A Study On The Interpersonal Meaning Of The Dialogues In The Importnnce Of Being Earnest

Systemic functional linguistics provides a theoretical basis for the stylistics study of literary works. Its founder, Halliday, claims that all languages are organized around ideational, interpersonal and textual metafunctions. The interpersonal function refers that people use language to interact, establish and maintain relations with others, and use language to influence others’behaviors with language. The interpersonal meaning means language can express identity, status, and motivation of a speaker as well as transmit the speaker’s reasoning, judgment and evaluation on things. At present, there are many studies on the discourse analysis from the perspective of interpersonal function, but seldom are carried on drama. The drama as a kind of literary style emphasizes the speech interaction because the characters in drama construct and negotiate their social relationship through discourse. Therefore, from the perspective of linguistics, the analysis of interpersonal meaning in dramatic dialogue can help us better understand the effective ways of making a dialogue in drama as well as deeply discuss the interaction among characters.Based on the theoretical basis of interpersonal meaning in systemic functional linguistics and Martin’s appraisal theory, the study further deepens the literary interpretation of drama. The thesis selects three dialogues of the main protagonists from The Importance of Being Earnest to conduct a study on interpersonal meaning. This research mainly adopts qualitative and quantitative research methods. It explores what interpersonal meanings are conveyed through mood, modality and appraisal in the dialogues; how the personalities, psychology and attitudes of the characters are unveiled by the interpersonal meaning; how the interpersonal relationships are embodied through language and what attitudes the playwright takes towards these characters.The major findings of the research are as follows:First, by the analysis of interpersonal meaning from the mood elements and mood choice system from the perspective of mood, it demonstrates that the choice of mood and sentence patterns helps the development of the plot and highlights the personalities of Jack and Lady Bracknell. Meanwhile, the playwright expresses his negative attitude to the Victoria values through Lady Bracknell.Second, by the analysis of interpersonal meaning from the modal operators, modal adjuncts and metaphorical modality within modality, it clarifies that the choice of modality confirms the plot development, Gwendolen’s and Cecily’s personalities and attitudes. It also transmits the playwright’s relentless taunting to the sick attitude towards being earnest in Victoria times.Third, by the analysis of interpersonal meaning within appraisal system, the analysis further reveals the protagonists’ emotion, psychology, attitudes and relationship. At the same time, it exposes hypocrisy, selfishness and vanity of the upper class in Vitoria era.Finally, the thesis reaches a conclusion as follow:The study of the interpersonal meaning in the three dialogues demonstrates the main characters’personalities and the playwright’s attitude to them. All the dialogues are designed by the plot development and the personalities of the characters. The playwright elaborately uses the wordings under the framework of interpersonal system to depict the characters, to demonstrate the interpersonal relationships and promote the development of the plot, which ultimately meets anticipation of the audience. Namely, Lady Bracknell is a selfish woman from the noble class who holds that money is everything; Jack and Algernon are two playboys seeking pleasure in life by borrowing ’Earnest’ as their names; Cecily and Gwendolen are two heroines filled with imagination and obsessed with the name of’Earnest’, but in the pursuit of happiness, they are brave and outspoken which is estimable. Through the ridicule among these characters, the playwright conveys his taunt to the people’s egoistic hedonism, money worship and morbid attitude toward being earnest in Vitoria times.The study on the interpersonal meaning by the analysis of drama demonstrates the following significances. First of all, it further enriches the theory of interpersonal meaning within systemic functional linguistics, providing references to analysis on interpersonal meaning to other dramas; secondly, applying another perspective to interpret this classic drama, it is helpful to highlight the significance of systemic functional linguistics to drama interpretation. The research also reveals the dynamic relationship between characters, deepens the understanding and appreciation of the drama, makes clear the playwright’s attitude towards the characters as well as interprets the role of interpersonal meaning played in the plot development in this drama; finally, it contributes to the teaching of linguistics and literature course. It helps reveal language features in British Victoria times.