A Positive Discourse Analysis Of Political Speech From The Perspective Of Appraisal Theory

This paper applies Appraisal Theory to analyze the political speech from the perspectiveof Positive Discourse Analysis. The linguistic data is the opening speech given by PresidentXi in Boao Forum for Asia in2013. Appraisal Theory analyzes the attitudes, opinions andstances contained in the discourse. Positive Discourse Analysis is complementary to CriticalDiscourse Analysis. Positive Discourse Analysis is a more positive perspective in dealing withthe function of social construction in the speech. Instead of exaggerating the ideology andpower reflected in the discourse, Positive Discourse Analysis advocates positive reformationand peaceful solutions. This paper applies above-mentioned perspective to fulfill the analysisof the speech, and draw further conclusions: In political speeches, there are close relationshipsbetween the distribution of appraisal resources and the attitude and background of thespeakers. This paper will apply Appraisal Theory to analyze the positive functions of attitude,engagement, and graduation in the speech from the perspective of Positive DiscourseAnalysis.This paper is divided into five chapters. The first chapter is the introduction. It introducesthe main information of this paper, including the brief description of Appraisal Theory andPositive Discourse Analysis. It also involves the purpose and necessity of the research, andraises research questions.The second chapter is the literature review. It reviews and concludes the researchesforefathers have made on Positive Discourse Analysis and political speeches.The third chapter is the detailed introduction of theoretical framework, includingAppraisal Theory, Positive Discourse Analysis and the relationship between PositiveDiscourse Analysis and Critical Discourse Analysis.The fourth chapter is the core of the chapter. This chapter applies Appraisal Theory toanalyze positive functions of attitude, engagement, graduation resources in the speech. First itintroduces the collection of the data, methodology and the distribution of the data. Then itanalyzes attitudes and stance contained in the affect, judgment, and appreciation resources ofattitude system. Following this is the analysis of different ideology implicated in the differentvoices with the guidance of disclaim, proclaim, entertain and attribute of heterogloss. Last, itanalyzes graduation in both attitude resources and engagement resources, and classifies all thegraduation resources into raise and lower.The fifth chapter is the conclusion, it concludes and summarizes major findings,significance and limitations of the research, and raises some suggestions on further study.All in all, this paper applies Appraisal Theory to analyze the political speech from the perspective of Positive Discourse Analysis to discover and make up for the shortcomings ofCritical Discourse Analysis, it also pays much attention to the positive social functions ofPositive Discourse Analysis.