ‘world of nations’ tone of the speech.
The absence of the use of the term “United States” was striking. Instead, President Obama called upon Americans to “begin again the work of remaking America.”
Details
A. The theme of the speech in President Obama’s words:
“What is required of us now is a new era of responsibility — a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly, firm in the knowledge that there is nothing so satisfying to the spirit, so defining of our character, than giving our all to a difficult task. This is the price and the promise of citizenship.”
B. Word Pulls
America
America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office
a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable
But know this, America - they will be met
They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions; greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.
Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.
know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity
and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace
In the year of America's birth, in the coldest of months, a small band of patriots huddled by dying campfires on the shores of an icy river
America. In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words
American(s)
Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath
So it must be with this generation of Americans
we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains.
For as much as government can do and must do, it is ultimately the faith and determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.
a recognition, on the part of every American
Nation(s)
I thank President Bush for his service to our nation
Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred
and prepare the nation for a new age
We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things
In reaffirming the greatness of our nation
We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth
and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous
America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and that we are ready to lead once more
even greater cooperation and understanding between nations
We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers
To the people of poor nations, we pledge
to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty
determination of the American people upon which this nation relies.
a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation
the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people
World
Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake
that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace
To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.
nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect
For the world has changed, and we must change with it
a recognition, on the part of every American, that we have duties to ourselves, our nation, and the world, duties that we do not grudgingly accept but rather seize gladly
Let it be told to the future world
Planet / Earth
and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet
With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat and roll back the specter of a warming planet
For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West; endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth
We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth
We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth