scholarly journals A Comparative Study of Interpersonal Function in Political Speeches—A Case Study of Inaugural Speeches by Theresa May and David Cameron

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (3) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
Zhaodong Zeng
Keyword(s):  
Comparative Study ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
David Cameron ◽  
Second Person ◽  
Modal Verbs ◽  
Systemic Functional Grammar ◽  
Low Degree ◽  
Political Speeches ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Theresa May

This paper, on the basis of the interpersonal function of systemic functional grammar, aims to analyze interpersonal meanings construction in the inaugural speeches of Theresa May and David Cameron in terms of personal pronoun, mood and modality. It is identified that similarities and differences are reflected in the construction of interpersonal meanings. In light of similarities, both of them take the advantage of first person as a way that conveys their wills and builds up their authorities, seek to shorten interpersonal distance with the use of modal verbs of median and low degree, and employ the indicative mood to express their views and win supporters. On the other hand, they show different tendencies towards the use of modal verbs of high degree of modality and choices of second person verbs with regard to their distinct inaugural backgrounds. A comparative study of different inaugural speeches from the perspective of systemic functional grammar will help to gain an in-depth understanding of the organization and informational purposes of political speeches.

scholarly journals TRANSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF KEYNOTE SPEECH OF JOKO WIDODO AT WEF EA 2015

2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 31
Author(s):  
Mardiono Mardiono
Keyword(s):  
Cultural Values ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Close Relation ◽  
Public Attention ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Systemic Functional Grammar ◽  
Keynote Speech ◽  
Political Speeches ◽  
Material Process ◽  
Process Material

International political speeches have played an extremely important role in political environment and take broader public attention due to their political, economy, and cultural values manifested through the language used. Systemic–Functional Grammar introduced and developed by Halliday (1967) sets out that with languages there are ideational meta-function, interpersonal meta-function, and textual meta-function. Hiring the theory of transitivity from Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics, this study focuses on analysing Joko Widodo’s keynote speech. The aim is to figure out the deeper meaning of the speech through the distributions and so the dominations of the transitivity processes along with their participants. At the same time this study tries to find out the hidden information by analysing the functions of the transitivity processes and the main participants. The qualitative method is employed for the transitivity analysis while the quantitative method is taken to provide the statistic description on the distributions of the types of the process and the participants found. The analysis generates two major findings: First, there are five types of process: material, relational, verbal, mental, existential and the participants found, and no single behavioural process and its participants occurred. Among them, the material process and relational process along with their participants dominate the speech, which makes it well-delivered, more powerful, objective, and convincing. Second, the pronouns ‘we, our, and us’ are found as the main participants in Joko Widodo’s keynote speech that indicate his efforts to draw a close relation between him and his audience so his addressing has succeeded.

Grant Systems and Vulnerability to Fiscal Stress: A Comparative Study of Danish and North American Local Government

1989 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 285-299
Author(s):  
P E Mouritzen ◽  
B J Narver
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Local Government ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
North American ◽  
Central Government ◽  
The United States ◽  
Fiscal Stress ◽  
Socioeconomic Changes ◽  
Low Degree ◽  
High Degree

The properties of a country's system of intergovernmental grants may have important effects on the vulnerability of local government to socioeconomic changes and to changes in grants from the central government. A comparison between Denmark and the United States suggests that a combination of a low degree of equalization, high reliance on general grants, and a visible structure of taxation lead to a high degree of vulnerability to fiscal stress.

