奥巴马就职演讲文体学分析

第一篇：奥巴马就职演讲文体学分析

英语文体学论文

—对美国总统奥巴马就职演说英语文体学分析

Speech is an art form of verbal expression, developing as the human being and social.The American presidential candidate’s campaign speech is an important way to promote his political views to win the public support.Hundred years, from George Washington to George Bush, the presidents show their wishes and dreams through the inauguration speech.The words are usually made by a number of most famous and talented writers.The speech is filled with fancy sentences and fragment of a beauty appreciation.Obama's inauguration speech drew all attention in the world.This paper tries to analyze Obama's inauguration speech in the level of English stylistic.By the use of analysis methods of English stylistic, you can help the audience understand more of this speech.1.Words

Compare to daily conversations, the public speech expression’s choice is more precise.There are 2043 words in Obama's inauguration speech.Many emotional words are used to achieve the desired results.Speech language using is decided by its particular context, with both oral and written language characters.Therefore, it is found this inauguration

speech is full of spoken words, mostly simple, in order to let the whole country to understand.(Eg: I stand here today humbled by the task before us.)In the English public speech, we need the attribution of abstract when talk about concepts and quality.In the meantime, the uses of abstract and complicated word are more precise and serious.In this speech paper, they use the abstract words such as enormity, spirit, patriotism to show the political color of the Obama’s politic views.2.The sentence features

In informal speech, the speaker use short sentences to enhance the speaker’s power of persuasion.There are 2043 words or 107 sentences in the Obama’s speech.The average sentences length is 19.1 words per sentence, which is more than the average English sentences length 17.6 words per sentence.In this official inauguration speech, there are a variety of the lengths of sentences, with the maximum sentence up to 49 words, but if coming along with appropriate pause, a long sentence is not difficult to understand.On the contrary, the shortest sentence is “Yes, we can!”.And it gains the most powerful audience response and becomes one of the most popular slogans.Using appropriate sentence length interchangeably in the speech can arouse audience's feeling.In addition, Obama chooses different types of sentences, such as statements, imperative clauses and rhetorical questions, etc.Obama uses a strong

imperative clause “This is our chance to answer that call.This is our moment.This is our time” to show a tough will.Obama repeatedly used “let us” guiding imperative clauses.Effective usages of imperative clauses in a short time can cheer up the audience's feelings to support the speaker's policies.In contrast, a question sentence is few in his speech, but if with felicitous usages, it will bring tremendous effects.For examples, “If„, what change will they see? What progress will we have made?”He is piloting the audiences to get his inspiration while thinking of these two questions.3.Rhetorical usage

(1)Parallel construction

In the speech language, the parallel construction is a common rhetoric usage(formed by a group of similar structures of the words, phrases and sentences).The use of this structure can enhance audience's attention and impression.It can make the speech more accurate ,contagious.For example:

1)It’s the answer 2)…It can’t happen …

(2)Phonetic figures of speech

A phonetic figure of speech is a kind of rhetorical usage based on pronounces of the words.In the paragraph, it appears some words with the same consonant to make the speech more convincible.For example: us to make that way things were.2)It can’t happen without you, without a new a new(3)Metaphor

Metaphor is the concept of understanding one thing in terms of another.A metaphor is a figure of speech that constructs an analogy between two things or ideas;the analogy is conveyed by the use of a metaphorical word in place of some other word.1)I would not be standing here without the unyielding support of my life, the nation’s next first lady Michelle Obama.In this sentence, Obama says his wife is like the cornerstone of his family to indicate his wife’s important role in his family.In this sentence, Obama uses lighthouse to indicate the future of American is bright.4.Conclusion

Obama's inauguration speech has fully demonstrated the usage of combination of public speaking and writing styles with a highly contagious and conviction.We students can learn a lot from reading and anglicizing this kind of classical article to make our writing and feeling of English culture better.

第二篇：奥巴马就职演讲文体分析

奥巴马连任就职演讲词的文体学分析 作者：陈晓庆

来源：《中小企业管理与科技·中旬刊》2014年第03期

摘要：本文运用文体学的理论对2013年1月奥巴马在美国国会山发表的连任就职演说进行分析。通过对此演讲稿的词汇和句法两个方面的分析，以力求了解本文的文体特征，更好的从难词、人称代词、情态动词、句长和被动语态几个方面体现政治演讲的特点。

关键词：文体学 演讲 词汇 语法 1 概述

文体学是用语言方法研究文体风格的学问。它以语言学的方法为工具对文学语篇进行描述和解释[1]。文体是指说话或写作的格调，它随时变化，由具体情景、对象、地点、话题等因素而定[2]。对文体的定义有很多种，简单可靠的定义是：文体是一个语篇的语言特征。任何实际可行的文体分析都必须选择一些语言特征，同时放弃其他语言特征。要分析的语言特征是那些被称为文体标记（style marker）的突出文体特征。一般来说文体特征分四类：词汇类、语法类、修辞手段、衔接和语境[3]。

根据演讲活动的性质和特点的不同，演讲从内容上分为：政治、经济、学术、道德、法律、宗教和军事演讲等。本文主要分析政治演讲。政治演讲，是指各阶段、政党或个人对国家内政事务和对外关系，表明立场，阐明观点、宣扬主张的一种演讲。如竞选演讲、施政演讲、政治集会演讲等。政治演讲的特点为：①观点鲜明；②逻辑严谨；③鼓动性强。本文选取2013年奥巴马连任就职的演讲词作为分析对象，主要从词汇和句法两个方面进行文体分析。以力求了解本文的文体特征，更好地理解政治演讲的特点。2 文体学分析 2.1 词汇层面

按照二元论的分析方法，分析词汇主要是看词汇是否正式，词汇的难易程度，单音节与多音节的数量，抽象名词与具体名词的数量，词汇中描述动作的动词与渲染性的形容词的数量等等。然后再计算这些词汇的出现频率。

第一个词汇特征是此文难度指数属于容易类。由于书面语是演讲的特征之一，因此，一般来说其词汇相对较复杂，在奥巴马的演讲词中，全文的总字数是2103个，其中难词有8个，即三个音节以上的词（不含专有名词和因语态、时态和数而演变来的派生词），只占全文总词汇的0.38%，其原因是要让来自各个阶层，有着不同文化程度的听众都能听懂、理解。虽然难词不多，其语言仍能显示出正式和庄重；本文运用the gunning fog index指数公式，来计算文章语言内容的难度指数，公式为（fog index）=0.4（h+l）其中，l=句子的平均长度；h=难懂的词的百分比。得出本演讲的难度指数=0.4（8/2103+23.8）=9.52。由迷雾指数原理得出难度指数在10左右的语篇属于容易类。所以，尽管本文语篇较长，但就其难度指数为9.52 另一个词汇特征是本文使用了大量的第一人称代词。此演讲中三种人称代词都有所涉及，但第一人称代词的使用相对较多，其人称代词的使用情况如表1。

表1 ■

在这篇演讲中，奥巴马主要运用了第一人称代词，主要是为了方便于表达自己的观点和整体的概念。所用的169个第一人称代词中we（67个）、our（75个）、us（20个）、i（3个）、my（3个）、ourselves（1个）。在此文中奥巴马多次运用we和our增强了对美国国民集体身份的反复强化，加深了全民的共识，同时，演讲者通过带有倾向性或暗示性的语句向听众施加某种信仰和情感来激起感情并最终促使他们产生行动，演讲中的感情示现增进了美国民众对奥巴马政府的信赖，旨在为奥巴马政府争取更多的民意支持，实现了民族感情的集体共鸣。这种对感情的诉诸表达了作者对美国未来的憧憬之情和对美国历史的缅怀之意，号召美国同胞拥抱与生俱来的永恒权利，珍爱未知的自由未来，激起美国公众同舟共济、珍惜自由之心，让全国人民以更大的决心取得永恒的胜利。

