Functions Of Language In Investigative Reports From Pulitzer Prize

This thesis studies Pulitzer investigative reports from the perspective of functional grammar to find out the features of language functions and thereby discusses their important roles in supervising and promoting the development of society.This thesis selects 16 investigative reports from 2001 to 2013 in order to make both quantitative and qualitative analysis. By generic structural analysis, it is found out that the aim of all the investigative reports is to expose the scandals of American governments, social institutions or other organizations. The obligatory elements adopted in such a genre include “presenting the headline”, “narrating the main event”, “stating the background information” and “expressing the reactions” which are used to demonstrate the process of the whole event and different reactions to it. Besides these obligatory elements which must appear in this genre, five optional elements are also indentified. Based on the obligatory and optional elements, a GSP formula is figured out in the study.By the analysis of transitivity for ideational function, three main processes are found frequently used. Material process is the dominant one with a percentage of 65.47. It is used to narrate the development process of the event, providing readers with a sense of presence on the scene, and helping them master the information comprehensively and see the truth clearly. Verbal process, with a percentage of 16.85, comes from the direct and indirect quotations of the interviewees. It presents the development of the event from multi-angles which help to reflect the objectiveness of the investigative reports. Relational process is adopted to deepen readers’ understanding of various relationships and to enhance their understanding of the whole report.By the analysis of interpersonal function, it is found out that declarative(98.71%) is the dominant mood type in investigative reports, which is used to illustrate the event to readers and describe the context. Third personal pronoun(81.54%) and past tense(89.30%) are more frequently used in investigative reports because both of them are often used to describe what people did in the past. Modulation-obligation(45.83%) is the dominant modality type which can offer readers a better explanation of what participants should do and what they have actually done. Subjective implicit orientation(59.09%) is the main modality orientation type which helps to express the author’s view on the events implicitly and make readers accept it unconsciously. The median modality value(55.08%) is more frequently used to skillfully persuade readers to accept the writer’s judgment of the event.Finally, by the analysis of textual function, it is discovered that the staged thematic progression type(50.62%) and radiation thematic progression type(45.68%) are most frequently used. The former one is used to make the investigative reports more coherent and logical, helping readers tease out all the interlinking processes of the event. The latter one is used to present various sides of the main event and thus offers readers more detailed background information.By realizing the above functions, the language used in the investigative reports can provide the information more comprehensively, expose the scandals more deeply, and make the truth more believable. These investigative reports have formed a strong power of supervision on American governments, social institutions and other organizations. The truth they reveal and the concern they arouse, have both stimulated the improvement or reformation of the society.This study helps us know the functions of language in investigative news reports and their effects on society. It can also bring home the idea to the press in our country of how to use such a journalistic writing style to promote anti-graft and social progress.