AN ANALYSIS OF RHETORIC IN SELECTED STATEMENTS OF BARACK HUSSEIN OBAMA AND SUSILO BAMBANG YUDOYONO’S SPEECH ON RECONCILIATION EFFORTS REGARDING MIDDLE EAST CONFLICTS

Abstract

This thesis is concerned with discourse analysis, specifically related to a rhetoric approach. Rhetoric is a strategy to send someone’s ideas and thoughts in order what he delivers is accepted and understood. Thus, this thesis focuses on how rhetoric works in a spoken language particularly in the political discourse. The data are taken from manuscripts of two speeches delivered by Barack Hussein Obama and Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. Their statements are selected and then analyzed on the basis of rhetoric theories. Library research is conducted in this thesis. The method to use is descriptive method, meaning that the chosen texts of BHO and SBY are described and analyzed on the basis of language use and meanings through verbal descriptions and interpretation rather than numbers. The result of the research proved that rhetoric is used by BHO and SBY when they deliver their speeches on reconciliation efforts regarding Middle East conflicts. It can be seen from their argumentation. BHO offers seven issues causing the tension between Muslim and the West: violent extremism, the situation between Israelis, Palestinians and the Arab world, nuclear weapons in Iran, democracy, religion freedom, women’s rights, economic development and opportunity. BHO gives statements how to terminate the tension in Middle East. BHO’ reconciliation efforts includes no military base in Afghanistan, persuasive approach, investment to develop Afghanistan and Pakistan, no weapon in the world, ingredients of true democracy, tolerance to choose faith, equality for women in the world, a new corps of business in Muslim-majority countries. Meanwhile, SBY delivers nine imperatives as response of BHO’s speech to achieve harmony relationship, peace world among Muslim and West civilizations. The nine reconciliation offered are about the century of soft power, the process of dialogue, the solution to burn political conflicts between Muslim and West, the voice of moderation, multiculturalism and tolerance, globalization for all, global governance, education and finally global conscience. Besides, the works of rhetoric also can be seen from who the speaker is. BHO and SBY are powerful and influential persons in the world particularly in Muslims and West countries since they are representatives or presidents of their people in their own countries. Thus, through their impressive speeches, SBY and BHO are able to influence the audience to accept their ideas and thoughts.