在这篇演讲词中，奥巴马大量的使用了情态动词，如表2所示：

表2 ■

表3对出现较多的情态动词进行分析：

由表3可以看出，本文多使用情态动词will、would（与will属同类）和must占情态动词总数的67.8%。奥巴马多次使用语气较为温和、态度较为客观的will和would，主要是为了能够在表达自我政治主张的主观意志和意愿时获得听众的接受与支持。奥巴马多次使用语气坚定的must，是为了表达对自己过去政绩的自信和对自己威信的把握，同时也表明了他在施政策略方面坚定的态度和果敢的手段。2.2 句法层面

句子长度及结构

依据句子长度，句子有长句和短句两种，短句是使用词语少，形体短，结构简单的句子，其特点是表意灵活，简洁明快，节奏感强；长句则与短句相反，表意严密，内容丰富，精确细致。英语中平均句子长度为18.6个单词，该演讲的句长如表4：

由表4可以看出：第一，该演讲词句子较长，平均句长23.8个单词高出了为数18.6个单词的英语平均句。第二，该演讲词主要使用了长句表达，即大于17.6个单词的句子比例超过了一半。长句因其用词较多，表达的内容较为丰富，也使文体效果显得庄重。

句子类型分析

按句子的功能特点，可以讲其分为陈述句、疑问句、祈使句和感叹句四种。奥巴马的演讲中共有87个句子，陈述句有85句，比例是97.7%，几乎全部使用陈述句来表达。他以平衡的语调陈述了事实，表达了观点，同时奥巴马使用陈述句表达了美国的政治、经济及外交方面的观点。

句子语态分析

英语中句子可分为主动语态和被动语态两种，被动语态的构成为be+动词的过去分词。被动语态用于：①不知道或者没必要提到动作的执行者时；②强调或者突出动作的承受者时；③调整句子结构时[4]。奥巴马此篇演讲的语态使用中有15个被动态，分别为： ①all men are created equal.②they are endowed by their creator.③freedom must be secured by his people.④through blood drawn by lash and drawn by sword.⑤all society’s ills can be cured through government alone is the fiction.⑥this generation of americans has been tested by crises.⑦we are made for this moment.⑧twilight years were spent in poverty.⑨we don’t believe that freedom is reserved for the lucky.⑩that all of us are created equal.■our gay are treated like anyone else under the law.■we are truly created equal.■no citizen is forced to wait for hours to exercise the right to vote.■bright young students and engineers are enlisted in our workforce.■our children are cared for and cherished.奥巴马在演讲的87个句子中巧妙的运用了15个具有独特语法功能的被动语态。由以上被动态总结，我们可将①、②、③、⑦、⑩、■归为一类，都是美国传统中不言而明的事物理论，如上帝创造人类，故而属于被动语态的第一种情况，不用特意强调动作的执行者。剩下的④、⑤、⑥、⑧、⑨、■、■、■、■归为一类，用来形容美国过去的遭遇、未来法案的确立方向和切实可行的计划，属于被动语态的第二种情况，强调所受遭遇的主人公和确立法案所需保护的对象，突出动作的承受者。强调了施政方针，树立了作为连任总统的个人的决断力与执政力，是总统诉诸人格权威的有效手段。3 总结

该演讲时长为18分44秒，掌声和欢呼不断响起，是因为他的演讲内容贴合了民众的实情，并做出了切实可行的计划。总之奥巴马的连任演说词能够做到鼓动民众之心，完成对自己决心的表决，回顾美国的历史，展望美国的未来，计划美国的当下，作为政治演说达到了与听众建立良好人际关系，具有说服力、吸引力和鼓动性的目的。

参考文献：

[1]刘世生，朱瑞青.第二次印刷《文体学概论》[m].北京大学出版社.2007年6月.[2]王宗炎.英汉教学语言学词典[m].湖南教育出版社.1990.[3]成亚君.林肯葛底斯堡演讲词文体分析[j].外语教学理论与实践，2011（4）.[4]徐贺艳，成亚君.比尔盖茨在清华大学的演讲文体分析[j].金华职业技术学院学报，2012年4月第12卷第2期.[5]史菲菲，周晓凤.奥巴马连任就职演说的公众交际性分析[j].长春师范学院学报，2013（5）.基金项目：

本文系锦州市2013年社会科学重点研究课题《基于西方修辞学辩论理论的英语议论文话语策略分析》的部分研究成果。

作者简介：

陈晓庆（1991-），女，蒙古族，青海海北人，渤海大学外国语学院10级本科生，研究方向：英语文体学。篇二：奥巴马就职演说的语言艺术分析

一、演说与修辞时下英语界一般将英语文体（或称语体）分为口头体和书面体两大类。但实践证明，这样的划分失之粗率。其弊病在于名实难符：口头体并不仅限于口语形式，而书面体也不仅限于书面形式。譬如，正式场合的演讲、报告，以及官方的谈话所用的文体就不能划入口语体，而应属于书面体。

演说活动自古以来就是人类社会的一项重要活动。演讲者通过宣传某种思想，让听众理解和接受自己的观点和主张，进而号召听众采取一致的行动。演讲者要达到预想的演讲效果必须研究演说词的语言表达艺术。演说词的修辞手法是演讲者最主要的语言技巧。修辞是从表达方式，表达效果的角度去研究语音、词汇、语法的运用。

美国总统的就职演说是一种在特定场合下的演说。现场听众可达百万之众，并且向国内外进行现场直播。美国民众及世界各国总是对新总统有着无限期待，总统的就职演说可谓是新政府向民众交出的第一份答卷。总统要在就职演说中抒发自己的治国理想，分析国家面临的困难和挑战，宣布自己的施政纲领以及如何实现民众的希望。各大媒体的调查表明，大多数美国民众对奥巴马的就职演说感到满意和非常满意。本文拟从语音、词汇和句法三个方面的修辞手段的使用情况对奥巴马的就职演说进行文体分析，探讨这篇演说词的语言艺术。

二、奥巴马演说词的修辞手段 1.音韵修辞格

（1）头韵（alliteration）是语音修辞手段之一。它是指两个以上紧邻单词首音（通常是辅音）相同。头韵的修辞作用是增强语言的节奏感，使语言产生音乐般的美感。头韵多用于诗歌和散文中，但人们也经常在演讲中运用头韵来增加语言的美感，加深听众的印象。同样尾韵（end rhyme）也有类似的修辞作用。

奥巴马就职演说中运用头韵的句子有： 1）with old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat?（对于老朋友和老对手，我们将不遗余力地继续削弱核威胁?）2）we are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this earth.（我们民族的成长受到许多语言和文化的影响，我们吸取了这个地球上任何一个角落的有益成分.）

运用尾韵的句子有： 1）homes have been lost;jobs shed;business shuttered.（我们的人民正失去家园，失去工作，企业要倒闭。）2）rather, it has been the risk–takers, the doers, the makers of things...(确实，这条路是勇于承担风险者之路，是实干家、创造者之路...）朗读上述句子，可以体会到使用头韵和尾韵给语言带来的节奏和韵律。2.词汇修辞格

在英语词汇中含有六个字母以上或三个音节以上的词通常被看成是大词。这些词往往来自于拉丁语，希腊语或法语，或者有着复杂的内部结构。大词在正式的书面体中出现频率较多。

在奥巴马的就职演说词中，总词汇量为2393个，其中六个字母以上的单词就有643个，占总数的26.8%，稍低于美国总统就职演说词中六个字母以上词的平均含词量：27.7%。从这一数据来看，奥氏的就职演说与往届的美国总统的就职演说一样，具有很明显的口语体特征。演讲者往往使用形容词来对某些言行进行绘声绘色的描述，以此表达自己的主观倾向，渲染感情色彩。在奥氏就职演说中有形容词137个，占总词数的5.7%，与小布什就职演说的5.6%相近，但远远少于美国总统就职演说词中形容词的平均含词量：7.4%。

