A Comparative Analysis Of Three English Eulogies At Nelson Mandela’s Memorial Service-A Perspective Of Critical Discourse Analysis

The approach of critical discourse analysis claims to analyze a discourse on the basis of Systemic Functional Linguistics. Thus, guided by three metafunctions, namely, ideational metafunction, interpersonal metafunction and textual metafunction, the thesis aims to conduct a comparative analysis on three eulogies delivered by Barack Obama, Jacob Zuma and Ban Ki-moon on the memorial service of Nelson Mandela, so as to investigate their similarities and differences and further reveal their underlying ideologies.Ideational metafunction can be reflected through transitivity system. The analysis on transitivity system shows that material process, relational process and metal process are the dominating processes in three eulogies. The eulogies are similar in their distribution of main participants, but different in their intention. Interpersonal metafunction can be reflected through modality system and appraisal system. In terms of the option of modal operators, only Obama adopts high value modal operator. In appraisal system, three eulogies differentiate in their distribution of attitudinal resources. Obama emphasizes on Judgement, while Zuma pays attention to Appreciation and Ban Ki-moon concentrates on Affection. From the scope of textual metafunction, the three eulogies are rich in the use of unmarked Theme and their thematic progression are centered in three patterns, namely, Parallel Progression, Continuous Progression and Concentrated Progression.By analyzing and exploring these similarities and differences, it is found that the three eulogies are affected by their ideologies, respectively. The eulogy delivered by Obama reveals the prevailing values of the US, that is, the implement of hegemonism and the advocation of individualism. By contrast, restricted by their political status, the eulogies of Zuma and Ban Ki-moon are more conservative.From the perspective of critical discourse analysis, the thesis hopes to make supplement for the study on eulogy and to work as a reference for eulogy writing and analyzing.