A systemic functional study of modal verbs in the Chinese clause

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shu Yang
Keyword(s):  
Probability Function ◽  
Nominal Group ◽  
Functional Study ◽  
Thematic Structure ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Modal Verbs ◽  
Systemic Functional Grammar ◽  
Syntactic Features ◽  
Information Focus

Abstract Previous studies of Chinese modal verbs in the traditional framework (e.g. Lu 2004; Peng 2007; Tang 2000; Tiee 1985; Tsang 1981; Xie 2002; Xu 2007) have mainly focused on the description of semantic and syntactic features of modals that occur in the middle of the clause and attached little significance to the functions that modal verbs serve when they appear at different positions in the clause. Similarly, in a systemic functional framework, modal verbs in the middle of the clause receive the most attention. Their interpersonal functions are thoroughly explored; however, their textual functions are seldom discussed as they are believed to mainly appear in the middle of the clause buried in the Rheme rather than at the beginning or at the end of the clause. This paper examines the functions that modal verbs serve when they occur in different places in the clause from the perspective of systemic functional grammar. It argues that modal verbs are functionally motivated and the position of the modal verbs in the clause expresses particular meanings. When situated medially in the clause, modal verbs function as the Modality in the interpersonal structure of the clause, and as part of the Rheme in the thematic structure of the clause, marking the transition between Theme and Rheme. When occurring at the beginning or in the middle of the clause before a nominal group, some modal verbs of obligation serve as focus markers and identify the subsequent nominal group as the marked information focus of the clause. In the thematic structure of the clause, clause-initial modal verbs of obligation and probability function as interpersonal Themes to foreground the speaker’s modal assessment. Finally, when placed at the end of the clause, modal verbs serve either as the Predicator or Modality in the interpersonal structure of the clause and as the unmarked information focus of the clause.

scholarly journals A Functional Analysis of Passive Clauses in Selected Independence Speeches of Nigerian Heads of Government

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 94
Author(s):  
Samuel Adebayo OMOTUNDE ◽  
Samuel Alaba AKINWOTU
Keyword(s):  
Functional Analysis ◽  
Current Paper ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Systemic Functional Grammar ◽  
Connected Discourse ◽  
Political Speeches ◽  
Information Focus ◽  
The Guardian ◽  
Heads Of Government

Scholarly works on political discourse have been from different perspectives but there is a dearth of work on the functional analysis of passive clauses in political speeches. Even though fragments of the general functions of the passive clause can be gleaned in some grammar books, its deployment in connected discourse has not been adequately explored. This is a gap which the current paper fills. The paper which adopts Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG), examined six purposively selected Independence Anniversary speeches of Nigerian Heads of Government from 1967 to 2016, sourced from the internet and the national dailies like “The Punch”, “The Guardian” and “The Tribune”. The paper has revealed that there are different kinds of passive clause but the short be passive is most the commonly used. Passive clauses perform six main functions in connected discourse and they are used for the purpose of foregrounding information or achieving information focus.

A semiotic study on modality in Chinese Criminal Law and its English version

Semiotica ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 2015 (204) ◽  
Author(s):  
Li Li
Keyword(s):  
Criminal Law ◽  
English Translation ◽  
Functional Study ◽  
English Version ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Modal Verbs ◽  
Systemic Functional Grammar ◽  
Illegal Acts ◽  
High Median ◽  
Negative Form

AbstractThis paper is a semiotic study on modality in Chinese Criminal Law (CCL) and its English version from the perspective of Halliday's Systemic-Functional Grammar, Saussure's semiotic study, and Chinese semantic and pragmatic characteristics. The research aims to investigate what signifieds are used as modal expressions in CCL and its English version, the characteristics of their distribution, types (modalization and modulation), and values (high, median, and low), and the functions they serve in CCL and its English version. By probing the signified of modal expressions concerning types and values, the results turn quite positive that the signified used as modal expression of obligation and commands in English version of CCL are mostly realized by modal verbs of high value, the attitudes of permission by modal verbs of low value, the meaning of probability and ability used to be delivered by modal verbs of low value, and the prohibition of illegal acts used to apply modality of high value in negative form. Much importance should be attached to the functional study of modality to appropriately understand the signified of modality in Chinese legislations and its English translation.