在演说中大量使用第一人称复数是许多演讲者常用的语言技巧，目的是将听众拉到演讲者一边，将演讲者和听众放到同一立场上，让听众感受到“我们是相同”的认同感。奥氏在就职演说中使用“我们（we）”有55次，其变体“our”有61次，“us”有21次，三项合计有137次，而奥氏演讲全文中有129句，另加101 个从句和25个并列句，几乎是一开口必称“我们”。美国总统的就职演说为了使语言表达更为准确、具体、鲜明、生动、有力，常常会使用明喻、隐喻、拟人、夸张、借代等词汇修辞格帮助听众加深对事物的理解，加强演讲的现场气氛，提高演讲效果。

以下是奥巴马在就职演说中的使用情况。

（1）明喻（simile）：用另一种事物比喻所要说明的事物，达到更形象、更深刻说明事物的目的，通常用like或as连接。1）for us, they fought and died, in places like concord and gettysburg, normandy and khe sanh.（为了我们，他们奔赴像康科德城和葛底斯堡、诺曼底和克山这样的地方去征战并且牺牲。）2）they saw america as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions.（在他们看来，美国的强盛要比个人的雄心壮志重大得多.)（2）隐喻（metaphor）：不用like或as的隐藏的比喻。1）our journey has never been one of shortcuts or setting for less.(我们的民族之旅从未有过捷径或者妥协。)2）starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking america.(从今天开始，我们必须跌倒后自己爬起来，拍拍身上的泥土，然后重新开始工作，重塑美国。)（3）拟人（personification）：把事、物、观念拟作人，赋予它们以人的思想、感情与行为方式。

2）in the year of america’s birth?(在美国诞生的年代?)（4）夸张（hyperbole）：在真实的基础上有意言过其实以更好地反映事物的本质。

1）time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life.（一次又一次，我们的先辈们奋斗着、牺牲着、操劳着，直至磨破双手，只是为了我们可以生活得更好。）2）the snow was stained with blood.(冬天的雪被鲜血染成了红色。)（5）借代或称转喻（metonymy）：不相类似的甲乙之间有着不可分离的关系，利用这种关系以乙事物的名称来代替甲事物。1）those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account——to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day.(掌管纳税人税金的人应当承担起责任，合理支出，摒弃陋习，在阳光下做事。用“阳光”代表“公开”、“透明”。)3.句法修辞格

句法修辞格是通过对句子结构的特定安排达到特别的修辞效果。

比如奥巴马在其就职演说中使用了下列句法修辞手段：

（1）排比（parallelism）：由三项或以上的词语或句子构成，其并列的结构相同或类似，意义相关，语气连贯。1）our nation is at war,?our economy is badly weakened,?our health care is too costly.（我们的国家正处在战争状态?我们的国家经济也受到严重的削弱，?我们的社会医疗过于昂贵。）2）for us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and travelled across oceans in search of anew life.for us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the west;endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.for us, th ey fought and died, in places like concord and gettysburg, normandy and khesanh.(为了我们，先辈们带着微薄的家当，横渡大洋，寻找新生活；为了我们，先辈们在血汗工厂劳作，忍受皮鞭的抽打；为了我们，先辈们定居西部，在荒芜的土地辛勤耕作；为了我们，先辈们奔赴像康科德城和葛底斯堡，诺曼底和克山这样的地方去征战并且牺牲。)（2）反复（repetition）：不止一次地使用同一词语或句子。与排比的区别在于，反复着重于词语，排比着重于结构。1）so it has been.so it must be with this generation of americans.(前辈们如此。我们这一代美国人也要如此。)2）?these things are old.these things are true.(?这些东西历久弥新。这些东西真实可靠。)（3）对偶（antithesis）：工整匀称的并列结构，常把字数、结构相同或相近，意义彼此相关的两个词或并列结构对称地排列在一起，是表示对比关系的有效手段。1）where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward.where the answer is no, program will end.（哪个方案的答案是肯定的，我们就推进哪个方案。哪个方案的答案是否定的，我们就选择终止。）

（4）倒装（inversion）：谓语置于主语之前，词序不同于正常语序的语法修辞手段，达到强调句子中某一成分的目的。1）they understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please（.他们明白单凭自己的力量我们无法保护自己，也无权做到随心所欲。）篇三：奥巴马就职演说的语言艺术分析 篇四：关于奥巴马就职演说词语言特色的分析 obama inaugural speech language features 关于奥巴马就职演说词语言特色的分析_句子结构 时间：2011-06-18 08:52:51 来源：句子结构 作者：秩名

论文导读:：这也正是政治演说通常带有明显的宗教色彩的原因。关于奥巴马就职演说词语言特色的分析。论文关键词：就职演说修辞手段，宗教色彩，句子结构

总统大多在美国历史上占有特殊地位，其演说亦各具特色。二百多年来，从乔治.华盛顿到巴洛克.奥巴马，总统们通过就职演说表达其美好希望和英雄梦想，展示其雄才大略和施政纲领。因此，很多的就职演说词不仅仅是总统个人忠诚与热情、风度与智慧的生动写照，更是美国民族社会与历史、经济与文化的壮丽画卷，值得鉴赏和学习。

作为美国的第四十四任总统句子结构，巴洛克.奥巴马就任之际正逢全国性的经济危机，其就职演说不可避免的也会起到表达这位新晋总统的政治思想和增加公众对于政府的信心的作用。本文将从修辞手段的运用，句子类型以及宗教特色等多方面就这篇就职演说词的语言特色进行分析。

一． 修辞特色

总统就职演说的主要目的是通过宣传本届政府的主要政策以唤起民众的热情，使民众认可新政府并加以支持。各类修辞手段的运用将会使得演说更加生动和具有说服力，以达到上述目的。

1.排比的运用 ? for us, they packed up their few worldly possessions „for us,they toiled in sweatshops„for us, they fought and died„ ?the capital was abandoned.the enemy was advancing.the snow wasstained with blood.2.反复的运用

在现代英语中，反复（repetition）通常被用来表达强烈的感受，展示压抑的情感或是强调某物的重要性（胡曙中，1993）。在奥巴马的就职演说词中，有多个词如“危机”等被反复使用。具体分析如下：

通过分析上表可以看出，总统在演说中多次提到我们以及表示危机、精神和奋斗等意义的词语。通过反复的强调，使整个国家的听众感受到总统战胜危机、继续推进国家发展的决心和信心。在演说词中，较之于对“threat”的轻蔑语气，奥巴马更青睐“work”一词，这也清楚而且强烈的表达出了他对于当前国家经济状况的政治态度和决心。与其他词相比，“we”是使用次数最多的一个单词。在这一个个的我们当中，听众感受到与演说者的一种强烈的亲密联系，整个国家仿佛一个紧密团结的整体，应当共同努力、共同奋斗以及共同前行。由此，演说的目的也就达到了。3.头韵的运用

有魅力的语言是一定是充满韵律的。头韵是英语语音修辞手段之一,它蕴含了语言的音乐美和整齐美,使得语言声情交融、音义一体,具有很强的表现力和感染力.它指的是在文句中有两个以上连结在一起的词或词组，其开头的音节有同样的字母或声音，以增强语言的节奏感（熊莉句子结构，2004）。

每种文体的写作都要考虑文字读起来是否流畅和有节奏，总统的演讲稿也不能例外。恰当的运用压头韵的修辞手段，将会是的演说词的语言抑扬顿挫、富有节奏感，从而起到感染气氛和增强效果的作用。

二．宗教特色

宗教是西方文化不可或缺的组成部分。在历次的就职演说中，总统们通常都会希望借助上帝的力量使得他们的演说更加充满吸引力和感染力。这也正是政治演说通常带有明显的宗教色彩的原因。奥巴马在他的就职演说中，多次直接引用圣经中的句子来表达其政治观点，目的在于使得本次演说更加具有说服力，鼓励民众树立对新政府迎战危机、重建更美好未来的信心。

the god-given promise that all are equal,all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure ofhappiness.? we are a nation of christians and muslims,jews and hindus-and non-believers...’ in this sentence, the presidents standis shown by mentioning most of the main religious believes in the usa , whichwould benefit the unity of the different religious believers and the lesseningof religious conflicts.?...with eyes fixed onthe horizon and god’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift offreedom and delivered it safely to future generations.在就职演说的最后，奥巴马总统祈求上帝的赐福，号召民众将上帝所赋予人类的自由之权世代相传，无所畏惧迎战一切困难。

