Abstract Oration refers to an oral discourse activity in public, with audible verbal language as the main means, and the body language as the aid, on a specific topic, which sharply and wholly announces the speaker's viewpoints and propositions, and illuminates the reasoning or expresses the emotion for propaganda or agitation purpose. Oration as the main means of advocating political ideas, has been inherited and promoted by generations of politicians in all eras. Throughout the long course of history, the Chinese and western cultures kept generating preeminent eloquent politicians. They pursue their political interests and goals with their outstanding eloquence and oration talent. It is obvious that both China and the West have inherited the legacy of oration conveying thoughts and ideas and debating issues. 50257

This thesis will take the angle of oratory as well as the influence of both Chinese and Western cultures, on the political leaders in their political activities, by enumerating the discourses of political leaders like Madam Thatcher, Clinton, Obama, Deng Xiaoping, Xi Jinping. To explore the differences and commonness of their orations in the aspects of forms, styles, and rhetoric as well as  to demonstrate the strength of their speeches with which to preach their political thoughts, express political feelings, and pursue political goals.

Key Words: Oration, Function, Leaders, Rhetoric, Chinese and Western culture 

摘要 演讲，是指在公众场所，以有声语言为主要手段，以体态语言为辅助手段，针对某个具体问题，鲜明、完整地发表自己的见解和主张，阐明事理或抒发情感，进行宣传鼓动的一种语言交际活动。演讲作为政治思想宣传的主要方式，从古至今，被历代政治家所传承发扬。在历史的浩荡长河中，中西方不同文化下不断涌现卓越的政治家，中国历史中，从晏婴、邹忌到苏秦、陆贾，从纪晓岚、曾纪泽到康有为、梁启超，再到近代的孙中山、，西方社会从普罗泰戈拉、柏拉图到凯撒、希特勒，从丘吉尔、戴高乐到甘地、马丁路德金，再到如今的奥巴马、卡梅伦，众多政治领袖以其出色的口才和演讲才能谋求他们的政治利益和目的，而中西方各个时期的政治领袖又因其不同文化环境下的影响，凸显出富有地区性和文化性的个人演讲风格。

因此，本文将从演讲学的角度，结合中西方不同文化的影响，列举奥巴马、克林顿、撒切尔夫人、、等一批政治领导人的演讲实例，分析其形式、风格与特色，探索政治领导人为宣扬政治思想，抒发政治情感，谋求政治目的区别与共性。

毕业论文关键词： 演讲学，作用，领导人，修辞，中西文化

CONTENTS

Acknowledgments. .i

Abstract. ii

摘要.iii

1 Introduction...1

2 Comparison of the Development of the Oration in Chinese and Western Cultures..3

2.1 The Development of Oration in Chinese Culture.....3

2.2 The Development of Oration in Western Cultures..4

3 Comparative Analysis of the Application of Rhetoric Art in Orations6

3.1 The Effect of Metaphor in the Oration.....6

3.2 The Effect of Parallelism in the Oration....7

3.3 The Effect of Furthering in the Oration......8

4 Comparative Analysis of the Language Art in Oratory.10

4.1 The Application of Pronunciation Standard in the Oration...10

4.2 The Application of Voice Skill in the Oration...11

4.3 The Application of Body Language in the Oration...11

5 The Oration Styles of Chinese and Western Political Leaders...13

5.1 The Oration Style of Chinese Political Leaders..13

5.2 The Oration Styles of Western Political Leader....14