The Functioning of the Second-person Imperative and Optative Forms in the Gothic Gospels

2021 ◽  
pp. 21-39
Author(s):  
Irina Netunayeva ◽  
Evgeny Chukharev-Hudilainen
Keyword(s):  
Jesus Christ ◽  
Speech Acts ◽  
Greek Text ◽  
Direct Connection ◽  
Second Person ◽  
Lexical Meaning ◽  
Low Degree ◽  
And Control ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Imperative Mood

The present article focuses on the functions of the second-person forms of the imperative and the optative mood that occur in independent clauses in the Gothic Gospels. Both mood forms carry the incentive (injunctive) meaning and thus have been viewed as interchangeable. This article illustrates, however, that the imperative and the optative are opposed in terms of their grammatical meaning. Specifically, while the imperative mood expresses a high degree of performativity and control over a caused action that is to be performed by a specific addressee, the optative generally denotes the causation of an uncontrolled or a less-controlled action, often by an indefinite or a generalized addressee, which may be presented as a wish of the speaker, and thus may exhibit a low degree of performativity. This grammatical opposition is formed as a means of rendering the senses of the original Greek text of the gospels in the Gothic language, and it plays an essential text-building role in Gothic. Speech acts of varying degrees of performativity (“order” and “request,” vs “advice” and “instruction,” i.e. “eternal moral commandments”) are strongly associated with two registers within the text of the gospels: (1) descriptions of events in the life of Jesus Christ: His actions (the calling of the apostles, the healings, etc.) and the appeals to Him with requests for help; and (2) the preaching of Jesus Christ: His calls and appeals to His audience with the intent of teaching them. Moreover, the two grammatical forms of the incentive (injunctive), the imperative and the optative, act as the means of the stylistic coloring of these two registers: the descriptive prose and the parenetic contexts (“expressively saturated direct speech”). The article further argues for a direct connection between the lexical meaning of the verb and its ability to form the second-person imperative and optative: the imperative is generally formed by voluntary perfective verbs, while the optative is formed by aspect-neutral involuntary verbs used in atelic meanings.

scholarly journals Metaphor as the Distorting Mirror of Brexit: A Corpus-Based Analysis of Metaphors and Manipulation in the Brexit Debate

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pauline Rodet
Keyword(s):  
Conceptual Metaphor ◽  
David Cameron ◽  
Conceptual Metaphor Theory ◽  
Cognitive Dimension ◽  
Metaphor Theory ◽  
Political Speeches ◽  
Theresa May

This article offers a corpus-based inquiry into the use of metaphor in the Brexit debate. This study aims to stress the link between manipulation and the metaphors that are used to talk about Brexit. It mainly focuses on the cognitive dimension of metaphor, following the Conceptual Metaphor Theory developed by Lakoff and Johnson. The methodology is largely inspired by Charteris-Black’s analysis in three steps: identification, interpretation and explanation. The corpus includes political speeches from various British politicians who strongly got involved in the debate, such as Boris Johnson, Theresa May and David Cameron. In addition, two cases of multimodal metaphors are closely analysed. The article suggests looking at the links between the conceptual domains at the roots of the metaphors encountered in the corpus and the act of manipulating.

Stimulation of β-(l → 6)-glucanase production by oxidized pustulan

1972 ◽  
Vol 18 (10) ◽  
pp. 1543-1550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert G. Brown
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Activity ◽  
Isoelectric Focusing ◽  
Gel Filtration ◽  
Tween 80 ◽  
Sole Source ◽  
Cellulase Production ◽  
Low Degree ◽  
Degree Of Oxidation ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Stimulation Of

A strain of Penicillium lilacinum, isolated from soil, produced pustulanase, β-(1 → 3)-glucanase, (EC. 3.2.1.6) and cellulase (EC.3.2.1.4) when cultivated on a medium containing pustulan as the sole source of carbon. If pustulan was replaced by ketopustulan, the production of pustulanase was stimulated about 10-fold although the amount of stimulation was dependent on the degree of oxidation of pustulan. β-(1 → 3)-Glucanase production was stimulated slightly by ketopustulan; however, the degree of oxidation did not affect significantly the yield of this enzyme. Cellulase production was either unaffected by the oxidized polymer, or at higher degrees of oxidation, decreased. Tween 80 stimulated the production of the three enzymes in media containing ketopustulan with a low degree of oxidation but was inhibitory to pustulanase and cellulase production in media containing ketopustulan with a high degree of oxidation. A combination of gel filtration and isoelectric focusing revealed that each enzyme activity was attributable to at least two proteins.

