INTRODUCTION
RATIONALE
Human beings are unique from animals due to our ability to communicate through language, which serves as a crucial tool for expressing thoughts and emotions Language shapes our thoughts and influences our cognitive processes, allowing us to reflect on and discuss our thinking This capacity for language ultimately empowers us with greater control over our mental processes.
Learning a language is intrinsically linked to understanding the culture in which it is spoken, as language is a product of cultural expression This cultural integration manifests in various aspects of daily life, including economy, politics, sports, tourism, art, and literature Literature serves as a reflection of society, showcasing both its virtues and flaws, and often emphasizes values for individuals to aspire to Through all literary genres, particularly in love short stories, writers convey the complexities of love and human emotions using language that embodies attitudinal values, effectively communicating their messages to readers.
Halliday (1994) emphasizes the connection between social meaning and language form, proposing that language should not be seen as an isolated set of rules but rather as a symbolic system that reflects the meanings created and shared within social groups This perspective positions language as a vital tool for expressing our thoughts, ideas, concepts, and emotions.
The Appraisal Theory (AT) is an extension of the linguistic theories of Halliday (1994) and his colleagues - Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL)
Over the past 15 years, a team of researchers led by Professor James Martin from the University of Sydney's Linguistics Department has developed the AT approach This method focuses on analyzing how language is utilized to evaluate situations, adopt perspectives, create textual personas, and navigate interpersonal relationships.
Research on Attitudinal Theory (AT) highlights the significance of expressing emotion through language, attracting the interest of linguists focused on functional and semiotic approaches AT serves as a comprehensive framework for examining emotional elements across various discourses This inspired my study, “An Investigation into Attitudinal Resources in English Love Short Stories,” aimed at understanding how writers utilize attitudinal resources to communicate their messages effectively The findings of this study will provide valuable insights and suggestions for teaching and learning English as a foreign language.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
This study investigates the attitudinal resources employed in English love short stories, aiming to analyze how these elements effectively convey the authors' messages to their readers.
The objectives of the study are:
1 To find out the attitudinal resources employed in English love short stories;
2 To examine how the identified attitudinal resources are used to convey the messages of the writers towards the readers.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
The study aims at investigating the following questions:
1 What types of attitudinal resources are used in English love short stories?
2 How are the identified attitudinal resources used to convey the messages of the writers towards the readers?
SCOPE OF THE STUDY
This study aims to analyze English love short stories through the lens of Appraisal Theory as proposed by Martin (2005) Due to time constraints and our own capabilities, this thesis will primarily concentrate on the attitudinal resources used by writers to express their messages Additionally, the analysis will be based on data collected from thirty selected English love short stories.
SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The study's findings are anticipated to make significant theoretical and practical contributions Theoretically, they will serve as a foundation for future research in the realm of Appraisal Theory Practically, the study will offer valuable recommendations for enhancing the teaching and learning of English as a foreign language.
ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
The study is organized into five chapters as follows:
Chapter 1, Introduction, contains the rationale, aims and objectives, research questions, the scope of the study, the significance of the study, and the organization of the study
Chapter 2, Literature Review provides the theoretical background on which the present study is based Also, this chapter presents a review of previous studies on the topic of the thesis
Chapter 3, Research Methodology and Procedure, describes research methods, research procedures, description of data, data analysis Besides, reliability and validity of the data are mentioned in this chapter
Chapter 4, Findings and Discussion, focuses on analyzing the data and discussing the results found through the analysis of data
Chapter 5, Conclusions and Implications, gives a summary of the results of the study It also offers the implications, the limitations of the study and the suggestions for further research.
LITERATURE REVIEW
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
AT is a comprehensive theory of emotion in text, yet it is categorized under Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), a framework established by Michael Alexander Kirkwood Halliday, an esteemed linguist from the University of Sydney SFL views language as a social semiotic system, emphasizing the role of language in social contexts.
Halliday (1994) outlines three key aspects of clause meanings: ideational, interpersonal, and textual He emphasizes that these meanings represent different functional potentials of language, essential for effective communication (Halliday, 2004) Ideational meanings illustrate how language conveys the speaker's experiences, while interpersonal meanings highlight the interactive nature of language, reflecting attitudes and social relationships Lastly, textual meanings help structure both experiential and interpersonal meanings into a cohesive and organized narrative.
According to Halliday (1994), the interpersonal meta-function is realized lexico-grammatically through mood and modality The mood system, comprising the Subject and Finite element, establishes and maintains roles and relationships between speakers Meanwhile, the modality system, which includes Modalization and Modulation, represents the spectrum between positive and negative polarity, reflecting the speaker’s attitudes and judgments Importantly, the interpersonal metafunction underpins the entire communicative process.
AT The following section deals with this theory in detail
Appraisal is a contemporary branch of linguistics, primarily established by Martin (2005) and his associates, and rooted in Halliday’s Systemic Functional Linguistics theory, with significant contributions from the University of Sydney, Australia As defined by White (2001: 1), Appraisal involves exploring, describing, and explaining how language is utilized to evaluate, adopt stances, construct personal texts, and manage interpersonal relationships.
Appraisal Theory (AT) focuses on the interpersonal aspects of language, marking a significant advancement within the Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) framework It examines how writers and speakers convey their attitudes towards events, express agreement or disagreement with potential responses, and shape their identities within discourse According to Martin and White (2005), Appraisal items are categorized under discourse semantics, which operates at a higher level of abstraction than grammar and lexis, and is more abstract than phonology and graphology Discourse semantics centers on organizing clauses into coherent discourse, enabling writers and speakers to articulate evaluations, negotiate relationships with their audience, and establish their persona effectively.
