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Barack Obama says his address to Congress this year is all about 'finding areas where we agree, so we can deliver for the American people'. And if there's one thing we can all agree upon, it's emojis.

"You had seen a lot of chatty talk between the Clintons and the Obamas, the Carters. But when Donald Trump sat down, the greeting that he was given by Barack Obama and Michelle Obama was about as cool as it could have been." Trump's encounter with living members of the 'Presidents Club' serves as a fascinating study for those in the media and academia. From a social psychology standpoint, the cold and ignorant reactions from the former presidents and first ladies towards the current president specifically acknowledged an 'uninvited' member was intruding upon the ingroup.

"But instead of figures, the Democrats need to learn to use images. Tropes. Like the metaphor Figaro just used. If the Democrats can stop being poets and start painting pictures, they'll win. If not, they'll lose. It's that critical."

nbsp; Image by Getty Images via @daylife When he's on his game (as was the case last night), few leaders are better than President Obama at crafting and delivering a speech. His State of the Union address was beautifully written (of course, much credit goes to head speechwriter Jon Favreau) and expertly [...]

This article focuses on "tricolon", or list of threes. It's a powerful tool to use in papers and speeches because it's catchy and rhythmic. Resource for my research paper.

"Some words feature prominently in every US presidential State of the Union message, others come and go as events dictate or fashions change. As President Barack Obama prepares to address Congress, we look at the ups and downs of the 10 nouns and adjectives (and one pronoun) used most often since 1790."

Actually, you say "Obama" when you meant "Osama". Here's why.... (And make sure you watch the video!)

In the article, Stuart McGurk talks about how in Trump's tweets, the words that be used that is usually used in the empathic way, does not communicate Trump's actual feelings. In the article, it is stated that Trump used the word sorry in 72 tweets, but never actually used in the ways were someone would feel sorrow for something. Instead, for example, he used it in a way were if Obama said sorry, he would have more respect for him. See how he was able to use a sympathetic word but not in the way that he is feeling sorry. Also, in certain circumstances, the wording that Trump uses is not appropriate. For example, in light of the Las Vegas shooting, Trump tweeted, "My warmest condolences and sympathies to the victims and families of the terrible Las Vegas shooting." No one would use the phrase "Warmest Condolences" in this situation.

Yikes: "warmest condolences"! Our president: Master Malaprop. LOL!

good blog for stat-minded inquiry into linguistics

Improvising can be tough on the spot, especially for politicians. Spontaneity is an illusion of meticulous design and one of the most effective rhetorical devices for creating spontaneity is metanoia- correcting or changing one's mind.

"Barack Obama's speeches are much admired and endlessly analysed, but, says Charlotte Higgins, one of their most interesting aspects is the enormous debt they owe to the oratory of the Romans"

Students: I hope you got to see Obama's speech in Tucson on TV or the internet yesterday--this is the text of it. I highlighted the first examples of rhetorical patterning...can you find more? :)

plain speech and politics

analysis obama's rhetoric