三．句式结构

与日常会话、广告词和新闻报道等不同，总统就职演说在句式结构上也有独特的要求中国论文下载中心。在演讲中，陈述句居多，而一般很少使用疑问句，原因是虽然疑问句会使得演讲的语言生动，但同时也会削弱演说的严肃性句子结构，因而降低演说的信服力（熊莉，2004）。

恰当的运用祈使句可以使得演说具有极强的号召力。巴洛克.奥巴马就任之际恰逢美国身处经济危机的关键时刻，为达到鼓励民众为经济复兴而努力奋战的目的，很显然对于当前形势轻描淡写的描述肯定是不够的。在这种情况下，他的就职演说必须具备足够的吸引力和号召力，才能够挽回濒临对政府失去信任边缘的民众的心。

巴拉克.奥巴马总统是一位十分具有演说才能的总统，他的就职演说更是取得了巨大的成功。这篇就职演说无论在阐述观点还是文字修饰方面都颇具功力，具有很高的政治价值和文学价值。由于演说词庄重严肃的独特语境,虽然这篇演说是通过口头方式进行表达的,却具有较强的书面语特征。本文通过对其就职演说在修辞手法、宗教色彩和句子结构特点等语言特色方面的分析，意在指出修辞手段的熟练运用，对演说词的文体特征的准确把握以及此演说富有的浓郁的宗教色彩都使它成为英文政治演说中的成功之作,不仅具有很高的欣赏价值,而且顺利地达到了总统就职演说的政治目的。

参考文献

黄任，英语修辞与写作[m ]。上海:上海外语教育出版社 ,1996。

胡曙中，英汉修辞比较研究[m]。上海:上海外语教育出版社, 1993。

胡曙中，英语修辞学[m]。上海:上海外语教育出版社, 2001。

熊莉，从就职演说词看肯尼迪演说的文体风格[j]。西南民族大学学报:人文社科版, 2004,(6)。王佐良,丁旺道。英语文体学引论[m]。北京:外语教学与研究出版社, 1987。

徐振忠，英语政治演说词的宗教色彩[j]。《现代外语》,1995,(3)。

第三篇：奥巴马就职演讲

美国历届总统就职演说之---第44任总统Barack Obama的就职演讲稿

Inaugural Address of Barack Obama My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace.Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms.At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because We the People have remained faithful to the ideals of our forbearers, and true to our founding documents.So it has been.So it must be with this generation of Americans.That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood.Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred.Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.Homes have been lost;jobs shed;businesses shuttered.Our health care is too costly;our schools fail too many;and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics.Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land—a nagging fear that America’s decline is inevitable, that the next generation must lower its sights.Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real.They are serious and they are many.They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.But know this, America—they will be met.On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn-out dogmas that for far too long have strangled our politics.We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things.The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit;to choose our better history;to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free, and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given.It must be earned.Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less.It has not been the path for the faint-hearted—for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things—some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West;endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg;Normandy and Khe Sahn.Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life.They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions;greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.This is the journey we continue today.We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth.Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began.Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year.Our capacity remains undiminished.But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions—that time has surely passed.Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.The state of our economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act—not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth.We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together.We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology’s wonders to raise health care’s quality and lower its cost.We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories.And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.All this we can do.All this we will do.Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions—who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans.Their memories are short.For they have forgotten what this country has already done;what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.17 What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them—that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works—whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward.Where the answer is no, programs will end.And those of us who manage the public’s dollars will be held to account—to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day—because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill.Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control—the nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our Gross Domestic Product, but on the reach of our prosperity;on the ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart—not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.Our Founding Fathers, faced with perils that we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations.Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience’s sake.And so to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: know that America is a friend of each nation and every man, woman, and child who seeks a future of peace and dignity, and we are ready to lead once more.Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with the sturdy alliances and enduring convictions.They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please.Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use;our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.We are the keepers of this legacy.Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort—even greater cooperation and understanding between nations.We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan.With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet.We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken;you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness.We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus—and non-believers.We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth;and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass;that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve;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.To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society’s ills on the West—know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history;but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow;to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders;nor can we consume the world’s resources without regard to effect.For the world has changed, and we must change with it.As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains.They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.We honor them not only because they are the guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service;a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.And yet, at this moment—a moment that will define a generation—it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.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.It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours.It is the firefighter’s courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent’s willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.Our challenges may be new.The instruments with which we meet them may be new.But those values upon which our success depends—honesty and hard work, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism—these things are old.These things are true.They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.What is demanded then is a return to these truths.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.This is the source of our confidence—the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed—why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled.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.The capital was abandoned.The enemy was advancing.The snow was stained with blood.At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people:

“Let it be told to the future world … that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive … that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet … it.”

America!In the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words.With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come.Let it be said by our children’s children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter;and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.Thank you.God bless you.And God bless the United States of America.巴拉克·侯赛因·奥巴马，1961年8月4日生于美国夏威夷，父亲巴拉克·侯赛因·奥巴马一世是来自肯尼亚的黑人，穆斯林。母亲是堪萨斯州的白人。是左撇子，这是美国总统史自40届以来的第四位左撇子总统。

奥巴马祖籍肯尼亚，是美国历史上第一位具有黑人血统的总统。当然，美国社会对黑人和其他有色人种的种族歧视，至今仍然存在，解决种族歧视依然任重道远。事实上，奥巴马并没有像很多美国黑人奴隶的后裔一样在很多城市的贫民窟长大。他小时候是由他的白人祖父母抚养，他的童年中有很长时间是在印度尼西亚度过的。因此他的思维方式和美国白人或亚洲人比较接近。他本人从来也没有在公开场合，承认自己是黑人，或者是非洲裔美国人，只承认自己是混血。

1983年毕业于哥伦比亚大学，1985年到芝加哥参加社会工作。1991年毕业于哈佛大学的法学院，是第一个担任哈佛法学评论主编的所谓的 非洲裔美国人，并在此期间获得了全国范围的认可。1992年和米歇尔·拉沃恩·奥巴马结婚，并生了二个女儿玛丽亚 ·安· 奥巴马（Malia Ann Obama）, 娜塔莎· 奥巴马（Natasha Obama）。1996年，奥巴马从芝加哥当选为伊利诺伊州国会参议员并在之后的3年中连任；2000年，在竞选美国众议院议员席位失败后，奥巴马将主要精力投入到伊利诺伊州的参议工作中。

2004年7月，美国民主党召开全国代表大会，奥巴马被指定在第二天做“基调演讲”。（所谓“基调演讲”，就是民主党人阐述本党的纲领和政策宣言，通常由本党极有前途的政治新星来发表，1988年做“基调演讲”的人就是时任阿肯色州州长的克林顿。）奥巴马不负众望，他亲自撰写演讲稿，并发表了题为“无畏的希望”（The Audacity ofHope）慷慨激昂的演讲。在演说中他提出消除党派分歧和种族分歧、实现“一个美国”的梦想。该演讲后，奥巴马成为全美知名的政界人物。同年11月，奥巴马顺利的以高达70%的选票当选联邦参议员。

2007年2月10日，奥巴马在伊利诺伊州斯普林菲尔德市正式宣布参加2008年美国总统大选，并提出了重点在“完结伊拉克战争以及实施全民医疗保险制度”的竞选纲领。2008年1月4日，在俄亥俄州民主党初选大会上，奥巴马赢得了38%的支持率，领先于知名度高于自己的约翰·爱德华兹以及希拉里·克林顿，在民主党诸位候选人中领跑。2008年6月3日，奥巴马票数领先于希拉里·克林顿，被定为民主党总统候选人；同年8月23日，在民主党全国代表大会上奥巴马被正式提名，从而成为了美国历史上首个非洲裔总统大选候选人。

