An Analysis Of Modality In The Discourse Of English TV Interviews

According to the theory of metafunctional linguistics, language serves three metafunctions, namely, the ideational, the interpersonal, and the textual functions. The interpersonal function refers to the interactional relation between the speaker and the receiver in the discourse situation and the speaker'attitude towards what he/she says or writes. The functional linguist Halliday holds that mood and modality are the basic vocabulary and grammar resources of realizing the interpersonal meaning in minor sentences. While in discourse analysis, modality is the principal means of realizing the interpersonal functions. Modality, which shows the speaker's subjective judgment, is an essential way to express the speaker's view and attitude. In recent years, from the perspective of modality, a great number of scholars at home and abroad have carried out researches on the interpersonal meaning extensively and profoundly. And the researches range over different registers, such as advertisement, speech, news writing, and autobiography. Thus, the development of modality research has been substantially promoted. However, till today, the study of modality in the discourse of television interview hasn't raised enough concerns.Based on the theoretical framework of interpersonal function in Halliday's metafuncional grammar, this research plans to take 20 pieces of English interviews from the American native television interview program—60 Minutes as the research corpus. Adopting the quantitative and qualitative methods, the present research aims to make a detailed analysis and discussion on the type, value, orientation of modality and the realization means of modality so as to investigate and explore the interpersonal function of modality in the television interview discourse.Through analysis and discussion, the results show television interview discourse has its distinctive and unique means to realize the interpersonal meaning of modality. More specifically, native English speakers are inclined to employ modal adjuncts and finite modal operators to realize the interpersonal meaning while metaphors of modality and expansion of the predicators appear in a lower frequency. For the finite modal operators, can, will and should are used in a high frequency, whereas for the modal adjuncts, maybe and always appear a high frequency of occurrence. It has been proved that the application of modal adjuncts and finite modal operators in the television interview discourse can make interviewees express their viewpoints more objectively and therefore, their comments on the related issues are more acceptable for the audience. Furthermore, it is conductive to express their attitudes and standpoints in a euphemistic way so as to avoid assuming the complete responsibility. In respect of the type of modality, the probability modalization and obligation modulation account for a relatively high proportion. With respect to the value of modality, the speakers prefer to make use of low and median modal expressions. In terms of the orientation of modality, the frequency of occurrence of objective expressions far outweighs that of subjective ones, among which, subjective implicit expressions and objective implicit expressions appear more frequently. The study holds that in the television interview texts, various kinds of modality methods are adopted to make the speakers voice their opinions in a comparatively impersonal way and weaken the absolute certainty of their attitudes so as to express their views and attitudes more tactfully and politely. So it has been testified that modality means are more publicly acceptable, which enable the interpersonal meaning to be better achieved.Taking the sample texts selected from the American renowned television interview program—60 Minutes as the research corpus, the present study has made a detailed analysis and discussion on the realization of interpersonal meaning in English television discourse. The research has verified the practicability of the theoretical framework of interpersonal function for the analysis of modality in the interview discourse. Besides, it is significant in our insights and perception of the realization means of interpersonal meaning and pragmatic meaning in the English television interview texts. Meanwhile, the study contributes to English learners'understanding and knowledge of expressing attitudes and viewpoints appropriately in different contexts. Through achieving the interpersonal meaning of discourse, language learners can improve their speaking ability and communicative competence. In consequence, there is enlightenment in a certain sense for oral English teachers. It is sincerely expected that this research can promote the application study of modality in the discourse analysis of English TV interview text, and further it is also hoped that the present research can be a significant reference for future related studies.