1933年罗斯福总统就职演讲的情态类别分析

Analysis on the Modal Categories of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's Inaugural Address in 1933

情态系统是韩礼德功能语法人际功能的一个重要组成部分,在他的《功能语法导论》一书中,韩礼德把情态分为倾向、义务、概率和频率四个大类。本文将用情态系统相关理论对1933年美国总统罗斯福的就职演讲进行情态划分和分析。研究发现,在演讲稿中,情态词的出现频率由高到低的排序依次为:概率情态,倾向情态,义务情态和频率情态。在罗斯福的就职演讲中,概率情态词主要表现现实状况可被改变,人民关注的问题可被解决的可能性。倾向情态词主要表现罗斯福个人对经济问题的看法和态度,以及自己上台后要做的工作。义务情态词主要表现了罗斯福要求政府,总统和人民所要做的工作。而频率情态词主要说明现阶段的多发问题。由此可见整篇演讲稿旨在唤起人民的信心和阐述自己上台后的责任和义务,同时调动全民的积极性,号召大家共同努力。情态词与表现现阶段存在问题的词汇搭配的情况极少。说明总统在避免谈及令人沮丧的状况。总而言之,罗斯福的这篇就职演讲在当时对唤醒全民信心和希望起到了重要作用,在当时的情况下(经济危机)具有十分积极的意义。

Modality system is an important component of the in- terpersonal functions of Halliday＇s functional grammar, and in his book ＂An Introduction to Functional Grammar＂, he classi- fies modality into such four categories as inclination, obliga- tion, probability and frequency. This paper will make a modal- ity classification and analysis on President Franklin D. Roo- seveh＇s inaugural address in 1933 by using relevant theories of modality system. The research shows that modals occurring in the address from lowest to highest in frequency are successive- ly probability modals, inclination modals, obligation modals and frequency modals. In the address, probability modals mainly show the probability that the present situation can bechanged and the people＇s concerns can be settled. Inclination modals mainly express Rooseveh＇s personal view and attitude on economic problems and his work after his inauguration. Obligation modals mainly tell the work Roosevelt required the government, president and the people to do. Frequency modals mainly introduce the frequently occurring problems at the stage. Thus it can be seen that the aim of the whole address is to arouse the people＇s confidence and interpret the president＇s responsibilities and obligations after his inauguration, and meanwhile, motivate the enthusiasm of the whole people, and call upon everyone to work together. The collocations of modals with the words expressing the existing problems at the stage are rare, which shows that the president attempted to avoid taking about frustrating situations. In short, the inaugural ad- dress played an important role in arousing the people＇s confi- dence and hope at that time, and was of positive significance at that situation （the economic crisis）.