Introduction: Rhetorical Analysis
The phenomenon of climate change has attracted a notable amount of attention over years, the early 1990s being the point at which the phenomenon in question became a worldwide concern. Therefore, examining a speech delivered by then 11-year-old Severn Suzuki will shed more light on the importance of a proper choice of a rhetorical strategy when composing an argument. By maintaining a careful and well-thought-out balance between ethos, pathos, and logos in her speech, as well as recognizing exigence and appealing to the core audience, Suzuki delivered the speech that impressed and convinced her audience.
Components of the Rhetorical Situation
Understanding the context in which the speech takes place, including the issue that it seeks to address and the circumstances of the issue in question, is vital for the further assessment of its rhetorical quality. For this reason, the notion of the rhetorical situation as explained by Lloyd Bitzer is particularly useful. Namely, the constructs of exigence, audience, and core constraints should be examined thoroughly.
Exigence
The speech introduces the core context for the main argument, as well as the circumstances associated with the problem at hand, quite thoroughly by detailing the dire effects of the climate change. In fact, the exigent nature of the plight is imbued into the very introduction, in which Suzuki renders the core problem to be addressed: “We are a group of 12- and 13-year-olds trying to make a difference” (Suzuki, 1992). However, it takes quite a while for the speaker to connect the theme of her introduction to the actual topic of the speech. Namely, despite the obvious hints at the problem of environmental issues outlined in the introductory part, the issue of climate change and the associated concerns does not emerge until further.
Audience
Similarly, the speech has a clear focus on its target audience, appealing to its emotions and concerns directly. Specifically, since the speech is aimed at adults, and since the specified demographic is likely to have families and children of their own, the speech addressing them as parents with the responsibility to protect their children produces a tremendous emotional impact (O’Connor, 2013). Specifically, the direct appeal to the audience is evident in the specified part of the speech: “But, really, you are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles — and all of you are someone’s child.” (Suzuki, 1992). Therefore, the audience as one of the central elements of Bitzer’s model of the rhetorical situation is clearly present.
Constraints
Finally, the constraints within the speech as one of the core elements of Bitzer’’s model need to be considered. Interpreted as the conditions within which further improvements can be made, the specified concept is remarkably underrepresented in the speech. Namely, Suzuki does not indicate the presence of limitations on the path toward mitigating the threat of climate change and the resulting disasters caused by global warming, such as the destruction of habitats and the extinction of multiple species: “Do not forget why you are attending these conferences — who you’re doing this for” (Suzuki, 1992). Thus, the implication that the choice of the further strategies is to be made by the audience slightly reduces the power of the message.
Biographical Details
Severn Suzuki ids a renowned Canadian activist and environmentalist. She was born on November 30, 1979, and was raised in a setting where academic discourse regarding environmental issues has been actively encouraged. Suzuki gained global recognition at an incredibly young age of 11, when she presented her speech on environmental awareness during the Earth Summit in 1992. She has been active in the promotion of green policies since then.
Speech Analysis
When analyzing the rhetorical characteristics of the speech delivered by Severn Suzuki, one should focus specifically on the concepts of ethos, pathos, ad logos. Constituting the core of any discourse., the specified notions allow examining the characteristics of the argument and determining its strength (Valencia, 2016). Though Suzuki’s speech contains all three elements represented properly, it is the pathos of the narrative that produces the greatest impact.
Ethos
The discourse under analysis has a strong and clearly delineated ethos. In fact, the ethical concern of saving the environment and preventing climate change from producing drastic outcomes on the global ecosystem represent the foundational premise of the speech: “In my country we make so much waste, we buy and throw away, buy and throw away, buy and throw away and yet Northern countries will not share with the needy.” (Suzuki, 1992). Therefore, emphasizing the ethical obligations of the humankind and the ethical nature of the necessary decision-making as inevitable steps to be taken, Suzuki weaves a strongly developed ethos into her speech (Wilson, 2014). At the same time, the speaker remarkably avoids placing the blame at adults and accusing them of the negative changes in the environment.
