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Rhetorical Analysis Of A Latina Judge's Voice

610 Words3 Pages

America is a country of diversity. Our country has various cultures, ethnicities, races, and traditions. Justice Sonia Sotomayor of the US Supreme Court identifies with this diversity, as she is a Latina American. In order to speak about diversity and embracing culture, Sotomayor gave a speech named “A Latina Judge’s Voice” in 2001 when she was an appeals-court judge. She uses an abundance of rhetorical strategies to convince her audience to agree that individuals can develop their own identity through many outlets, but they also can embrace their familial cultures and traditions. In her speech, Sotomayor employs personal anecdotes, pathos with the use of emotional language, and definitions to convey her messages about identity and to emphasize embracing one’s culture. By doing so, Sotomayor informs the audience that having diverse cultures is normal, and people do not find their identities strictly through their culture. …show more content…

Her parents immigrated to America, similarly to a large population of families that currently reside here. She explains her background through personal anecdotes, and explains the ways that her culture and the experiences around her have influenced her identity. Sotomayor lists experiences from her upbringing such as traditions, food, and practices that have shaped her. For example, Sotomayor shares her culture by stating, “... a very special part of my being Latina is the mucho pelotas de arroz, guandule, y pemil that I have eaten at countless family holidays and special events.” By providing an example of a family tradition, she demonstrates her Latina culture. People from all across the globe can relate to celebrating family traditions. Sotomayor’s audience can relate to her personal anecdote and understand that their traditions helped to form their culture. And their culture forms their

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