Publisher: 国家哲学社会科学学术期刊数据库

E-ISSN: 2096-031x|volume|1|146-157

ISSN: 2096-031x

Source: 语言与符号学研究, Vol.volume, Iss.1, 2016-01, pp. : 146-157

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Abstract

In this paper, we present a comparative study of Obama’s closing statements in the presidential debates, in particular, the first and third debates with Mitt Romney in 2012. Obama was considered to have done poorly in the first debate, but very well in the third debate. A systemic-functional analysis of Obama’s closing statements in these two debates reveals the lexicogrammatical and rhetorical choices which contribute to the functional and aesthetic value of Obama’s debate performance.