A Contrastive Study Of Interpersonal Meaning In Chinese And English Political Speeches

Discourse is a stretch of language in use, taking on meaning in context for its users and perceived by them as purposive, meaningful, and connected, including both spoken and written language. Discourse analysis is the study of how stretches of language considered in their full textual, social and psychological contexts, become meaningful and unified for their users. Political public speeches as an important official discourses are given more and more attention because it has formed it special stylistic features and adapted various types of linguistic strategies to perform its official functions. Critical discourse analysis (CDA) is a contemporary approach to the study of language and discourses in social institutions. Drawing on post structuralism, this approach focuses on how social relations identity, knowledge and power are constructed through written and spoken discourses. Based on Halliday's systemic-functional grammar and the theories of discourse analysis, this thesis explored differences lying in interpersonal function through some language elements such as modality, tense shift, pronouns, lexical words and discourse organization, especially the use of pronouns. And it proves the multiple means to realize interpersonal meaning and makes out the ideologies hidden behind the two sample speeches.Halliday puts forward three functional components of meaning, ideational, interpersonal and textual, which can be realized throughout the grammar of a language, interpersonal meta-function means that language is used to interact with other people, to establish and maintain relations with them, to influence their behavior, to express our viewpoint on things in the world, and to elicit theirs. He proposes that interpersonal meaning can be achieved through mood and modality system. Interpersonal relationship in the public political speeches should be well negotiated and maintained to draw audiences'attention and also to demonstrate a good image on behalf of the speaker's country. So this thesis focuses on research of the sharp differences about linguistic strategies constructing the speeches in order to make out the essence of a discourse and its roots in the east and west cultures ideology in order to enhance the awareness in intercultural communication by making a contrastive study between public political speeches delivered by two national leaders. The language use of the politicians is determined by the political purposes at certain time in certain social context. The textual features all contribute to the purpose of establishing solidarity and authority. This is the final purpose of CDA which enables us understand the language more deeply and better.