Abstract:Stylistics is a branch of linguistics, which applies the theory and methodology of modern linguistics to the study of style. It aims at analyzing the language in specific context to reveal the expressive effect and the communicative function.

As a special kind of speech, public speech has played an important role in western society. It has the great value both in history and literature.

Excellent speakers always have high quality and good skills, their public speeches on different subjects can be good examples for English learners. Hillary Clinton, the Secretary of State of America, is an outstanding speaker with decades of experience of international affairs.  So, it is worthy to analyze and study her public speeches systematically.

This thesis attempts to analyze the stylistic features of Hillary’s concession speech from four dimensions: phonological, lexical, syntactic and rhetoric levels, hoping to provide a good example for English learners.

Key words: Hillary  concession speech  stylistic analysis 

Contents

Abstract

摘要

Chapter One Introduction-1

1.1 Background of Hillary Clinton’s Concession Speech-1

1.2 Purpose and Significance of the Study-1

1.3 Organization of the Thesis-1

Chapter Two Literature Review-2

2.1 Public Speech-2

2.2 Style and Stylistics-2

2.3 Stylistic Analysis-3

2.4 Previous Research of Stylistics-3

Chapter Three A Stylistic Analysis of Hillary Clinton’s Concession Speech-4

3.1 At Phonological Level-4

3.1.1 Contraction-4

3.1.2 Sound Patterning-4

3.2 At Lexical Level-5

3.2.1 Hard Words-5

3.2.2 Personal Pronouns-6

3.3 At Syntactic Level-6

3.3.1 Sentence Length-6

3.3.2 Sentence Types-7

3.3.3 Sentence Tenses-7

3.4 Rhetoric Devices-8

3.4.1 Syntactic Devices-8

3.4.2 Semantic Devices-10

Chapter Four Conclusion-11

References-12

Appendix-13