An Analysis of Interpersonal Function in The Little Prince from the Perspective of Functional Linguistics_英语论文

摘要

人际功能目的是研究人类如何通过语言与他人建立关系，并通过语言来影响对方的行为以表达自己对事物的看法和评价。运用人际功能来分析文学作品是文学研究发展的一个新方向。国内外学者运用功能语言学理论进行演讲、科技、广告等语篇分析，对文学作品的研究主要基于三大元功能中的概念功能理论。而《小王子》的研究主要在文学领域。因此，本文基于人际功能理论，从语气系统、情态系统和评价系统三方面对小说中主要人物的对话进行分析，通过句子类型、情态动词和评价词分析人物性格，发现语气系统，情态系统和评价系统都可以反映说话者的性格特点和人际关系，为儿童文学提供一个新的研究角度。

关键词：小王子  人际功能  语气  情态

Abstract

The purpose of interpersonal function is to study how human beings build relationships with others through language to affect others’ behaviors and express their views and comments on the world. Using interpersonal function to analyze literary works is a new direction in the development of literary research. Many scholars at home and abroad have used functional theory to carry out analysis on speech, law, advertising and other texts. The study of The Little Prince is principally confined to the field of literature.

Therefore, based on the theory of interpersonal function, this paper analyzes the dialogue of the main characters in The Little Prince from the mood system, modality system and evaluation system, and analyzes the characters through sentence type, modal verb and evaluation word. In the end, the study finds that these three systems can reflect the speaker’s personality and interpersonal relationship, which provides a new research perspective for children’s literature.

Key words:  The Little Prince  Mood  Modality  Evaluation

Contents

Chapter One  Introduction 1

1.1  A Brief Introduction to Antoine de Saint-Exupery 1

1.2  A Brief Introduction to The Little Prince 2

1.3  Purpose of the Thesis 2

1.4  Structure of the Thesis 3

Chapter Two  Literature Review 5

2.1  Previous Studies on Theory of Interpersonal Metafunction 5

2.1.1 Previous Studies Abroad 5

2.1.2 Previous Studies at Home 6

2.2  Previous Studies on The Little Prince 6

2.3  Summary 8

Chapter Three  Theoretical Framework 9

3.1  Definition of Interpersonal Function 9

3.2  Definition of Mood System 9

3.3  Definition of Modality System 11

3.4  Martin’s Appraisal Theory 12

3.5  Summary 13

Chapter Four  Analysis and Discussion 14

4.1  The Mood System Analysis in The Little Prince 14

4.1.1 Analysis of Statements 14

4.1.2 Analysis of Imperatives 15

4.1.3 Analysis of Questions 15

4.1.4 Selection of Subjects 16

4.2  The Modal Verbs Analysis of Modality System in The Little Prince 16

4.2.1 Analysis of Modal Verb - Will 17

4.2.2 Analysis of Modal Verb - Ought 18

4.2.3 Analysis of Modal Verb - Shall 19

4.3  The Evaluation System Analysis in The Little Prince 19

4.3.1 Analysis of Emotion 20

4.3.2 Analysis of Judgment 21

4.3.3 Analysis of Appreciation 21

4.4  Summary 22

Chapter Five  Conclusions 23

Bibliography 

Acknowledgements