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COMPARATIVE STUDY OF RUSSIAN AND ENGLISH PUBLIC SPEECHES
Isaeva Donokhon Anvarovna,
1
st
year Master’s degree student,
The National University of Uzbekistan named after Mirzo Ulugbek
Annotation:
This thesis explores the cultural and linguistic features of public
speaking in Russian and English. It examines how Russian speakers often emphasize
emotional appeal and collectivist values, while English speakers tend to prioritize
clarity, logic, and individual expression. Through the analysis of public speeches, the
study highlights how each language reflects its cultural identity and rhetorical
traditions in spoken discourse.
Keywords:
public speeches, collectivism, emotional appeal, metaphors,
historical and cultural symbols, stylistic devices.
Аннотация:
В данной работе исследуются культурные и языковые
особенности публичной речи на русском и английском языках. В исследовании
рассматривается, как русскоязычные ораторы чаще делают акцент на
эмоциональную выразительность и коллективные ценности, тогда как
англоязычные предпочитают на ясность, логику и индивидуальное
самовыражение. Анализируя примеры публичных выступлений, исследование
подчеркивает, как каждая языковая традиция отражает свою культурную
идентичность и риторические особенности в устной речи.
Ключевые слова:
публичные выступления, коллективизм, эмоциональный
призыв, метафоры, исторические и культурные символы, стилистические
средства.
Most of the public speeches and printed public works that are intended for a large
audience and focused on significant social or political events, as well as public issues
of cultural or moral nature, are employed by the publicistic style. There are three types
of it, and each has unique characteristics. The publicistic style, particularly the
oratorical sub-style, features spoken variations in contrast to other formal styles [3;
288.]. Persuasion is the main goal of oratory which is achieved through eloquence [1;
72.]. Speeches on contemporary social and contemporary issues, orations and
addresses at solemn events such as speeches of court judges, political campaigns,
weddings and debates are all examples of oratory. Crucial topics in fields like science,
art, or business interactions are rarely discussed since the use of oratory is limited to
appealing to an audience. A new spoken variety known as radio and television
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commentary has emerged as a result of the advancements in these media. The essays
and magazine, journal, and newspaper articles make up the other two [2]. The
publicistic style's primary objective is to sway public opinion by persuading the reader
or listener that the writer's or speaker's interpretation is the only accurate one and
encouraging him to accept the viewpoint presented in the speech, essay, or article, and
not just through logical arguments, but also through emotional appeals. Publicistic
writing is distinguished by its combination of persuasive and informative language,
frequently using stylistic devices to effectively engage readers and communicate
difficult concepts. This thesis explores the differences and similarities in how stylistic
devices are used in Russian and English publicistic writing. It focuses on analyzing
their role in creating emphasis, appeal, and emotional resonance [6; 4.].
The historical legacy of publicistic writing in Russian is based on the writings of
authors such as Maxim Gorky and Alexander Herzen, who employed publicistic
writing to encourage social reform. In English, it has been influenced by writers like
George Orwell and Thomas Paine, who placed an emphasis on logic and clarity in
addition to rhetorical flair. The conditions of communication dictate the stylistic
devices used in the public speeches, newspaper and journalistic articles. For instance,
the speaker will employ a number of conventional stylistic elements if he wants to
arouse and maintain the audience's interest such as an antithesis framed by parallel
constructions, which, in their turn, are accompanied by repetition, while a climax can
be formed by repetitions of different kinds [3; 208.]. In the Gettysburg Address by A.
Lincoln, we can observe the usage of this combination: “But, in a larger sense,
we
cannot dedicate – we cannot consecrate – we cannot hallow
this ground….
It is for us
the living, rather, to be dedicated
here to the unfinished work which they who fought
here have thus far so nobly advanced.
It is rather for us to be dedicated
to the great
task remaining before us – that from these honoured dead we take increased devotion
to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion – that we here highly
resolve that these dead
shall not have died in vain
– that this nation, under God
, shall
have a new birth of freedom
– and that the government of the people, by the people,
for the people,
shall not perish
from the earth” [2].
