Chapter 3 Theoretical Framework 5

3。1 Ideational Function 5

3。2 Interpersonal Function 7

3。3 Textual Function 8

Chapter 4 Analysis and Discussion of the Target Speech by Applying SFG 10

4。1 Introduction of the Target Speech 10

4。2 Dissection of the Ideational Function 11

4。2。1 Transitivity 11

4。2。2 Voice 12

4。3 Dissection of the Interpersonal Function 13

4。3。1 Mood 13

4。3。2 Modality 14

4。4 Dissection of the Textual Function 15

4。4。1 Thematic Structure 15

4。4。2 Thematic Progression Pattern 15

4。4。3 Cohesion 16

Chapter 5 Conclusion 18

5。1 Conclusion of Three Meta-functions 18

5。2 Suggestions for Further Research 19

References 20

Appendices 21

Chapter 1 Introduction

1。1 Motivation and Objectives

 Public speaking, as is the case in every country of the world, has long been an indispensable part of people’s lives。 The definition of public speech in the textbook Public Speaking Today is “one person communicating with many” (Carlin, 1995: 26)。 Indeed, a speech is absolutely not solely about the speaker, but involves interactions between the speaker and his audience。 By means of public speeches, a variety of information relevant to everyday study and work can be delivered to the audience in an easily acceptable way。 In addition to the informative function, public speech is also capable of persuading the audience into believing what the speaker contends with strong force。 The speech that the author chooses “Emma Watson’s speech at the UN in 2014” belongs to the second type。 It calls upon the public to care more about gender inequality today and to participate in the newly launched campaign called “HeForShe”。

However, on most occasions, the audience of a speech would merely sit receiving what the speaker states and the researchers of it would focus on the speaking techniques adopted to facilitate better effects。 Hardly would they pay linguistic attention to the discourse pattern。 There is a famous book called The Art of Public Speaking (Lucas, 2010) written by the prominent scholar of communication Stephen E。 Lucas, in which an elaborate analysis of public speaking strategies are presented based on the very own experience of the author himself。 For sure, works like this touch upon features of language speaking, but they are for the most part regarded as a textbook of public speaking。 It is a pity that many well accomplished speeches have not been studied linguistically。

Recent years have witnessed the wide spread of such speeches as TED speeches and President Obama’s speeches。 What are the linguistic features of such a public speech? How does the speaker successfully effect communication with the audience? Is it possible to provide an analysis of it? Doubts and questions of these kinds lead to the composition of this paper。 The author selects Emma Watson’s speech at the UN in 2014, which has caused heated discussions and has brought about huge social effects but has not been widely dissected from the linguistic perspective。 Thus in the following part, this paper will construct linguistic analysis of the speech and investigate into the characteristics of this speech。