2008年11月5日，奥巴马击败共和党候选人约翰·麦凯恩，正式当选为美国第四十四任总统。

2009年10月9日，据英国广播公司报道，诺贝尔奖评审会称，美国总统奥巴马因“为增强国际外交及各国人民间的合作做出非同寻常的努力”而被授予2009诺贝尔和平奖。

第四篇：奥巴马就职演讲

You know，there are those who were saying that North Carolina would be a game-changer in this election.But today，what North Carolina decided is that the only game that needs changing is the one in Washington.D.C.I want to start by congratulating Senator Clinton on what appears to be her victory in the state of Indiana.And I want to thank all the people--I want to thank all the wonderful people of Indiana who worked so hard on our behalf.The people in Indiana could not be finer.They worked tirelessly,and I will always be grateful to them.I want to thank,of course, the people of North Carolina for giving us a victory in a big state，a swing state，in a state where we will compete to win if I am the Democratic nominee for President of the United States.You know,when this campaign began，Washington didn't give us much of a chance.But because you came out in the bitter cold，and knocked on doors，and enlisted your friends and neighbors in this cause； because you stood up to the cynics，and the doubters，and the naysayers when we were up and when we were down； because you still believe that this is our moment and our time to change America,tonight we stand less than two hundred delegates away from securing the Democratic nomination for President of the United States.More importantly，because of you，we have seen that it s possible to overcome the politics of division and distraction； that it's possible to overcome the same, old negative attacks that are always about scoring points and never about solving our problems.We've seen that the American people aren t looking for more spin.They're looking for honest answers about the challenges we face.That s what you ve accomplished in this campaign，and that's how together we intend to change this country.This has been one of the longest，most closely fought contests in history.And that s partly because we have such a formidable opponent in Senator Hillary Clinton.Tonight，many of the pundits have suggested that this party is inalterably divided, that Senator Clinton's supporters will not support me，and that my supporters will not support her.Well I'm here tonight to tell you that I don't believe it.Yes，there have been bruised feelings on both sides.Yes，each side desperately wants their candidate to win.But ultimately，this race is not about Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama or John McCain.This election is about you the American people.It's about whether we will have a president and a party that can lead us toward a brighter future.This primary season may not be over，but when it is，we will have to remember who we are as Democrats,that we are the party of Jefferson and Jackson； of Roosevelt and Kennedy； and that we are at our best when we lead with principle； when we lead with conviction； when we summon an entire nation around a common purpose a higher purpose.This fall，we intend to march forward as one Democratic Party，united by a common vision for this country.Because we all agree that at this defining moment in history, a moment when we re facing two wars，an economy in turmoil，a planet in peril,a dream that feels like it's slipping away for too many Americans, we can t afford to give John McCain the chance to serve out George Bush's third term.We need change in America.And that's why we'll be nuited in November.The woman I met in Indiana who had just lost her job，lost her pension，lost her insurance, when the plant where she worked at her entire life closed down, she can t afford four more years of tax breaks for corporations like the one that shipped her job overseas.She needs us to give tax breaks to companies that create good jobs here in America.She can t afford four more years of tax breaks for CEOs like the one who walked away from her company with a multimillion-dollar bonus.She needs middle-class tax relief of the sort I've proposed,relief that will help her pay the skyrocketing price of groceries，and gas，and college tuition.That's why I'm running for President.The college student I met in Iowa who works the night shift after a full day of class ,still can't pay the medical bills for a sister who s ill, she can t afford four more years of a health care plan that only takes care of the healthy and the wealthy, that allows insurance companies to discriminate and deny coverage to those Americans who need it most.She needs us to stand up to those insurance companies and pass a plan that lowers every family s premiums and gives every uninsured American the same kind of coverage that Members of Congress give themselves.That s why I m running for President.The mother in Wisconsin who gave me a bracelet inscribed with the name of the son she lost in Iraq, the families who pray for their loved ones to come home； the heroes on their third and fourth and fifth tour of duty they can t afford four more years of a war that should ve never been authorized and never been waged.They can t afford four more years of our veterans returning to broken-down barracks and substandard care.And they don't want to see homeless veterans on the streets,they don't want to see veterans waiting years to get disability payments or having to travel for hours and miles just to get treatment.They need us to end the war that isn t making us safer.They need us to treat them with the care and respect they deserve.That s why I m running for President.The man I met in Pennsylvania who lost his job but can t even afford the gas to drive around and look for a new one, he can t afford four more years of an energy policy written by the oil companies and for the oil companies； a policy that s not only keeping gas at record prices，but funding both sides of the war on terror and destroying our planet.He doesn t need four more years of Washington policies that sound good，but don t solve the problem.He needs us to take a permanent holiday from our oil addiction by making the automakers raise their fuel standards，corporations pay for their pollution，and oil companies invest their record profits in a clean energy future.That s the change we need.And that s why I m running for President.The people that I've met in small towns and big cities across this country understand that government can t solve all our problems ,and we don t expect it to.We believe in hard work.We believe in personal responsibility and self-reliance.But we also believe that we have a larger responsibility to one another as Americans, that America is a place, that America is the place where you can make it if you try,that no matter how much money you start with or where you come from or who your parents are，opportunity is yours if you re willing to reach for it and work for it.It s the idea that, while there are few guarantees in life，you should be able to count on a job that pays the bills； health care for when you need it； a pension for when you retire； an education for your children that will allow them to fulfill their God-given potential.That s the America we believe in.That s the America we know.This is the country that gave my grandfather a chance to go to college on the GI Bill when he came home from World War II； a country that gave him and my grandmother the chance to buy their first home with a loan from the FHA.This is the country that made it possible for my mother, a single parent who had to go on food stamps at one point, to send my sister and me to the best schools in the country on scholarships.This is the country that allowed my father-in-law,a shift worker, a city worker at a water filtration plant in Chicago, to provide for his wife and two children on a single salary.Now this is a man who was diagnosed at age thirty with multiple sclerosis, who relied on a walker to get himself to work, and yet，every day he went，and he labored，and he sent my wife and her brother to one of the best colleges in the nation.And when he talked ahout his job,he expressed that it was important not just because it gave him a paycheck，but because it described his dignity,his self-worth,his self-respect.It was an America that didn t just reward wealth，but it rewarded work and the workers who created it.That's the America I love.That's the America you love.That's the America that we're fighting for in this election.Somewhere along the line，between all the bickering and the influence-peddling and the game-playing of the last few decades，Washington and Wall Street have lost touch with these core values,these American values.And while I honor John McCain's service to his country，his ideas for America are out of touch with these core values.His plans for the future,of continuing a war that has not made us safer,of continuing George Bush's economic policies that he claims have made great progress,these are nothing more than the failed policies of the past.And his plan to win in November appears to come from the very same playbook that his side has used time after time in election after election.Yes，we know what's coming.I'm not naive.We ve seen it already,the same names and labels they always pin on everyone who doesn t agree with all their ideas,the same efforts to distract us from the issues that affect our lives, by pouncing on every gaffe and association and fake controversy ,in the hopes that the media will play along.The attempts to play on our fears and exploit our differences ,to turn us against each other for pure political gain, to slice and dice this country into Red States and Blue States； blue collar and white collar； white, black, brown,young,old,rich,poor