A comparative study of teleconsultations versus face-to-face consultations

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (5) ◽  
pp. 257-265 ◽  
Author(s):  
E J Nordal ◽  
D Moseng ◽  
B Kvammen ◽  
M-L Løchen
Keyword(s):  
General Practitioner ◽  
Comparative Study ◽  
Complete Agreement ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Doctor Patient Relationship ◽  
Partial Agreement ◽  
Face To Face ◽  
High Degree ◽  
Made In

We compared the diagnoses made by one dermatologist via telemedicine with those of another dermatologist made in a face-to-face consultation. The patients first underwent a teledermatology consultation and then a face-to-face consultation. A general practitioner was present with the patient in the videoconference studio. Videoconferencing equipment connected at 384 kbit/s was used. The doctor-patient relationship and the satisfaction of the patients and dermatologists in the two settings were assessed, as well as technical conditions during the videoconferences. There were 121 patients, with a mean age of 40 years (range 17-82 years). There was a high degree of concordance between the two sets of diagnoses, with 72% complete agreement and 14% partial agreement between the two dermatologists. A total of 116 patients (96% of those included) completed a questionnaire. Both the patients and the dermatologists were in general satisfied with the videoconferences. Videoconferencing with a participating general practitioner may be useful in dermatology, but the technique should be used only for selected patients.

scholarly journals Interactions Between Chill-Hours and Degree-Days Affect Carpogenic Germination in Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi

2001 ◽  
Vol 91 (1) ◽  
pp. 77-83 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Scherm ◽  
A. T. Savelle ◽  
P. L. Pusey
Keyword(s):  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Field Experiments ◽  
Degree Days ◽  
Carpogenic Germination ◽  
Conditioning Period ◽  
Low Degree ◽  
Heating Degree Days ◽  
Relationship Of ◽  
High Degree ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship of cumulative chill-hours (hours with a mean temperature <7.2°C) and heating degree-days (base 7.2°C) to carpogenic germination of pseudosclerotia of Monilinia vaccinii-corymbosi, which causes mummy berry disease of blueberry, was investigated. In two laboratory experiments, pseudosclerotia collected from rabbiteye blueberry in Georgia were conditioned at 5 to 6°C for 26 to 1,378 h prior to placement in conditions favorable for germination and apothecium development. The number of chill-hours accumulated during the conditioning period affected the subsequent proportion of pseudosclerotia that germinated and produced apothecia, with the greatest incidence of carpogenic germination occurring after intermediate levels of chilling (≈700 chill-hours). The minimum chilling requirement for germination and apothecium production was considerably lower than that reported previously for pseudo-sclerotia from highbush blueberry in northern production regions. The rate of carpogenic germination was strongly affected by interactions between the accumulation of chill-hours and degree-days during the conditioning and germination periods; pseudosclerotia exposed to prolonged chilling periods, once transferred to suitable conditions, germinated and produced apothecia more rapidly (after fewer degree-days had accumulated) than those exposed to shorter chilling periods. Thus, pseudosclerotia of M. vaccinii-corymbosi are adapted to germinate carpogenically following cold winters (high chill-hours, low degree-days) as well as warm winters (low chill-hours, high degree-days). Results were validated in a combined field-laboratory experiment in which pseudosclerotia that had received various levels of natural chilling were allowed to germinate in controlled conditions in the laboratory, and in two field experiments in which pseudosclerotia were exposed to natural chilling and germination conditions. A simple model describing the timing of apothecium emergence in relation to cumulative chill-hours and degree-days was developed based on the experiments. The model should be useful for better timing of field scouting programs for apothecia to aid in management of primary infection by M. vaccinii-corymbosi.

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