Abstract:

A grammatical metaphor is widely applied in political orations to achieve precision and approachable effect. So they are used by the glib politicians to achieve their political purposes. Under the theoretical frame of Halliday’s Grammatical Metaphor,, this paper analyzes and summarizes the grammatical metaphors in 13 inaugural addresses of American Presidents to discuss the different effects that grammatical metaphors have created in convey political connotations and potential purpose.

Key words: grammatical metaphors; American presidents; inaugural addresses

摘要：

语法隐喻在政治语篇中无处不在，使用语法隐喻不仅有助于形成结构严谨和易于理解的语言，而且经常被口齿伶俐的政客用来达到个人政治意图。本文运用韩礼德的语法隐喻理论和区分方法，从中挑选了十三篇经典的美国总统的就职演讲稿来研究。希望通过对这十三篇美国总统就职演讲中的语法隐喻进行识别、分类和分析，探讨不同语法隐喻在传达政治内涵和潜在意图所起的不同作用。

关键词：语法隐喻；美国总统；就职演讲

1. Introduction
Speech means a verbal communication activity that clearly and fully expresses one’s personal views, declares things or shows feelings in public aiming at some concrete issue with verbal language for main method and body language for assisting method. Speech is an activity with strong purpose in that speakers publicize opinion on national affaires, spread ethical and moral sentiment and impart scientific and cultural knowledge. Fundamentally, the purpose of the speech is coming to an agreement with the audience, resonating with them and changing their minds. The features of the speech’s strong purpose are fully represented in the American presidents’ inaugural addresses.