A STYLISTIC ANALYSIS OF VERBAL PARALLELISM IN MICHELLE OBAMA’S SPEECH AT HILLARY FOR AMERICA CAMPAIGN IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

Abstract

       This research aims to identify the types and functions of verbal parallelism in a speech delivered by Michelle Obama at Hillary for America campaign in New Hampshire, October 2016. This research also aims to describe the themes which can be inferred from the use of verbal parallelism in Michelle Obama’s speech at Hillary for America campaign in New Hampshire. This research applied descriptive qualitative method. The data of this research were taken from the speech given by Michelle Obama. The results of the research are as follows. (1) Among eight types of verbal parallelism, there are only seven types of verbal parallelism found in Michelle Obama’s speech at Hillary for America campaign in New Hampshire, namely anaphora, epistrophe, symploce, anadiplosis, epanalepsis, polyptoton, and homoioteleuton. (2) All four functions of verbal parallelism based on the theory proposed by Tannen are found, i.e. production, comprehension, connection, and interaction. (3) There are five themes that can be inferred from the speech. They are women’s rights, women’s insecurity, opponent’s misbehavior, gender equality, and persuasion to voters.

Keywords: verbal parallelism, types, functions, themes, Michelle Obama’s speech