Computer-aided Rhetorical Analysis: State of the Union Addresses (1993—2008) as a Case Study
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摘要: 修辞功能及其分析一向难以从量度上把握,现有研究通常以文学类文本为主,借助主观阅读对文本进行修辞方面的各种分析。本文借助卡内基梅隆大学开发的DocuScope修辞功能分析软件及相关统计分析工具,对美国两任总统的国情咨文(1993—2008)进行了修辞功能17个方面的定量分析,随后进行细致阅读配合该分析。结果发现,两任总统咨文的语言修辞功能不同,产生了不同的后续效果。本研究表明,基于DocuScope内置的修辞词典及其对语言行为类型的界定,通过计算机辅助软件对文本进行修辞方面的统计和分析,具有可信度和可重复性,是一种新思路,也提供了一种新方法,对现有的修辞研究具有明显的推动意义和补充作用。Abstract: It has been ticklish to do rhetorical analysis quantitatively. Existing studies mainly focus on literary texts and rely on subjective reading in analysis. This paper intends to introduce a computer-aided empirical method for rhetorical analysis based on a case study of the State of the Union addresses from 1993 to 2008. DocuScope, a software dedicated to rhetorical analysis, and other tools for statistical data collection are used in this study. It is followed by close reading to further the analysis. It is found that the addresses by former Presidents Clinton and Bush demonstrate different rhetorical features and have different rhetorical effects. This case study shows that DocuScope, together with its embedded dictionary of rhetorical features, can help researchers to employ a consistent method and arrive at an objective and reliable rhetorical appraisal of texts. The study provides a new approach to the study of rhetoric and can be replicated for more systematic findings.
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Key words:
- computer-aided /
- rhetorical /
- analysis /
- State of the Union address
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