The specified use of ethos is particularly important since a significant range of environmental activists seem to overuse ethos as the means of creating a sense of guilt in their audience as the means of sparking further conversation and encouraging action: “In each instance, the spectacle was clear: adults were to be blamed, shamed, and (paradoxically) stunned into submission and action. For how is anyone to gainsay such plaintive (and young) voices?” (Witt, 2022, p. 398). By avoiding blaming the audience directly yet outlining their contribution to the problem and, therefore, their responsibility to resolve it, Suzuki amplifies the effect of her message.
Pathos
Similarly, the speech contains substantial amount of pathos since Suzuki seeks to appeal to the audience’s emotions. Namely, the plight to enhance the focus on managing the environmental concern is conveyed by using appeal toe motions as one of the core constituents of Suzuki’s statement: “But, really, you are mothers and fathers, sisters and brothers, aunts and uncles — and all of you are someone’s child” (Suzuki, 1992). At the same time, the emotional appeal is balanced out with other components to ensure that the overall argument sounds convincing.
Logos
Finally, the logos component of the speech encourages further reflections and problem-solving. Namely, even with the strong presence of ethos as the main component of the speech, the logos part also serves a crucial purpose of providing credibility and value to the argument: “Do not forget why you are attending these conferences — who you’re doing this for. We are your own children. You are deciding what kind of a world we are growing up in” (Suzuki, 1992). The specified logical statement represents one of the main pillars of Suzuki’s speech, reinforcing the significance of the message that she promotes.
Devices
Finally, the rhetorical devices used in the speech are worth considering closer. For instance, the presence of anadiplosis in several parts of Suzuki’s speech indicates that she seeks to place the emphasis on the specified ideas in her narrative. Namely, the following examples of anadiplosis, namely, the repetition of certain words as the demand of outlining them and drawing the audience’s attention to the associated ideas deserve further examination: “I am here to speak for all generations to come. I am here to speak — speak on behalf of the starving children” (Suzuki, 1992). In the example under analysis, a case of a double anadiplosis is observed; namely, the phrase “I am here to speak” is repeated along with the repetition of “speak” in the second part of the sentence: “I am here to speak — speak” (Suzuki, 1992). Thus, the main point of the speech, namely, the importance of taking action, is communicated.
Speech Evaluation
Overall, the speech was quite effective, containing a profound message, a clear goal, and a straightforward tool for addressing its core audience. The proper structure of the speech combined with effective use of rhetorical devices has allowed conveying the essential concerns that Suzuki had in regard to the problem of climate change. Furthermore, the focus on the emotional appeal and the effort to make a connection to the audience by relating to their parental instincts to ensure proper safety and well-being of their children has helped reinforce the message.
Conclusion
By demonstrating an elaborate and thoughtful use of logos, pathos, and ethos in her speech, as well as considering the role of exigence and the specifics of the audience in delivering it, Severn Suzuki managed to impress its viewers and convince them in the need to take immediate action. Specifically, the appeal to the parental instinct to protect children, as well as the sense of common decency and responsibility, Suzuki empowered the listeners to accept the inevitability of the need to address climate change (“Severn Suzuki’s SPEECH | Summary and analysis,” n.d.). Furthermore, the specified choice of rhetoric strategies emphasized the urgency of the issue, therefore, motivating the viewers to search for a solution actively. With a strong implication of the significance of collaboration and the focus on ethics, Suzuki’s speech can be considered an essential example of a perfectly planned and implemented rhetoric strategy.
References
O’Connor, M. (2013). Analysis of Severn Suzuki’s speech. Youtube. Web.
Severn Suzuki’s SPEECH | Summary and analysis. (n.d.). LitBug. Web.
Suzuki, S. (1992). Speech at U.N. Conference on Environment and Development. American Rhetoric. Web.
Valencia, S. (2016). Severn Suzuki 1992 speech analysis. Prezi. Web.
Wilson, J. (2014). Severn and the day she silenced the world. Second Story Press.
Witt, M. T. (2022). From Greta to the great reset: Making emergencies work. The American Journal of Economics and Sociology, 81(2), 381–406. Web.