Features Of The English Trial Language-An Analysis From The Functional Perspective

This thesis applies Systemic-Functional Linguistics represented by Halliday to theanalysis of two of the three metafuncions, namely, the ideational function and theinterpersonal function in the trial discourse. Concretely, the author focuses on thestudy of the verb processes of the transitivity system, and then on the mood and themodality which are the realization of the interpersonal function.The data used in the analysis come from the record of the oral argument of two casesheard in the Supreme Court of the United States. The author selects one episode fromeach of the two cases. After the study of the first episode, the author summarizessome characteristics and their functions in the mentioned aspects in court debates, andthen she analyzes the other episode from the same perspectives to verify thedeductions made from the first analysis.Through the analyses, the author has arrived at the following conclusions:Firstly, concerning the realization of the ideational function, we have found: (1) Thematerial process verbs and the relational process verbs occupy a large percentage ofthe usage of the six kinds of verbs categorized in the transitivity system in courtdebates;(2) The frequent application of other four kinds of verbs usually conveycertain special information which may be a key to the effect in court debate;(3) Thenon-professional participants make more alterations in clause structures than theprofessional lawyers;(4) The participants in a case, especially the lawyers, ofteninterrupt the current speaker's words;(5) Nominalization is abundantly employed incourt debate.Secondly, concerning the realization of the interpersonal function, the author hasfound: (1) The declarative mood is the dominant one in court debates;(2) The yes-nointerrogative clauses are properly used by the lawyers in court debates, especially incross-examinations;(3) Modal verbs such as 'could', 'would' are applied to showpossibility and uncertainty;(4) the speaker often uses 'may' to show their politenessand inclination;(5) quite a few modal verbs such as 'must', 'have to', 'should' and'allow' are employed to fulfill the obligations to be described and prescribed indecrees and statutes.