美国总统就演说辞的语言象似性研究.pdf

Classified Index: CODE: 10075 U. D. C: NO: A Dissertation for the Degree of M. Arts A Study of Language Iconicity in American Presidential Inaugural Address Candidate: Duan Xin Supervisor: Prof. Ye Huijun Academic Degree Applied for: Master of Arts Specialty: English Language and Literature University: Hebei University Date of Oral Examination: May, 2012 Abstract Abstract American presidential inaugural address is a kind of special public speaking. It is a significant moment for the newly elected president to inspire the public and illustrate his views about his future administration. And it is also a crucial moment to show the president ’s talents and set up his own image. As a result, each presidential speech is polished and decorated by a group of specialized writers so as to make it impress on the audience at the most. So it is of great value for linguisitic study. After reviewing all the previous studies of inaugural address, we find most of them are from stylistic and generic perspectives and few scholars ever studied this topic from a cognitive perspective. Therefore, this thesis tries to analyse the addresses in view of iconicity which is an important theory in cognitive linguistics. Iconicity refers to natural connection between the linguistic signs and concept meaning which has become the heated topic in recent years. Iconicity was first proposed by semiotist C. S. Pierce, and then his opinion got recognition and support from ot