Secondary abstract: |
The thesis analyses two selected war speeches by former British Prime Ministers Winston Churchill and Boris Johnson by using appraisal theory based mainly on the work of James R. Martin and Peter R. R. White. Furthermore, it deals with the history of rhetoric, political oratory and the theory of war speeches. According to the latter, politicians and leaders try to strategically persuade their audiences that armed conflict is necessary to confront the supposed or actual aggressor to preserve sovereignty. ‘Arm Yourselves, and Be Ye Men of Valour’ by Winston Churchill marks a crucial moment in British history. On May 19, 1940, during the Second World War, Churchill addressed the British nation for the first time as Prime Minister. In his speech, he briefly explained the situation at the front, tried to appease the listeners and ensure victory over the aggressor. Contrarily, Boris Johnson’s address to the Ukrainian parliament was the first address by a foreign politician after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Similarly, Johnson ensured a victory for the Ukrainians with the help of the Allied countries. Afterward, he focused on his beliefs and the need to maintain a close relationship with Ukraine. The thesis attempts to quantitatively analyse the interpersonal meanings in speeches according to the categories of the appraisal system, as well as establish and compare the predominant features of British war oratory. |