The Study On TP Patterns In American Presidential Inaugural Speeches

The Theme-Rheme Theory and Thematic Progression Patterns are important theories in discourse analysis, among which Halliday’s Theme-Rheme Theory and Danes’ TP Patterns are used most frequently. Many other scholars have made many studies on TP patterns in nearly all genres. However, there are few researches on American presidential inaugural speeches under the enlightenment of theme theory and TP patterns.In the process of analysis, the research selects ten samples of the latest American presidential inaugural speeches as research objects. Under the direction of Halliday’s Theme-rheme Theory and Huang Yan’s TP Patterns, the study is conducted on the themes and TP patterns in the selected speeches in quantitative and qualitative research methods. The analysis shows that American presidential inaugural speeches tend to use the simple themes and unmarked themes. Through the analysis of thematic progression patterns, the result shows that American presidential inaugural speeches prefer constant theme patterns and simple linear patterns. Besides, a new thematic progression pattern is discovered in this research. In this pattern, the themes in different clauses are identical and meanwhile the rhemes in these clauses are also same to each other. This pattern serves as a supplement to existing TP patterns, which also enriches TP patterns. This discovery is the innovation of this study. Finally, the study conducts an analysis on social functions of TP patterns from communicative purposes, language characteristics and thinking patterns.As a distinctive genre, American presidential inaugural speeches are characterized by well-knit structures, strong appeal, effective expressions as well as explicit political views. The study has some significance in theory. Firstly, this study helps to extend the application of Theme and TP patterns. What’s more, it also facilitates the readers or listeners to understand and appreciate American presidential inaugural speeches. Second, the new pattern serving as a complimentary pattern, to some degree, ensures the future application of TP patterns in other genres to be more objective and comprehensive. Last, this research provides some hints on English reading and writing in practice.