Collectivism and shared history are highly valued in Russian culture. This is
evident in publicistic writing's frequent use of rhetorical questions, historical
metaphors, and emotional appeals. In V. Lenin’s Red Army Address, we can notice how
he engaged the audience emotionally, appealing to their shared experiences of suffering
and reflecting collectivist ideals: “
Красная Армия непобедима, ибо она объединила
миллионы трудовых крестьян с рабочими,
которые научились теперь бороться,
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научились товарищеской дисциплине, не падают духом, закаляются после
небольших поражений,…Товарищи красноармейцы!
Стойте крепко, стойко,
дружно!
Смело вперёд против врага! За нами будет победа. Власть помещиков и
капиталистов, сломленная в России, будет побеждена во всем мире!” [7]. Because
of its rich vocabulary and inflectional structure, the Russian language enables writers
to create more complex structures and integration of stylistic devices. English
publications, particularly from news outlets such as The Guardian or The New York
Times, prefer understatement and irony, reflecting Anglo-American traditions of
subtlety. Alliteration and concise metaphors are prominent, providing an appealing yet
reserved tone. Covering abstract political processes and decisions is not the only
application of embodied metaphors as well as widely recognized image schemata [4;
49.]. Indeed, scientific reports of new findings and technologies also benefit greatly
from its use. For instance, “How the brain starts
going downhill
at 45: Scientists find
mental
decline sets in
much earlier than they had thought: British men and women
suffer the same 3.6 per cent
loss
between the ages of 45–49. Whilst older men aged
65–70
fare
worse with a 9.6 per cent
drop
in comparison with the 7.4 for their female
counterparts.” The usage of negative verb and noun phrases such as “going downhill”,
“decline sets in”, “fare” or “drop” intensifies the effect of visualization of gradual brain
“loss” and by being backed up with the strategy of using numbers and percentage
figures it highlights credibility of the information [5; 160.]. Meanwhile in Russian
publicism, to ensure key ideas are memorable and create rhythm and cohesion in the
speech and text, they used repetition. In V. Lenin’s speech “How to save the workers
from the oppression of landlords and capitalists”, we can notice the emphasis on
collectivism with the usage of repetition: “…рабочие и крестьяне не смогут прожить
без нас
.
Без нас
некому будет установить порядка, распределить работу,
принудить к труду.
Без нас
всё развалится, и государство распадётся…” [7].
Additionally, in English publicism, repetition is used to support the speaker's position
and persuade the listener. In the following extract from the speech of the American
Confederate general, A.P. Hill, on the ending of the Civil War in the U.S.A., we can
clearly observe the application of anaphoric repetition: “
It is high time
this people had
recovered from the passions of war
. It is high time
that counsel were taken from
statesmen, not demagogues…
It is high time
the people of the North and South
understood each other and adopted means to inspire confidence in each other” [2].
To sum up, in order to inspire a sense of unity and shared purpose, Russian
publicistic literature frequently uses historical and cultural symbols in an emotive and
collectivist manner. In Russian publications, stylistic devices like metaphors and
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repetitions can heighten emotional resonance and motivate group action. On the other
hand, English public speeches place more emphasis on individual expression, logic,
and clarity. Persuasive arguments frequently prioritize reason over sentimentality.
Although the stylistic devices have similar uses, the comparative study shows that their
use conforms to the corresponding linguistic and cultural standards. This emphasizes
how language and culture interact to shape publicistic writing, which is a crucial
instrument for analyzing and shaping public opinion.
REFERENCES:
1.
Crystal D., The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, Cambridge
University Press, 2003, p. 574.
2.
Goumovskaya G., Publicistic style, English for Specific Purposes, Английский
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3.
Galperin I.R., Stylistics, Second edition, Higher School Press, Moscow, 1977, p.
313.
4.
Korotkova O.A., Stylistic features of newspaper headlines, Вестник науки и
образования №3 (106), Москва, 2021, p.52.
5.
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Pragmatic Approach, Brno Studies in English, Volume 40, No. 1, 2014, p. 174.
6.
Stylistics,
, StudFiles, 2018, p. 5.
7.
Ленин И. В., Полное собрание сочинений, в 55 т., 2-3 издание, Wikisource,
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Translation and Gender Through the Lens of Native and Foreign Translators:
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