A Comparative Analysis Of Attitudinal Resources In Chinese And English Impromptu Table Tennis Commentaries

Based on six table tennis matches on CCTV-5 and six table tennis matches on Eurosport, the author employs the Attitude System, a subsystem of J. R. Martin’s Appraisal System, to conduct a comparative analysis of attitudinal resources in Chinese and English impromptu table tennis commentaries. This study explores the semantic realizations and distributions of attitudinal resources in typical Chinese and English impromptu table tennis commentaries, and tries to find the common ground as well as defining characteristics of English and Chinese impromptu table tennis commentators in terms of culture and ideology.Tentative research findings are concluded. Generally, to highlight the excitement of a match, positive resources are favored. Positive attitudinal resources far outnumber negative ones in Chinese and English impromptu table tennis commentaries, the ratios being 2:1 and 3:1 respectively. Specifically, Appreciation,which refers to the commentator’s evaluation of a player’s performance, outweighs Affect and Judgment in Chinese and English impromptu table tennis commentaries.Chinese and English commentators concentrate resources of Appreciation on valuation, appreciate the players’ technique, and emphasize the placement of their shots. They also employ reactions, mostly positive, to highlight players’ maneuvers.When it comes to Affect, which deals with the commentators’ feelings towards the players, Chinese commentators are more emotionally involved in the match than English commentators. Chinese commentators are not shy to voice their satisfaction as well as disappointment and are inclined to give suggestions whenever they see fit.By contrast, English commentators seem objective and even detached because they tend to restrain their moods and almost never give advice to the players. As to Judgment, which is concerned with the commentators’ opinions on the players’ behaviors and personalities, its resources are rather scarce in Chinese and English impromptu table tennis commentaries. Chinese and English commentators employ the scarce resources of Judgment to highlight the players’ difficult maneuvers and compliment on their ability. Finally, English commentators regard the table tennis as a purely physical combat, whereas Chinese commentators recognize the importance of strategies and tactics adopted by the players. English commentators concentrate the majority of attitudinal resources on the evaluation of a player’s performance in rallies against his opponent. They seldom comment on a player’s strategy, nor do they give advice on strategy. In Sharp contrast, Chinese commentators give far more commentaries and advice on strategy.This study has its own significance to certain extent. It confirms the practical value of Appraisal System and extends its applications to impromptu table tennis commentary. The semantic realizations and distributions of attitudinal resources in professional impromptu table tennis commentaries will inspire future sports commentators. And the comparison of the patterns in which Chinese and English commentators express their attitudes gives insight into the similarities and differences of ideology in Chinese and English cultures.