A Study On The Realization Of Interpersonal Meaning In Obama's Public Speeches

This research is conducted on the realization of interpersonal meaning applied in Obama's public speeches, aiming at discussing how to achieve interpersonal meaning in these speeches. It is also expected that this study will be helpful teaching of public speeches.Interpersonal function refers that language has a function of establishing and maintaining relationships between speakers and listeners. Speakers use language not only to express their identity, position, attitudes and prediction, but also persuade and influence listeners'views and behaviors so as to maintain interpersonal relations. In recent years, there is a trend to study interpersonal meaning in discourses but many linguists conduct their researches only based on Halliday's model of interpersonal meaning. Also, there are few studies on public speeches. Therefore, this thesis will adopt the theories from Halliday's model of interpersonal meaning, Li Zhanzi's person system and Danes's thematic progression patterns to conduct a qualitative and quantitative study, which analyzes devices of realization of interpersonal meaning in Obama's public speeches from the lexical, sentential and textual level.Through studies on three types of mood (declaratives, interrogatives, imperatives) and four modality expression (probability, usuality, obligation, inclination), the research discovers that declaratives are used more because the main purpose of Obama in speeches is to offer information; that probability and usuality are used more than obligation and inclination for Obama tends to make judgments on issues; that more low and median values of modality are used because of Obama's sense of responsibility on opinions. Through analyzing different personal pronouns, the thesis also finds out that Obama uses different personal pronouns to establish either intimate or distant relationships between himself and his listeners. Moreover, thematic progression is also employed in Obama's public speeches, which makes his attitudes more persuasive and coherent.It is found that mood, modality, personal pronouns and thematic progression patterns are main devices of realizing interpersonal meaning in Obama's public speeches, by which Obama expresses his views, maintains relationships with listeners, and even influences listeners'opinions and behaviors. This research shows that it is feasible to analyze the realization of interpersonal meaning in public speeches and expects the study will guide teaching of speeches.