Morragotwong Phumplab. Ho Chi Minh's rhetoric : the power of language in the First Vietnamese War of liberation (1946-1954) . Master's Degree(Linguistics). Mahidol University. : Mahidol University, 2007.
Ho Chi Minh's rhetoric : the power of language in the First Vietnamese War of liberation (1946-1954)
Abstract:
Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) proposes that language as discourse is an
instrument or a symbol of power that leads to social motivation, especially in political
movements. This study attempts to analyze President Ho Chi Minh’s rhetoric during
the First Vietnamese war of Liberation against French rule (1946-1954). It does so by
focusing specifically on the power of language as an instrument in shaping and
encouraging the Vietnamese to participate in political movements of various types
against their French colonialists. In addition, the study also investigates the changing
social situations that affected the relationship between context as an impulse to
produce texts (discourses), and language as a crucial factor of power and media in
driving the Vietnamese to participate in the war. The CDA approach of Fairclough
(1989) assumes that social science is dependent upon social, cultural, and historical
contexts, aswell as linguistics.
Ho Chi Minh’s rhetorical appeal to the Vietnamese was a crucial factor in the
political mechanism that motivated the Vietnamese to take part in this resistance. He
accomplished this not only through his style of speech but also by winning the
admiration, sacrifice and faithfulness of the Vietnamese people. Furthermore, this
study shows that the dynamic of social situations can be instigated by correlating
factors both internal and external. The internal factor is the Vietnamese situation
during the time of the war. The external factors are the other liberation movements in
the countries which were ruled by colonial powers. Due to Ho Chi Minh’s rhetoric
regarding group solidarity, the war was won, leading to freedom and independence of
the nation. The Vietnamese wholly rose up and opposed the French because they
thought that it was the best way to eradicate their suffering and oppression. In
summary, social context is a significant factor in discourse as rhetoric is produced in
conjunction with the social situation occurring at that time, and a leader’s rhetoric can
shape and encourage the people to follow his purposes.