This manuscript has rhetorically analyzed a speech by Hu Jintao in “the Forum High-Ranking Officials in Remembrance of the 10th Anniversary of China as a Member of the WTO (World Trade Organization)” in December 11th, 2011.
The speech has been separated and analyzed from the perspective of 5 principles - invention, disposition, elocution, memory and action.
On closer analysis in the point of “invention”, the accession of China to the WHO was a significant strategy to accelerate the reform and openness policy and socialist modernization. So I was able to find the rhetorical status for the sovereign ruler to have the entire nation recognize anew a need for the reform and openness as the only choice. Then I could see the type of the speech was that of epideictic and political address.
On analysis in the view of “disposition”, the speaker divided the 23 paragraphs into introduction, explanation body, verification body and conclusion. He brilliantly arranged the subject so that the audience could concentrated on and understand the speech.
On analysis in the perspective of “elocution”, the intent of the speaker was revealed by means of word analysis and rhetorical figures. Through the means of word analysis, phrases, personal pronouns, transitive verbs and stationary adverb have been analyzed. In the point of rhetorical figures, the effect of rhythmic sense, unity and lucidity has increased by the use of Paibi (same-length sentence repetition) and phrase repetition rather than figuration, which is because the subject of the address is economy. Moreover, personification for the inducement of action has been found in the part of conclusion.
On analysis in the view of “action”, seeing an aspect of linguistic elements of the speech, Mandarin Chinese is used, built on grounds for an argument analyzed from an idea through elocution. Humor is not used but rough pronunciation gives us a sense of freshness and familiarity. From an aspect of non-linguistic elements, the speaker’s gaze, the movement of cameras, stable-toned voice show us graveness of a large-scale ceremonial hall speech.