I.

Introduction:
Ronald Reagan's Inaugural Address of 1985 serves as a powerful declaration of his vision for
America's future, delivered on January 21, 1985.
II. Main Body:
1. Discourse: The audience for this address is both immediate and remote, consisting of
those present at the inauguration and the broader American public. The text
constructs this sense of audience through inclusive language ("we, the people"),
references to American history, and appeals to shared values and aspirations.
2. Narrator/Author/Speaker: Ronald Reagan, the President of the United States at the
time, is the speaker of the text.
3. Context: This is a public, official, factual, and non-literary text, delivered as part of
Reagan's second presidential inauguration.
4. Function: The primary function of the text is to inspire the American people around
Reagan's vision for the nation's future, progress, and unity.
5. Genre: The genre of the text is a formal speech - inaugural address.
6. Linguistic Register: The linguistic register of the text is formal and elevated, drawing
on patriotic and inspirational language.
7. Figurative Language: The text uses metaphor (e.g., "Our two-party system has served
us well over the years"), symbolism (e.g., "standing at the steps of this symbol of our
democracy"), and imagery (e.g., "a world that's lit by lightning").
8. Mode: The text is primarily in the spoken mode, planned and delivered as a formal
address.
9. Lexis: The lexis is formal, with occasional poetic or archaic words for rhetorical effect.
There are no taboo words or euphemisms.
10. Vocabulary: The vocabulary includes patriotic and inspirational terms, reflecting
Reagan's themes of freedom and progress.
 Poetic words: "golden years," "tender music"
 Official words: "responsibilities," "emancipation"
 Colloquial words: "friends," "my fellow citizens"
 Jargonisms: "nuclear weapons," "budget deficits"
11. Phrasal Verbs: Phrasal verbs function as informal versions of more formal
expressions. Examples include "fill the world," "pass on."
12. Clippings or Abbreviations: There are no clippings or abbreviations in the text.
13. Semantics: Words are predominantly monosemantic, with clear and straightforward
meanings.
14. Synonymy: Synonymy is represented in the text, with words like "freedom" and
"liberty" being used interchangeably to avoid repeating.
15. Phraseological Units/Idioms: Examples include "all our might," "tear down economic
barriers."
16. Variant of English: The text is in standard American English, characterized by its
formal register and lack of regional dialect.
17. Stylistic Means:
 Hyperboles: "We live in a world that's lit by lightning."
 Metaphors: "History is a ribbon, always unfurling."
 Epithets: "our mighty youth" – helps make the characteristics of the thing
more prominent.
18. Grammar:
  The mood is primarily declarative, with occasional imperative statements for
emphasis.
 Subordination is used to provide elaboration and detail within sentences.
 The grammar is standard and serves to organize the text logically.
 Grammatical structures help to make the ideas clear, guides the reader’s
comprehension and can strengthen speaker’s arguments.
III. Conclusion:
Reagan's Inaugural Address of 1985 employs a variety of rhetorical devices and linguistic
features to convey his vision for America's future, appealing to shared values and
aspirations. Through his eloquent language and persuasive rhetoric, Reagan seeks to inspire
unity and optimism among the American people as the nation moves forward into a new
era.