A metafunctional analysis of Sir Winston Churchill's We Shall Fight on the Beaches speech

概要

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This investigation utilised Systemic Functional Grammar to analyse the final portion of a war speech given in 1940 by Sir Winston Churchill the British Prime Minister. A metafunctional approach has been utilised to analyse the taxis, and the experiential, interpersonal and textual meanings. Experientially, this text has the short term goal of preparing the British for the threat of invasion and the long term goal of signalling a warning to the Germans, solidarity with the French, and a call for help from the Empire and America. Interpersonally, although Churchill has the status and social distance of a war leader and despite his use of modals to demand and expect his people to do their duty, this is a very inclusive speech that is designed to unite the population to share his vision. Textually, Churchill uses a common Theme pattern, based on the British people and allies, and introduces the various situations where they can fight in the Rheme as New information. This is therefore a very motivating speech with paratactic extension and hypotactic projection also used to great effect, but the necessary conditions that must be fulfilled and the impending crisis are still included in the Range and some hypotactic clauses of elaboration and enhancement.
2006-12-01