Use of Intertextuality in Barack Obama’s Public Speeches

Abstract

The paper demonstrates the way intertextuality is used in Barack Obama’s public speeches. Both original sources and communicative functions are analysed. The material clearly shows that intertextuality serves not only to inform people, but also to confront political rivals, convince the audience and unite Americans by appealing to common spiritual and moral values that are passed down from one generation to another. Barack Obama’s public speeches are replete with references to the speeches of his political predecessors, political opponents, American people, historical documents, slogans as well as literature and films. The speeches give information not only about common traditions in the presidential discourse upheld by Barack Obama, but also about typical features of his individual style of speech in addition to revealing trends in references to the knowledge shared by Americans. Refs 10.