This is the race we expect,no matter whether it's myself or Senator Clinton who is the nominee.The question then is not what kind of campaign they ll run，it s what kind of campaign we will run.It s what we will do to make this year different.I didn t get into race thinking that I could avoid this kind of politics，but I am running for President because this is the time to end it.We will end it this time not because I'm perfect.I think we know at this phase of the campaign that I am not.We will end it not by duplicating the same tactics and the same strategies as the other side，because that will lead us down the same path of polarization and of gridlock.We will end it by telling the

truth forcefully，repeatedly，confidently and by trusting that the American people will embrace the need for change ,even if it's coming from an imperfect messenger ,because that s how we ve always changed this country, not from the top down，but from the bottom up； when you, the American people ,decide that the stakes are too high and the challenges are too great.The other side can label and name-call all they want，but I trust the American people to recognize that it s not surrender to end the war in Iraq so that we can rebuild our military and go after al Qaeda's leaders.I trust the American people to understand that it s not weakness，but wisdom to talk not just to our friends，but our enemies, like Roosevelt did，and Kennedy did，and Truman did.I trust the American people to realize that, while we don t need big government，we do need a government that stands up for families who are being tricked out of their homes by Wall Street predators, a government that stands up for the middle class by giving them a tax break, a government that ensures that no American will ever lose their life savings just because their child gets sick.Security and opportunity, compassion and prosperity aren t liberal values.They're not conservative values.They re American values,and that's what we're fighting for in this election.Most of all，I trust the American people's desire to no longer be defined by our differences, because no matter where I ve been in this country, whether it was the corn fields of Iowa or the textile mills of the Carolinas, the streets of San Antonio or the foothills of Georgia, I ve found that, while we may have different stories，we hold common hopes.We may not look the same or come from the same place，but we want to move in the same direction towards a better future for our children and our grandchildren.That s why I'm in this race.I love this country too much to see it divided and distracted at this moment in history.I believe in our ability to perfect this nation, because it s the only reason

I'm standing here today.And I know the promise of America, because I have lived it.Michelle has lived it.You have lived it.It is the light of opportunity that led my father across an ocean.It is the founding ideals that the flag draped over my father's coffin stand for.It is life and liberty and the pursuit of happiness.It s the simple truth I learned all those years ago when I worked in the shadow of all those shuttered steel mills on the south side of Chicago ,that, in this country，justice can be won against the greatest odds； hope can find its way back from the darkest of corners.And when we are told that we cannot bring about the change that we seek，we answer with one voice: Yes, we can.So,North Carolina and America, don t ever forget that this election is not about me or any candidate.Don t ever forget that this campaign is about you.It's about your hopes，it's about your dreams，il's about your struggles，it's about your aspirations,it's about securing your portion of the American Dream.Don t ever forget that we have a choice in this country, that we can choose not to be divided； that we can choose not to be afraid, that we can still choose this moment to finally come together and solve the problems we ve talked about all those other years in all those other elections.This time can be different than all the rest.This time we can face down those who say our road is too long, that our climb is too steep, that we can no longer achieve the change that we seek.This is our time to answer the call that so many generations of Americans have answered before, by insisting that, by hard work and by sacrifice，the American dream will endure.Thank you，and may God Bless the United States of America.

第五篇：奥巴马就职演讲

原文地址：奥巴马总统就职演说中英文对照全文作者：乔磊

巴拉克·奥巴马(Barack Obama)于2009年1月20日宣誓就职美国第44任总统。以下是奥巴马总统就职演说的中英文对照全文，中文由美国国务院国际信息局(IIP)根据演说记录稿翻译。

My fellow citizens: I stand here today humbled by the task before us, grateful for the trust you have bestowed, mindful of the sacrifices borne by our ancestors.I thank President Bush for his service to our nation, as well as the generosity and cooperation he has shown throughout this transition.同胞们：

我今天站在这里，深感面前使命的重大，深谢你们赋予的信任，并铭记我们前辈所付的代价。我感谢布什总统对国家的贡献以及他在整个过渡阶段给予的大度合作。

Forty-four Americans have now taken the presidential oath.The words have been spoken during rising tides of prosperity and the still waters of peace.Yet, every so often the oath is taken amidst gathering clouds and raging storms.At these moments, America has carried on not simply because of the skill or vision of those in high office, but because we the people have remained faithful to the ideals of our forebears, and true to our founding documents.至此，有四十四个美国人发出总统誓言。这些字词曾在蒸蒸日上的繁荣时期和宁静安详的和平年代诵读。但是间或，它们也响彻在阴云密布、风暴降临的时刻。美国能够历经这些时刻而勇往直前，不仅因为当政者具有才干或远见，而且也因为“我们人民”始终坚信我们先辈的理想，对我们的建国理念忠贞不渝。So it has been.So it must be with this generation of Americans.这是过来之路。这是这一代美国的必由之路。

That we are in the midst of crisis is now well understood.Our nation is at war, against a far-reaching network of violence and hatred.Our economy is badly weakened, a consequence of greed and irresponsibility on the part of some, but also our collective failure to make hard choices and prepare the nation for a new age.Homes have been lost;jobs shed;businesses shuttered.Our health care is too costly;our schools fail too many;and each day brings further evidence that the ways we use energy strengthen our adversaries and threaten our planet.我们处于危机之中，这一点已得到充分认识。我国在进行战争，打击分布广泛的暴力和仇恨势力。我们的经济严重衰弱，部分归咎于一些人的贪婪不轨，同时也因为我们作为一个整体，未能痛下决心，让国家作好面对新时代的准备。如今，住房不再，就业减少，商业破产。医疗保健费用过度昂贵；学校质量没有保障；而每一天都在不断显示，我们使用能源的方式在助长敌人的威风，威胁我们的星球。

These are the indicators of crisis, subject to data and statistics.Less measurable but no less profound is a sapping of confidence across our land — a nagging fear that America's decline is inevitable, and that the next generation must lower its sights.这些是危机的迹象，数据统计将予以证明。不易于衡量然而同样严重的是全国各地受动摇的信心——一种挥之不去的恐惧感，认为美国将不可避免地走下坡路，下一代人不得不放低眼光。

Today I say to you that the challenges we face are real.They are serious and they are many.They will not be met easily or in a short span of time.But know this, America — they will be met.今天，我告诉大家，我们面临的挑战真实存在，并且严重而多重。它们不可能在一个短时间内被轻易征服。但是，美国，请记住这句话——它们将被征服。On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord.我们今天聚集在这里是因为我们选择希望而不是恐惧，选择齐心协力而不是冲突对立。

On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics.我们今天在这里宣告，让斤斤计较与虚假承诺就此结束，让窒息我国政治为时太久的相互指责和陈词滥调就此完结。

We remain a young nation, but in the words of Scripture, the time has come to set aside childish things.The time has come to reaffirm our enduring spirit;to choose our better history;to carry forward that precious gift, that noble idea, passed on from generation to generation: the God-given promise that all are equal, all are free and all deserve a chance to pursue their full measure of happiness.我们仍是一个年轻的国家，但用圣经的话说，现在是抛弃幼稚的时侯了。现在应是我们让永恒的精神发扬光大的时侯，应是选择创造更佳历史业绩的时侯，应是将代代相传的宝贵财富、崇高理想向前发展的时侯：上帝赋予所有人平等、所有人自由和所有人充分追求幸福的机会。

In reaffirming the greatness of our nation, we understand that greatness is never a given.It must be earned.Our journey has never been one of shortcuts or settling for less.It has not been the path for the faint-hearted — for those who prefer leisure over work, or seek only the pleasures of riches and fame.Rather, it has been the risk-takers, the doers, the makers of things — some celebrated but more often men and women obscure in their labor, who have carried us up the long, rugged path towards prosperity and freedom.在重申我们国家伟大精神的同时，我们懂得，伟大从非天生，而是必须赢得。我们的历程从来不是走捷径或退而求其次的历程。它不是弱者的道路——它不属于好逸恶劳或只图名利享受的人；这条路属于冒险者，实干家，创造者——有些人享有盛名，但大多数是默默无闻耕耘劳作的男女志士，是他们带我们走向通往繁荣和自由的漫长崎岖之路。

For us, they packed up their few worldly possessions and traveled across oceans in search of a new life.为了我们，他们打点起贫寒的行装上路，远涉重洋，追求新生活。

