Abstract:Speech, a formal talk that a person presents to the audiences, to express his/her views or emotions on a specific issue, or to conduct propaganda activities so as to achieve inspiring the audience and promote its action as a information-sharing activities.

　　　Rhetoric is one kind of important expressive device in language. It refers to interpreting abstract and complex ideas or processes through simple and concrete methods. Since rhetoric is full of imagination, it can promote the transmission and communication of emotions and ideas.

　　　Rhetoric exists in writings with various styles, especially, in speech. Rhetoric plays a very important role in English speech, acting as a key element for the success of a speech. The thesis, based on the respective studies of the definition of speech and rhetoric, makes a careful analysis of the use of main rhetorical devices in English speech, including simile, metaphor, parallelism, alliteration, repetition, antithesis, rhetorical question and so on, targeting at better appreciating English speech, and learn more about the language skills in speech, so as to promote the further understanding of speech.

Key Words：English speech; rhetoric; function

中文摘要:演讲，是在听众面前就某一问题表达发表自己的见解,抒发情感，或进行宣传鼓动从而达到感召听众并促使其行动的一种信息交流活动的正式演说。

　　　修辞是一种重要的语言表达手段，是用简单具体且充满想象的方法将抽象复杂的思想或进程阐释出来，能够促进情感的传递和思想的表达。

　　　修辞存在于各种文体之中，尤其在演讲中起着极为重要的作用，是影响英语演讲成败的关键。论文从分析演讲及修辞的定义和功能出发，认真研究了主要修辞手段在英语演讲中的作用，包括明喻、暗喻、排比、头韵、重复、对偶和设问等修辞手段，旨在更好地欣赏演讲，并学习一些演讲中的语言技巧，从而对演讲进一步理解。

关键词：英语演讲 ; 修辞 ; 功能