An Analysis Of The Interpersonal Meaning Of The Characters' Speech In Tess Of The D'urbervilles

Interpersonal meaning is derived from Halliday's three meta-functions within the framework of Systemic Functional Grammar. According to Halliday, interpersonal function, as one of three meta-functions, serves as a function of any language that enables people to participate in the communication to reveal their attitudes, motivations, social status, relations as well as judgments. It mainly studies how the relationship between the speaker and the listener is established and maintained by selecting words. And Halliday uses the term"interpersonal meaning"originally to denote the meaning that reflects the nature of the interpersonal relationship among those who are using the language. In daily life or social activities, people use language not only to exchange information, but also to interact with others so as to establish and maintain appropriate social links with them.Based on Halliday's interpersonal function theory and other linguists'contribution to interpersonal meaning, this thesis carries out an analysis of the interpersonal meaning of characters'speech in the novel Tess of the D'urbevilles mainly from the aspects of mood, modality and tense. The aim is to reveal characters'attitudes toward each other, to infer their relationships and characteristics. It is hoped that the analysis of interpersonal meaning contributes to better interpret characters and understand this great work.The previous researches on Tess of the D'urbevilles are mainly from the perspectives of literary translation and literary criticism. Less attention has been paid to the interpersonal aspect of the language in fiction. Therefore, this thesis attempts to supplement the study of Tess of the D'urbevilles from the perspective of interpersonal function of Systemic Functional Grammar. The study presents the following findings: First, the analysis of characters'speech through mood also proves that the imbalance in the relationship between Alec and Tess: persecutor and victim. Alec makes use of his employer identity and exerts his high social power to seduce and rape the na?ve Tess. Second, the comprehensive analysis of mood and modality reveals the unequal relationship between Mrs. Durbeyfield and Tess: dominating and dominated. Tess always shows her submission to the mother. Third, the comprehensive analysis of modality and tense reveals the change in the characters'attitudes and emotions. The change of Angel's attitude towards Tess is quite obvious: from passionate and sincere care to cold and passive response. By contrast, Tess's affection for Angel has never changed. Such findings indicate that the characters'relations, emotions, mentality as well as attitudes can be revealed by the linguistic choices in mood, modality and tense.The present study demonstrates the feasibility of Systemic Functional Grammar in the study of fiction Tess of the D'urbervilles. It enriches the research on this novel. It is hoped that the thesis is a useful practice in the application of literary work and the teaching of language.