For us, they toiled in sweatshops and settled the West;endured the lash of the whip and plowed the hard earth.为了我们，他们在血汗工厂劳作，在西部原野拓荒，忍着鞭笞之痛在坚硬的土地上耕耘。

For us, they fought and died, in places like Concord and Gettysburg;Normandy and Khe Sanh.为了我们，他们奔赴疆场，英勇捐躯，长眠于康科德、葛底斯堡、诺曼底和溪山。Time and again these men and women struggled and sacrificed and worked till their hands were raw so that we might live a better life.They saw America as bigger than the sum of our individual ambitions;greater than all the differences of birth or wealth or faction.为了我们能够过上更好的生活，他们前赴后继，历尽艰辛，全力奉献，不辞劳苦，直至双手结起层层老茧。他们看到的美国超越了我们每一个人的雄心壮志，也超越了所有种族、财富或派系的差异。

This is the journey we continue today.We remain the most prosperous, powerful nation on Earth.Our workers are no less productive than when this crisis began.Our minds are no less inventive, our goods and services no less needed than they were last week or last month or last year.Our capacity remains undiminished.But our time of standing pat, of protecting narrow interests and putting off unpleasant decisions — that time has surely passed.Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America.今天，作为后来者，我们踏上了这一未竟的旅程。我们依然是地球上最繁荣、最强大的国家。我们的劳动者的创造力并没有因为眼前的这场危机而减弱。我们的头脑依然像以往那样善于发明创新。我们的产品与服务仍旧像上星期、上个月或去年一样受人欢迎。我们的能力丝毫无损。但是，维持现状、保护狭隘的利益集团、推迟困难的抉择的时代无疑已成为过去。从今天起，我们必须振作起来，扫除我们身上的尘土，重新开启再造美国的事业。

For everywhere we look, there is work to be done.The state of the economy calls for action, bold and swift, and we will act — not only to create new jobs, but to lay a new foundation for growth.We will build the roads and bridges, the electric grids and digital lines that feed our commerce and bind us together.We will restore science to its rightful place, and wield technology's wonders to raise health care's quality and lower its cost.We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars and run our factories.And we will transform our schools and colleges and universities to meet the demands of a new age.All this we can do.All this we will do.无论我们把目光投向何处，都有工作在等待着我们。经济形势要求我们果敢而迅速地行动，我们将不辱使命——不仅要创造新的就业机会，而且要打下新的增长基础。我们将建造道路和桥梁，架设电网，铺设承载我们的商务和把我们紧密相连的电子通讯网络。我们将恢复尊重科学的传统，利用高新技术的超常潜力提高医疗保健质量并降低成本。我们将利用太阳能、风力和地热为车辆和工厂提供能源。我们将改造我们的中小学和高等院校，以应对新时代的挑战。这一切我们都能做到。这一切我们必将做到。

Now, there are some who question the scale of our ambitions — who suggest that our system cannot tolerate too many big plans.Their memories are short.For they have forgotten what this country has already done;what free men and women can achieve when imagination is joined to common purpose, and necessity to courage.现在，有人怀疑我们的雄心壮志——他们说我们的体制不能承受太多的宏伟规划。他们的记忆是短暂的，因为他们忘记了这个国家已经取得的成就，忘记了一旦共同的目标插上理想的翅膀、现实的要求鼓起勇气的风帆，自由的人民就会爆发出无穷的创造力。

What the cynics fail to understand is that the ground has shifted beneath them — that the stale political arguments that have consumed us for so long no longer apply.The question we ask today is not whether our government is too big or too small, but whether it works — whether it helps families find jobs at a decent wage, care they can afford, a retirement that is dignified.Where the answer is yes, we intend to move forward.Where the answer is no, programs will end.Those of us who manage the public's dollars will be held to account — to spend wisely, reform bad habits, and do our business in the light of day — because only then can we restore the vital trust between a people and their government.那些冷眼旁观的人没有认识到他们脚下的大地已经移动——那些长期以来空耗我们的精力的陈腐政治观点已经过时。我们今天提出的问题不是我们的政府太大还是太小，而是它是否行之有效——它是否能够帮助人们找到报酬合理的就业机会，是否能够为他们提供费用适度的医疗保健服务，是否能够确保他们在退休后不失尊严。如果回答是肯定的，我们就要向前推进。如果回答是否定的，计划和项目必须终止。作为公共资金的管理者，我们必须承担责任——明智地使用资金，抛弃坏习惯，在阳光下履行职责——因为只有这样我们才能恢复人民对政府的至关重要的信任。

Nor is the question before us whether the market is a force for good or ill.Its power to generate wealth and expand freedom is unmatched, but this crisis has reminded us that without a watchful eye, the market can spin out of control — and that a nation cannot prosper long when it favors only the prosperous.The success of our economy has always depended not just on the size of our gross domestic product, but on the reach of our prosperity;on our ability to extend opportunity to every willing heart — not out of charity, but because it is the surest route to our common good.我们提出的问题也不在于市场力量是替天行道还是为虎作伥。市场在生成财富和传播自由方面具有无与伦比的力量，但这场危机提醒我们：没有严格的监督，市场就会失控——如果一个国家仅仅施惠于富裕者，其富裕便不能持久。我们的经济成功从来不是仅仅依赖国内总产值的规模，而是还依赖繁荣的普及，即为每一位愿意致富的人提供机会的能力——不是通过施舍——因为这才是最可靠的共同富裕之路。As for our common defense, we reject as false the choice between our safety and our ideals.Our founding fathers...our found fathers, faced with perils we can scarcely imagine, drafted a charter to assure the rule of law and the rights of man, a charter expanded by the blood of generations.Those ideals still light the world, and we will not give them up for expedience's sake.And so to all the other peoples and governments who are watching today, from the grandest capitals to the small village where my father was born: 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 we are ready to lead once more.至于我们的共同防御，我们决不接受安全与理念不可两全的荒谬论点。建国先贤面对我们难以想见的险恶局面，起草了一部保障法治和人权的宪章，一部子孙后代以自己的鲜血使之更加完美的宪章。今天，这些理念仍然照耀着世界，我们不会为一时之利而弃之。因此，对于今天正在观看此情此景的其他各国人民和政府──从最繁华的首都到我父亲出生的小村庄──我们希望他们了解：凡追求和平与尊严的国家以及每一位男人、妇女和儿童，美国是你们的朋友。我们已经做好准备，再一次走在前面。

Recall that earlier generations faced down fascism and communism not just with missiles and tanks, but with sturdy alliances and enduring convictions.They understood that our power alone cannot protect us, nor does it entitle us to do as we please.Instead, they knew that our power grows through its prudent use;our security emanates from the justness of our cause, the force of our example, the tempering qualities of humility and restraint.回顾过去，几代人在战胜法西斯主义和共产主义时依靠的不仅仅是导弹和坦克，更是牢固的联盟和不渝的信念。他们懂得单凭实力无法保护我们的安全，实力也并不赋予我们随心所欲的权利。相反，他们知道审慎使用实力会使我们更强大；我们的安全源于事业的正义性、典范的感召力、以及谦卑和克制的平衡作用。We are the keepers of this legacy.Guided by these principles once more, we can meet those new threats that demand even greater effort — even greater cooperation and understanding between nations.We will begin to responsibly leave Iraq to its people, and forge a hard-earned peace in Afghanistan.With old friends and former foes, we will work tirelessly to lessen the nuclear threat, and roll back the specter of a warming planet.We will not apologize for our way of life, nor will we waver in its defense, and for those who seek to advance their aims by inducing terror and slaughtering innocents, we say to you now that our spirit is stronger and cannot be broken;you cannot outlast us, and we will defeat you.我们是这一传统的继承者。我们只要从新以这些原则为指导，就能应对那些新威胁，为此必须付出更大的努力──推动国家间更多的合作与理解。我们将开始以负责任的方式把伊拉克移交给伊拉克人民，并在阿富汗巩固来之不易的和平。我们将与多年的朋友和昔日的对手一道不懈地努力，减轻核威胁，扭转全球变暖的厄运。我们不会在价值观念上退缩，也不会动摇捍卫它的决心，对于那些妄图以煽动恐怖和屠杀无辜的手段达到其目的的人，我们现在就告诉你们，我们的意志更加顽强、坚不可摧；你们无法拖垮我们，我们必将战胜你们。

