Appraisal Devices Realizing Attitudes in Barack Obama’s First Inaugural Speech

Aram A Alhabib

doi:10.5296/ijl.v12i5.17618

Abstract

Following Martin and Rose’s (2007) Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) approach, this paper, adopting qualitative analysis, analyzed Barack Hussein Obama’s Inaugural Address “new era of responsibility” from the perspective of Appraisal System. Martin and Rose (2007) divided Appraisal System into three distinct sub-systems: Source (Engagement), Amplification, and Attitude. In the process of detailed analysis, this paper focused on Obama’s Attitude, the feelings, and values that are negotiated with the audience (Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation), towards his speech. Analyzing the data that falls under the genre of political discourse, it could be inferred that the address employed three kinds of Attitudes; Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation. The findings of the study revealed that Obama’s speech was full of hope and a positive attitude toward the future of the United States. The president used accessible language but still formal; he used affirmative and simple direct sentences in his speech, so he can easily shorten the distance between him and the audience.

Highlights

Analyzing the data that falls under the genre of political discourse, it could be inferred that the address employed three kinds of Attitudes; Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation
Discourse analysis cannot be limited to the classification of linguistics forms independent of the functions in which those forms are designed to assist in human affairs (Brown & Yule, 1983)
This section intended to break up the construction of the inaugural address of Barack Obama, based on the Appraisal devices realizing Attitudes

Summary

Introduction

Discourse analysis cannot be limited to the classification of linguistics forms independent of the functions in which those forms are designed to assist in human affairs (Brown & Yule, 1983). While conducting discourse analysis, we should pay attention to the language itself but the information behind it as well. Language is not independently powerful; it obtains power through powerful orators and politicians to inspire and influence the audience toward the intended purposes and meanings (Woods, 2006). Fowler (1979), political discourse is a kind of discourse, regarded as the product of the political system. It involves a country’s internal and external policies. The purpose is to create power through language to realize the political intention of politicians, and this refines why the language utilization of those influential people can be read critically and with analysis (Kazemian & Hashemi, 2014)

Methods

Results

Conclusion