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A GREAT SPEECH ABOUT
Not gonna lie: we think LBJ would've looked better in a lacy, Susan B-style collar. (Source)
We know, we know—we've stressed the importance of using common, simple words in speeches. But that doesn't mean we don't love us some long, fancy words sometimes. Words like "juxtaposition" and "alliteration" (which just happen to be two words that we'll use in this lesson).
The speech we'll analyze in this lesson was given ninety years after Susan B. Anthony's "Woman's Rights to the Suffrage." The speaker is yet another U.S. President (these guys are constantly giving speeches for some reason): Lyndon Baines Johnson, a.k.a LBJ.
Now, LBJ clearly knew that simple, common words could be incredibly powerful. He used plenty of them. But he also knew when to throw in a fancy word or two, and he was super good at grouping them together in an effective series, like putting "turmoil" and "tranquility" together in a sentence, or referring to "your imagination, your initiative, and your indignation."
Yeah, he could have said "anger" instead of "indignation," but that would have messed up that nice series of "i" words. Also, the word "indignation" even has the word "nation" in it.
Nicely done, LBJ.
TAKE IT FROM LBJ
LBJ's most well-known speech is referred to as "The Great Society Speech." It's actually a commencement speech that LBJ gave to the University of Michigan's graduating class of 1964. In it, LBJ introduced ideas that would became an actual set of programs known as, simply, "The Great Society."
Give "The Great Society" speech a read here and remember to pay careful attention to the language.
Now let's dive into an analysis of the language LBJ used. Start by reading about the all-important introduction and conclusion of the speech:
Now let's take a look at a couple rhetorical and stylistic strategies LBJ used throughout the speech. At least one of these should sound really familiar (repetition).
We haven't covered the others yet, so feel free to add them to your handy list of "pre-packaged cunning," as Heinrichs called it:
One final note about some of the devices LBJ used: just like you want to go easy on figures and repetition, we suggest you go easy on alliteration. LBJ seems to have been very fond of that device, but too much can make a speaker start to sound seriously silly, strange, or even stupid.
And that's probably not what you're going for.
Words, Words, Words
Words, Words, Words
We've spent a lot of time looking at words, words, and more words in this unit. Words are great and all, but what about pretty pictures? Those are pretty great, too.
We agree. That's why we're about to spend a whole unit talking about exactly that. Only instead of calling them "pictures," we're going to call them "visual aids"…because that sounds smarter.
And sounding smart is half the battle.
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