For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness.We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers.We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth;and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass;that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve;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.因为我们知道，我们百衲而成的传统是一种优势，而不是劣势。我们是一个由基督教徒和穆斯林、犹太教徒和印度教徒、以及无宗教信仰者组成的国家。我们受惠于地球上四面八方每一种语言和文化的影响。由于我们饮过南北战争和种族隔离的苦水，走出了那个黑暗时代并变得更加坚强和团结，我们不能不相信昔日的仇恨终有一天会成为过去；部族之间的界线很快会消失；随着世界变得越来越小，我们共同的人性将得到彰显；美国必须为迎来一个和平的新纪元发挥自己的作用。

To the Muslim world, we seek a new way forward, based on mutual interest and mutual respect.To those leaders around the globe who seek to sow conflict, or blame their society's ills on the West — know that your people will judge you on what you can build, not what you destroy.To those who cling to power through corruption and deceit and the silencing of dissent, know that you are on the wrong side of history;but that we will extend a hand if you are willing to unclench your fist.面对穆斯林世界，我们寻求一条新的前进道路，以共同利益和相互尊重为基础。对于世界上那些妄图制造矛盾、将自己社会的弊端归罪于西方的领导人，我们奉劝你们：你们的人民将以你们的建设成就而不是你们的毁灭能力来评判你们。对于那些依靠腐败、欺骗、压制不同意见等手段固守权势的人，我们提醒你们：你们站在了历史错误的一边；但只要你们放弃压迫，我们将伸手相助。

To the people of poor nations, we pledge to work alongside you to make your farms flourish and let clean waters flow;to nourish starved bodies and feed hungry minds.And to those nations like ours that enjoy relative plenty, we say we can no longer afford indifference to the suffering outside our borders;nor can we consume the world's resources without regard to effect.For the world has changed, and we must change with it.对于贫困国家的人民，我们保证同你们并肩努力，为你们的农田带来丰收，让清洁的用水取之不竭；使饥饿的身体得以饱食，使饥渴的心灵受到滋润。对于那些象我们一样比较富裕的国家，我们要说我们再不能对他人的苦难无动于衷，也再不能肆意消耗世界的资源。世界已经改变，我们必须与时俱进。

As we consider the road that unfolds before us, we remember with humble gratitude those brave Americans who, at this very hour, patrol far-off deserts and distant mountains.They have something to tell us, just as the fallen heroes who lie in Arlington whisper through the ages.We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service;a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves.And yet, at this moment — a moment that will define a generation — it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.在思索我们面前的道路时，我们怀着崇敬的心情感谢此刻正在偏远的沙漠和山区巡逻的英勇无畏的美国人。他们向我们述说着什么，正如在阿灵顿公墓长眠的阵亡英雄在漫漫岁月中低浅的吟诵。我们崇敬他们，不仅因为他们捍卫着我们的自由，而且因为他们代表着献身精神，体现了超越个人，寻求远大理想的意愿。然而，在这个时刻，这个具有划时代意义的时刻，我们大家必须具备的正是这种精神。

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.It is the kindness to take in a stranger when the levees break, the selflessness of workers who would rather cut their hours than see a friend lose their job which sees us through our darkest hours.It is the firefighter's courage to storm a stairway filled with smoke, but also a parent's willingness to nurture a child, that finally decides our fate.虽然政府能有许多作为也必须有许多作为，但最终离不开美国人民的信仰和决心，这便是我国的立国之本。正是因为人们在大堤崩裂时接纳陌生人的关爱之情，正是因为工人们宁愿减少自己的工时而不愿看到朋友失去工作的无私精神，才使我们度过了最暗淡的时光。正是因为消防队员们有勇气冲进浓烟滚滚的楼道，也正是因为做父母的希望培养一个孩子，我们才能决定最后的命运。

Our challenges may be new.The instruments with which we meet them may be new.But those values upon which our success depends — hard work and honesty, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism — these things are old.These things are true.They have been the quiet force of progress throughout our history.What is demanded then is a return to these truths.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.我们面临的挑战可能前所未闻。我们迎接挑战的方式也可能前所未有。然而，我们赖以成功的价值观──诚实和勤奋、勇气和公平、宽容心和探索精神、忠诚和爱国──均由来以久。这些价值观都是千真万确的。这些价值观是我国整个历史过程中一股无声的进步力量。现在需要的便是重归这些真理。我们现在需要做的是开创负责任的新时代──每一位美国人都需要认识到我们对自己、对国家、对全世界都承担着义务。对于这些义务，我们并非勉强接受，而是心甘情愿主动承担，同时坚信我们为艰巨的使命付出一切，没有任何事可以如此满足我们的道义感，也没有任何事能如此体现我们的特性。

This is the price and the promise of citizenship.这就是公民的义务和承诺。

This is the source of our confidence — the knowledge that God calls on us to shape an uncertain destiny.这就是我们自信的来源──认识到上帝呼唤我们在前途不明的情况下掌握自己的命运。

This is the meaning of our liberty and our creed — why men and women and children of every race and every faith can join in celebration across this magnificent Mall, and why a man whose father less than sixty years ago might not have been served at a local restaurant can now stand before you to take a most sacred oath.这就是我们的自由和我们坚守的信条具有的意义──说明了为什么各种族、各类信仰的男女老少能在这个雄伟的大草坪上欢聚一堂，也说明了为什么今天有人能站在这里进行最庄严的宣誓，但他的父亲在不到60年前还不能在当地餐馆受到接待。

So let us mark this day with remembrance, of who we are and how far we have traveled.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.The capital was abandoned.The enemy was advancing.The snow was stained with blood.At a moment when the outcome of our revolution was most in doubt, the father of our nation ordered these words be read to the people: “Let it be told to the future world...that in the depth of winter, when nothing but hope and virtue could survive...that the city and the country, alarmed at one common danger, came forth to meet(it).” 为此，让我们记住这一天，记住我们是什么样的人，记住我们已经走过了多长的路。在美利坚诞生的年月，在那些最寒冷的日子里，为数不多的爱国者聚集在一条冰河的岸边，身旁的篝火即将熄灭。首都已经撤防。敌人正在进军。雪地沾满了斑斑血迹。在我们的革命何去何从，结局最难以估计的时刻，我国的开国元勋决定向人民宣读以下这段话：

“让我们昭告未来的世界......在这个酷寒的冬季，万物一片萧苏，只有希望和美德坚忍不拔的时候......这个城市和这个国家，受到共同危难的召唤，挺身而出，奋起迎战。” America, in the face of our common dangers, in this winter of our hardship, let us remember these timeless words.With hope and virtue, let us brave once more the icy currents, and endure what storms may come.Let it be said by our children's children that when we were tested we refused to let this journey end, that we did not turn back nor did we falter;and with eyes fixed on the horizon and God's grace upon us, we carried forth that great gift of freedom and delivered it safely to future generations.美利坚，在我们面临共同危难之际，在我们遇到艰难险阻的冬日，让我们牢记这些永恒的话语。心怀希望和美德，让我们再一次迎着寒风中流击水，不论什么风暴来袭，必将坚不可摧。今后，让我们的后代子孙如此评说：我们在遇到考验的时候没有半途而废，没有退缩不前，也没有丝毫动摇；让我们全神贯注于前方的目标，感谢上帝对我们的恩典，继承自由这个宝贵的传统，世代相传，永志不忘。Thank you.God bless you.And God bless the United States of America.谢谢。上帝保佑你们。天佑美国。