Mula sa baluktot na landas patungo sa tuwid na daan : the rhetorical frame of presidential leadership in Benigno Simeon Aquino III's state of the nation addresses (2010-2014)

Date

6-2015

Degree

Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts

College

College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)

Adviser/Committee Chair

William R. Remollo

Abstract

In evaluating a politician?s leadership, it is imperative to have knowledge and understanding of his rhetoric, since it is a means through which the public can recognize and resolve his message, purpose, character, vision, and influence. President Benigno Simeon Aquino III, the successor of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo?s nine-year presidency that was confronted with numerous challenges and widely criticized on account of rampant graft and corruption, is regarded by the majority of the Filipino people as an adept leader when it comes to the employment of language as a political tool. In his speeches and public addresses, Aquino?s rhetoric is exemplified by figurative language. His use of metaphors brings about purposeful and effective arguments. Since the utilization of metaphors is an evident technique through which the presidential leader conveys his messages to the public, it is necessary to understand how he influences his audience through such. This study presents a rhetorical account of the five State of the Nation Addresses (SONAs) delivered by Aquino from 2010 to 2014 by means of exploring how these presidential public addresses were utilized to account for the actions and achievements performed by the Aquino government throughout the first four years of its term in office. By means of scrutinizing the figurative language and rhetoric of Aquino, the presidential leadership that the politician in question exhibits is identified. The study delves into the three most salient themes that are embedded in the SONAs delivered by Aquino, namely, public accountability, economy, and leadership, through which the metaphors employed in the speeches under discussion are interpreted. The metaphorical expressions throughout the discourse of the president are assessed based on the metaphor systems (i.e., journey, nature, and light and darkness) they employ to disseminate the message of Aquino. Lastly, the analysis of the metaphorical expressions and metaphor systems result in the identification of the conceptual frame and conceptual metaphors for each of the three evident themes in the five SONAs.

Language

English

Location

UPLB Main Library Special Collections Section (USCS)

Call Number

LG 993.5 2015 M3 /O78

Document Type

Thesis

This document is currently not available here.

Share

COinS