Analysis Of Interpersonal Meaning In The Da Vinci Code

According to Halliday, Systemic Functional Linguistics(SFL), as a social semiotic theory, is a powerful, comprehensive and theoretically rigorous account of language, which can be used to carry out text analysis and propose that language has three metafunctions. In the paper, we will focus on the interpersonal metafunction of language that organizes language as a resource for enacting meaning between interlocutors. It is the grammatical resource for enacting social relations, where the systems of MOOD and MODALITY are mainly the grammatical resources.Based on Systemic-Functional Grammar, the paper concentrates on the interpersonal meaning of the dialogues between Robert Langdon and Sophie Neveu in the suspense novel, The Da Vinci Code, by applying MOOD and MODALITY, and it combines both quantitative and qualitative methods to render a linguistic perspective towards the characterization of the suspense novel. Our discussion will focus on the first 23 chapters of the novel consisting of three stages about the protagonists’ decipherment of a series of bizarre religious symbols in the course of investigating a mysterious murder.Here are the findings: the two characters’ dominance, attitudes, relations and personalities in the exchange can be revealed by their choices of MOOD and MODALITY. In Stage 1, Sophie, dominant and confident, is initiative in the exchange and provides information about the murder, as reflected by the abundant use of declaratives, modal adjuncts and high value Modal operators, while Robert is perplexed and passive about the case, as illustrated in the frequently used subject, the much use of interrogatives and the lack of high value Modal operators. In Stage 2, Sophie is less dominant and assured in the utterance, reflected by the much use of low value Modal operators. However, Robert starts to actively and confidently engage in the conversation, as shown in the dramatic increase of the number of clauses and the copious use of high value Modal operators. In Stage 3, the interaction between them reaches the peak, with their status almost being equal, as demonstrated by their number of clauses, the change of frequently used subject and the use of high value Modal operators, depicting their eagerness and anxiety towards decipherment of the code, and creating the suspicious atmosphere of the novel.The research proves further that the application of systemic-functional grammar into the analyses of the suspense novel is feasible, broadens the scope of the study of the interpersonal meaning, renders a linguistic perspective for appreciating literary works and facilitates literature teaching.