Analysis on Malala Yousafzai's 'Nobel Peace Prize' Speech
Analysis on Malala Yousafzai's 'Nobel Peace Prize' Speech
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| Analysis, Md. Lutful Huda |
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| Malala, Md. Lutful Huda |
General
1. On December 10, 2014, Malala Yousafzai received her Nobel Peace Prize in Norway, for her valiant struggle against oppression of the children and young people especially the rights of the girl child to obtain education in Pakistan and other countries where girls are marginalized. At the age of 17, Malala became the youngest person in history to win the award and also the first Pashtun as well as the first Pakistan to win the prize. Malala Yousafzai’s speech was profound, well worded, insightful and philosophically rich because of usage of ethos, pathos and other usage of appeals. Malala Yousafzai delivered one of the most celebrated speeches since she was able to develop a comprehensive understanding of the audience in both presentation and participation in the process of speech delivery. It is necessary to note that she was perfect in the application of rhetorical theory to facilitate the articulation of issues addressed within the speech. Her award winning speech has been a significant point of reference in the fight for the girl child’s right for education.
Critical Methods
2. The speech was analyzed using qualitative research in which both inartistic and artistic proofs that might have been used by the speaker to appeal to the audience. The inartistic proofs include letters, contracts and witness testimonies that may have been used by the speaker to enhance her appeal to the audience. On the other hand, the speaker may have also applied artistic proof such as logos, ethos, and pathos to appeal and to enhance communication to the audience. Malala’s speech shows very powerful appeals to pathos through repetition, rhetorical questions, and anecdotes.
3. The use of humor to disarm the audience and gain its attention and sympathy. Words and phrases that are used to underline points and give rhythm to the lines spoken. The stating of questions through which the speaker is in fact expressing an opinion–also known as “rhetorical questions”. The use of repetition to put more emphasis a point. Direct appeals to members of the audience as individuals. Setting up clear alternatives and choosing the most moral or virtuous ones. Using one phrase to focus the intention of the speech as a whole. Malala made good use of some of these in her speech to make it an effective and successful one.
Delivery of the Speech
4. Malala’s speech portrays the use of emotional language, an active voice, and logic to create an effective speech and to get her message across. Throughout the speech, Malala relied on logos, ethos and pathos as rhetorical device to appeal to the audience that made the speech more attractive, appealing and compelling. The first challenge any speaker faces is to establish ethos and credibility to speak. Her speech was unique, resourceful and incredibly effective, well-worded, classic, insightful and philosophically rich. Her verbal expression and presentation was praiseworthy. Volume, pace, pitch and tone, pauses in her speech were perfect. Audience reaction was highly responsive. In the speech, it seems, it was possible to draw the attention of global leaders to adhere to the appeal and request she made. Eye contact, giving opinion and suggesting the way to help the education, was praiseworthy.
a. Using Emotional Language. Malala’s strong emotional language throughout her speech adds feeling and emphasis on her topic. By using the language that appeals to the audiences emotions, she adds the pathos. Malala states in her speech, "We had a thirst for education, we had a thirst for education because our future has right there in the classroom". Her word choice suggests that she and the other girls in her class were prepared to learn. They want to be successful in the future, rather than taking up the traditional house wife roles. Her emotion is out forth in a persuasive style because she is making a statement that has a strong emotional appeal.
b. Using Active Voice. The active voice was present throughout Malala’s speech. She tried to persuades the audience to be a part of Malala’s movement using the active voice that works. Malala says, " Let us become the first generation that decides to be the last that sees empty classrooms, lost childhoods, and wasted childhoods". Her powerful word choice suggests that everyone needs to work together to stop the inequality of girls not receiving an education. Her active voice appeals to the audience because the effectiveness of her speech makes everyone want to make change. Her active voice gives her credibility throughout her speech. This allows her speech to be effective. Malala said, "I am not a lone voice, I am not a lone voice, I am many". She wanted to make understand that she does not think for herself, rather she thinks of all the young girls. The fact that she risks her life for the cause gives her the greatest credibility.
c. Using Personal Example. Malala makes her speech real and worthy to hear when she adds in personal narratives. She shares her own story as well as talks about other girls who are deprived of their education. She uses these stories as examples as to why she is fighting for girls rights to an education. This brings a logical appeal to her speech, which makes it effective. She said, "I had two options—one was to remain silent and wait to be killed, and the second one was to speak up and then be killed. I chose the second one". I decided to speak up. Her act of bravery proves to the audience that she is a real fighter. Her act of speaking up almost did get her killed, but she survived. With this second chance of getting life, she is proving to the world and setting an example to girls who are deprived that anyone can get out of oppression with the right amount of bravery and courage.
d. Using Tone. Malala’s tone shifted from happiness to sadness and ends in an encouraging note. For example, when she was paying gratitude to everyone who supported her in the struggle, Malala's tone reflected happiness and appreciation towards the support she has received across the world. However, when she began talking about her life and struggles, her tone shifts from that of happiness to sadness. She was careful not to express her sadness in tears because it was not a day of showing pity. She said, 'It is not time to pity them. It is time to take action so it becomes the last time'. In other words, Malala was not going to spend time crying over the pain she has undergone as well as that of other children but she is ready to take action so that it become the last time children are subjected through the same pain she had endured.
Impact of the Artifact
5. Malala’s speech has been described across the world as jaw dropping among the people who listened to her from the start to the end. She challenged the audience by asking them why countries that are perceived to be strong are stronger towards creating war but weaker towards giving books to the children. One of the immediate response was the loud applause and the standing ovation that Malala received at the end of her speech.
Conclusion
6. Malala’s speech is considered as one of the most inspirational speeches to have been delivered in the history of the awards. In her speech, she choose to talk about peace and condemn the activities of the Taliban as well as other groups of terrorists who, according to Malala, are not acting in accordance with the Islamic teachings. She talks about the truth and challenges countries that are perceived to be strong to channel their efforts towards educating the world and not promoting war. Her dream is to live in a world where every child is given the right to quality education regardless of gender, race, or ethnicity.
Malala’s Key Message
Strength, power and courage in the face of adversity are the key messages of Malala’s speech.
Imformation
Malala was amongst the world’s 100 most influential people as per Time Magazine in 2013.
Deductions
1. The speech moved smoothly from the local and personal perspective to the universal and general.
2. It is a speech filled with passion, with emotion, with skill, incredible belief, and daring hope.
3. It is an extremely moving and effective speech. Some have already called it a classic.
Attention
1. It is a speech we all should hear, and delivered by a woman whom we all should hope we will hear a lot more of.
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