| Stylistics is an important inter-discipline which encourages logical thought about the meaning and value of the literary texts with linguistics as a tool. It grew up under the influence of linguistics. Each linguistic theory assumes a model of stylistic analysis, as it were. However, each model has both advantages and disadvantages. The systemic-functional stylistics, which has won more favor nowadays, is no exception. Although it contributes much to sociological features of language, it fails to touch upon the psychological factors which play a vital role in the construction of literary meaning. Thus on the basis of systemic-functional stylistics, Liu Shisheng (1998) put forward a new model of situational-semiotic, linguistic-semantic and literary-psychological stylistics trying to make up for its deficiencies. The first two systems are completely taken from M.A.K.Halliday's systemic-functional linguistic theories, concerning the theories of context and three kinds of meta-functions of language respectively. The third system is a new addition regarding psychological factors.Liu's new model not only admits the fact that language will executive some functions as a social being, but also considers the psychological process involved in texts. This thesis attempts a stylistic analysis on the lyrics of black spirituals with the new model on the purpose of exploring the stylistic features of the spirituals lyrics. Black spirituals are religious in nature used as an important communication among slaves in plantations during the days of slavery. It displays the black spirit and outlines the American history during those days as the sole folk songs in America. Thus stylistic analysis on the spirituals lyrics is an approach to test the feasibility of the new model and it will be helpful for us to understand the black history and culture. As a result, this stylistic analysis has an academic significance and an anthropological value as well.Nevertheless, the current model still has its limitation on neglecting the aesthetic properties of literary texts as art. Thus this thesis makes a bold comparative analysis on lyrics and poetry with regard to aesthetics in hopes of enhancing appreciation for lyrics and offering some valuable insights into the stylistic study.Therefore, this thesis is guided by the new model and analyzed at linguistic, psychological and aesthetic levels. In addition, stylistics has to be transferred to many other areas of academic study so as to intensify the readers'awareness of texts.
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