An Analysis of 12 Angry Men from the Perspective of Interpersonal Metafunction_英语论文

摘要

自从韩礼德的系统功能语言学这一理论问世以来，国内外许多学者将其应用于语篇分析。本文以系统功能语法为基础，对《12怒汉》这部电影进行语篇分析。影片讲述一个在贫民窟中长大的男孩被指控谋杀生父，而担任此案陪审团的12个人要于案件结案前在陪审团休息室里讨论案情的故事。本文通过对8号陪审员的话语进行分析，探究其话语中人际意义是如何实现的，并探究语气与情态是如何产生作用的。本文结合了定量分析与定性分析，首先统计8号陪审员话语中不同类型情态和语气的数量，之后辨别他们各自产生的作用。通过一系列的分析可知， 8号陪审员使用陈述语气最频繁，疑问语气次之，而祈使语气最少。而这三种语气在他的话语中分别承担了表达观点，接受信息和组织讨论这三种功能。此外，在他的话语中，低值情态动词数量最多，中值情态动词数量位居第二，而高值情态动词数量最少，由此表明他严谨认真的态度。因此，本文将有助于加深对该影片的理解，明确语言的使用对人物性格的诠释作用同时丰富和发展发展系统功能语言学在语篇分析中的应用。

关键词：人际功能  语气  情态  《12怒汉》

Abstract

Since the advent of Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar theory, many scholars at home and abroad have applied it to language research. Based on Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar, this thesis intends to conduct a discourse analysis of the film 12 Angry Men. The film 12 Angry Men tells a story of a boy accused of murdering his biological father, and the 12 jurors in the case had to discuss the case before it was closed. By analyzing Juror 8’s words, this thesis helps to find out how the interpersonal meaning is achieved and figure out the effect created by different mood and modality. This thesis combines the quantitative and qualitative research, first calculating the number of different mood and modality types used by juror 8, and then identifying their functions. Through a series of analysis, it is found that Juror 8 used the declarative clauses most frequently, followed by the interrogative clauses and the imperative clauses least. These three mood have three functions in his discourse: expressing opinions, obtaining information and organizing discussions. In addition, in his discourse, he uses low-value modal words most frequently, median-value modal words secondly and high-value modal words thirdly, which shows that he is a rigorous and serious person. Therefore, this thesis will help to facilitate the understanding of this film, find out how language reflects people’s character and improve the application of SFL theory. 

Key Words: Interpersonal metafunction  Mood  Modality  12 Angry Men 

Contents

Chapter One  Introduction1

1.1  Purpose of This Thesis1

1.2  Significance of This Thesis.2

1.3  Structure of This Thesis3

1.4  Research Method of This Thesis.3

Chapter Two  Literature Review4

2.1  Introduction.4

2.2  Study on Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL).4

2.3  Study on Discourse Analysis.6

2.4  Systemic Functional Grammar in Discourse Analysis7

2.5  Study on 12 Angry Men.8

2.6  Comment.9

Chapter Three  Theoretical Framework10

3.1  Introduction.10

3.2  Interpersonal Metafunction.10

3.3  Mood.11

3.4  Modality12

Chapter Four  Discourse Analysis of Juror 8’s Language15

4.1  Introduction.15

4.2  Analysis of Mood System Used by Juror 8.15

4.2.1 Declarative Analysis.16

4.2.2 Interrogative Analysis19

4.2.3 Imperative Analysis21

4.2.4 Summary21

4.3  Analysis of Modality System Used by Juror 822

4.3.1 Analysis of Modal Operator.22

4.3.2 Analysis of Modal Adjunct25

4.3.3 Analysis of Modal Orientation.26

4.3.4 Summary28

Chapter Five  Conclusion29

Bibliography

Acknowledgements