This is the second exercise that we have to for our research based on Martin Luther King Jr.’s speech, ‘I Have a Dream’. We have been divided to several groups and each group have been assigned to analyse a phrase in the speech. As for my group, we have been given the phrase ‘I have a dream’ which is the title of the speech itself. For this assignment, we also have to use AntConc application software by using ‘concordance’ option. So, here is my analyse of the phrase ‘I have a dream’.
1. Frequency
Based on the AntConc, we have found 8 concordance hits on the phrase ‘I have a dream’ in the speech.
2. Manner
In this speech, our group has identify the manner that have been used. We had came to a conclusion that the speech used anaphora and metaphor.
Anaphora (repeating words at the beginning of neighbouring clauses) is a commonly used rhetorical device. Repeating the word twice sets the pattern, and further repetitions emphasize the patterh and increase the rethorical effect. ‘I have a dream’ is repeated in eight successive sentences, and is one of the most often cited examples of anaphora in modern rethoric. For example, Martin Luther King Jr. emphasizes the phrases by repeating at the beginning of sentences.
Metaphor allow you to associate your speech concepts with concrete images and emotions.To highlight the contrast between two abstract concepts, consider associating them with contrasting concrete metaphors. For example, Martin Lurther King Jr. use the word ‘dream’ as a frame for the future and sets the stage of the rest of the words.
Source: http://sixminutes.dlugan.com/speech-analysis-dream-martin-luther-king/
3. Meaning
The phrase ‘I have a dream’ has been repeated for 8 times. Each of the phrases has different meaning depending on Martin’s intention when he said it. Below are the meaning of each of the phrases.
| I have a dream that one day | The dream is a frame for the future and sets the stage for the rest of the words. ‘Dream’ is vague aspiration. ‘one day’ starts to make it specific. |
| I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia | Repeating the ‘dream’, hammering home the hope for the future.
‘red’ hints at blood, implying pain, struggle and injustice. Georgia symbolizes the South. |
| I have a dream that one day even the state of Mississippi, | Repeating the ‘dream’ phrase again to complete a triple.
‘even’ implies that Mississippi is one of the worst examples of racism. Yet this, too, is included in the dream. ‘state’ points at the formal State organization, noting that racism is institutionalized there. |
| I have a dream that my four children | The dream metaphor again. Now it is turning from a triple into a theme.
Children are always evocative. ‘my’ makes it personal to King and hence also personal to everyone listening. |
| I have a dream today! | Ending as beginning, bracketing the whole paragraph.
Note that this is said on a rising upswing, not as a declining completion. |
| I have a dream that one day, down in Alabama, | The dream metaphor again. Alabama is mentioned because of its sadistic racists. |
| I have a dream today! | Ending as beginning, bracketing the whole paragraph.
Note that this is said on a rising upswing, not as a declining completion. |
| I have a dream that one day every
valley shall be exalted, |
The dream metaphor again. He means about ‘every valley shall be exalted’ is about changes and need to be equal. |
Source: http://changingminds.org/analysis/i_have_a_dream.htm
'Aisyah Zaili A137793 