皮尔斯符号学视角下奥巴马就职演说的象似性研究

A Study on Iconicity in Political Speeches from Peircean Semiotics Perspective

A Study on Iconicity in Obama’s Inaugural Address from Peircean

Semiotics Perspective

Abstract

Nowadays,the study of iconicity has been a very important part in the field of linguistics, and it mainly discusses the relationship between language signs and meanings.It has a very important significance to display the nature and functions of language entirely by gaining the underlying meaning of language signs.The iconicity of language signs is derived from the iconicity of Piercean icon.In his second trichotomy of sign,based on the relationship between representamen and its object,sign can be divided into three parts:icon,index and symbol.On the basis of this trichotomy,the icon can be divided into another three parts:imagic icon, diagrammatic icon and metaphor icon,which correspond to the three kinds of iconicity,which are imagic iconicity,diagrammatic iconicity and metaphor iconicity.There are various texts mentioned in the study of iconicity,such as advertisement,network language,poetry,speech and so on.In the speech text,American presidential inaugual speech is a very valuable research corpus in linguistics.The inaugual speech is a sub-category of political speech,and it is also an important means for the new elected president to clarify his political position, governing pattern and principles,so as to access the people and win their support.Therefore, the inaugual speech has a lasting influence and significance,and it has been a hot research point for linguistic scholars.

According to the different characteristics reflected by sign iconicity,it is classified by scholars from different research perspectives,such as pronunciation,syntax,rhetoric and so on.And most of scholars study the iconicity restricted to the four principles of iconicity according to syntactic structure,which are distance iconcity,quantity iconicity,sequence iconicity and markedness iconicity.However,few scholars research the theory of iconicity from Peircean semiotics perspective systematically and entirely.

Therefore,this thesis takes iconicity from Peircean semiotics perspective as the fundamental theory,and the second inaugural address of Obama who is the forty-third and forty-fourth president of the United Stated,as the subject.Applying qualitative analysis method and descriptive method,this thesis mainly discusses two questions:

(1)What are the realizations of iconicity in Obama’s inaugural address from Peircean

semiotics perspective?

(2)What means are used to enhance the attraction and persuasiveness of Obama’s

inaugural address by iconicity?

This thesis based on interpretation and exposition,discusses the theory of iconicity from the perspective of Peircean Semiotics systematically and roundly and analyses its application

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辽宁师范大学硕士学位论文

in Obama’s inaugural address.It lets language learners have a general understanding of the positive effects of iconicity from the Peircean semiotics perspective,the details are as follows:

(1)Imagic iconicity makes the speech more exciting and active,which arouses audience’s attention and encourages Americans to fighting for the future of their great nation. It helps new president get more supports.

(2)Diagrammatic iconicity makes the speech more euphemistic and indirect,which narrows distance between the new president and audience,expresses the democratic spirit and helps the president get the people’s favor.

(3)Metaphor iconicity makes the speech more vivid,so that deepens the audience’s impression of the speech.It is not only let the people have deeper understanding of their nation,but also consolidates the president’s governance.

Key words:Iconicity;Principles of Iconicity;Piercean Trichotomy of Sign;Inaugual Speech

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A Study on Iconicity in Political Speeches from Peircean Semiotics Perspective

List of Figures

Figure3.1Peircean’s Triadic Model of the Sign (16)

Figure3.2Iconicity Principles from Peircean Semiotics Perspective (19)

Figure4.1Definition of Metaphor Iconicity (31)

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