An Analysis Of Interpersonal Meanings In The U.S. Secretary Of State John Kerry’s Political Speeches

Halliday’s systemic functional grammar (SFG) has a great impact on the development of linguistics, and it provides a new perspective for text analysis.In recent years, SFG is widely applied to the analysis of different texts. According to Halliday, the metafunction of language includes three aspects:ideational function, interpersonal function and textual function. Among these, interpersonal function refers to the function that language can establish and maintain the relationship between the speaker and the listener. By using language, the speaker can not only express his identity, social status, his judgment and prediction, but also influence and persuade listeners so as to support them and maintain interpersonal relations.This research selects fifteen pieces of American Secretary of State John Kerry’s political speeches. Based on interpersonal function under systemic functional grammar as well as the combination of Li Zhanzi’s personal pronouns system, an analysis of Kerry’s speeches is conducted in the thesis. The research digs out the interpersonal meanings in the fifteen speeches from lexical, sentential and textual level.The detailed analyzing procedures are as follows. Firstly, each clause in the fifteen selected speeches is annotated in terms of mood (declaratives, interrogatives, imperatives), modality (probability, usuality, obligation, inclination) and person system. Secondly, statistics tool is used to count the language features in the speeches. Thirdly, a preliminary treatment of data is conducted. Finally, a detailed analysis of data is carried out. The thesis employs both quantitative and qualitative method to analyze the realization of interpersonal meanings in the speeches and to make sure the results of the research more convincing.Through studies, the research discovers that mood, modality and person system are the indispensable ways to the realization of interpersonal functions in Kerry’s fifteen speeches. By these means, Kerry manages to express his own views and standpoints, influence and persuade listeners as well as maintain good relationships with listeners. In terms of mood system, in his speeches, Kerry uses more declaratives in order to offer information and announce his own political stance. The proper application of imperatives is to reveal his authority as U.S.secretary of state. Meanwhile, the use of "let" structure imperatives helps to ease the tension of speeches and narrow the distance between the speaker and listeners.In the aspect of modality, the speaker uses more low and median values of modality for he wants to express his views politely. Modality of probability and usuality are used more than the other two out of Kerry’s judgment toward the matter and his sense of responsibility. In addition, it is also found that the use of different person pronouns is to establish intimate or distant relationships with listeners.This research offers some assistance for a better understanding and appreciation of political speeches. At the same time, it gives some implication for political orators and English teaching.