Interpersonal Meaning In Chinese University Students' Impromptu Speeches

Modality as a way of realizing interpersonal function is a great tool to analyze speeches.It provides insights into the interactions between speakers and audience.This thesis takes Chinese university students' impromptu speeches in competition to analyze the interpersonal meaning through modality.The thesis applies the methodology of quantitative and descriptive,aiming at investigating the linguistic representations,frequency and functions of the modality in expressing the interpersonal meaning,hoping that it can offer insights into the teaching of spoken English,the speaking skills and improvement of language learners' interpersonal communicative competence.The result of the study shows that:in terms of the realizing ways of modality, the speakers prefer to apply the finite modal operator and interpersonal metaphor. Comparatively speaking,the modal adjuncts and the expansion of the predicators are used less to express the interpersonal meaning.Among all the finite modal operators,can,will are the most frequently used ones,especially in expressing the probability and inclination in speeches.In the interpersonal metaphor expressions, I think is the most popular one.The speakers apply the subjective explicit expression the most and the implicit expressions are more than the explicit expressions.The SPeakers prefer to apply the median and low value words in their speeches.With the help of those modality words to express the interpersonal meaning,the speakers achieve the aims of politeness,objectiveness and interaction in their speeches.