Appraisal consists of three sub-systems: Attitude, Engagement, and Graduation Within the Attitude system, there are three key semantic categories: Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation, which correspond to emotions, ethics, and aesthetics, respectively This study primarily focuses on the Attitude category, which will be elaborated on in the following sections.
According to Martin and White (2005), attitude serves as a linguistic resource that allows writers to convey their feelings towards individuals, events, and various phenomena through expressions of judgment, appreciation, or emotion It encompasses our emotional reactions, behavioral judgments, and evaluations of different aspects Attitude can be categorized into three sub-types: Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation, each representing distinct dimensions of how we perceive and respond to the world around us.
Affect encompasses a range of human emotions, including positive feelings like happiness and confidence, as well as negative ones such as sadness and anxiety According to Martin and White (2005), these emotions can be categorized based on various factors, highlighting the complexity of our emotional experiences.
(1) The Dis/Inclination subcategory relates to fear and desire as outlined in Table 2.1 below
Table 2.1 Affect - Dis/Inclination (Martin and White, 2005: 48)
DIS/INCLINATION Surge (of behavior) Disposition fear Tremble shudder cower wary fearful terrorized desire Suggest request demand miss long for yearn for
The concept of un/happiness encompasses a wide range of emotions, making it one of the most immediate associations we have with feelings This emotional spectrum includes key sentiments related to "affairs of the heart," such as sadness, hate, happiness, and love, as illustrated in Table 2.2.
Table 2.2 Affect - Un/happiness (Martin and White, 2005: 49) UN/HAPPINESS Surge (of behavior) Disposition unhappiness misery
Whimper cry wail rubbish abuse revile down [low] sad [median] miserable [high] dislike hate abhor
Chuckle laugh rejoice shake hands hug embrace
Cheerful Buoyant Jubilant be fond of love adore
The in/security variable encompasses our emotions of peace and anxiety regarding our surroundings and the individuals within them It reflects feelings related to ecosocial well-being, including anxiety, fear, confidence, and trust, as outlined in Table 2.3.
Table 2.3 Affect - In/security (Martin and White, 2005: 50) In/security Surge (of behavior) Disposition insecurity disquiet surprise
Feeling restless can lead to twitching and shaking, causing one to cry out or even faint from anxiety This sense of unease often leaves individuals startled and jolted, making it difficult to maintain security and confidence To overcome these feelings, it's essential to declare and assert one’s trust in themselves and others By committing to a supportive environment and delegating responsibilities, individuals can foster a sense of assurance and comfort, ultimately becoming more confident in their abilities and trusting of those around them.
Dis/satisfaction reflects our emotional responses tied to feelings of achievement and frustration in our activities It encompasses a range of emotions related to goal pursuit, including ennui, displeasure, curiosity, and respect, as illustrated in Table 2.4.
Table 2.4 by Martin and White (2005) illustrates the spectrum of affect related to dis/satisfaction, highlighting various behaviors and dispositions Negative emotions such as dissatisfaction, ennui, and displeasure manifest through actions like fidgeting, yawning, and scolding, indicating feelings of being fed up or bored Conversely, positive sentiments are represented by interest, pleasure, and industriousness, which can lead to affirming behaviors like giving compliments and rewards This table effectively captures the emotional responses that influence human behavior in terms of satisfaction and dissatisfaction.
Involved Absorbed Engrossed satisfied, impressed pleased, charmed chuffed, thrilled
The second category of Attitude, known as Judgment, involves expressing evaluations related to the ethics, morality, or social values of individuals' behaviors This appraisal category reflects the speaker's assessment of the verbal, mental, or physical actions of others, serving as a resource for determining whether someone's behavior aligns with the speaker's social norms In essence, Judgment addresses the question of how one would evaluate a particular behavior However, it is crucial to differentiate between what is inscribed and other forms of Judgment in this analysis.
Judgment can be categorized into explicit and implicit forms In the explicit category, evaluations are clearly expressed through specific lexical items that convey judgment values, as outlined by Martin and White.
PREVIOUS STUDIES
Over the past 15 years, the Theory of Appraisal has gained significant interest among researchers, leading to numerous studies exploring various linguistic fields through its lens Notably, Ruth E Page has contributed to this growing body of work.
In 2003, a study examined the differing evaluations provided by women and men when recounting their childbirth experiences, aligning with contemporary trends in language and gender research Additionally, Birot's 2008 study, titled "Evaluation Media," further explores these themes.
The article "Reporting: A Comparative Analysis in BBC, CNN, and Al Jazeera Reports" investigates the evaluative language used by these major media agencies through the lens of three sub-types of Attitude: Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation By analyzing evaluation patterns in various media reports, it reveals the distinct perspectives of each agency and how these perspectives are influenced by the socio-cultural contexts in which they operate Additionally, Wang (2010) explores the applicability of Martin’s Appraisal theory in understanding interpersonal meaning and the distribution of Appraisal resources in Nobel Prize for Literature Acceptance Speeches (NPFLAS), identifying three key types of Appraisal: Attitude, Engagement, and Graduation.
In NPFLAS, prosodic structures primarily convey interpersonal functions, highlighting the significance of Appraisal resources in expressing interpersonal meaning Furthermore, the research indicates a greater prevalence of positive attitudes compared to negative ones, underscoring the essential role of these evaluative resources in communication.
In 2010, researchers utilized Appraisal theory to assess the writing of Argentinean researchers in grant proposals, while Giles (2012) examined the evaluative language employed by undergraduate students in their final research report introductions at a Mexican university These studies significantly advanced the evaluation of language through the lens of Appraisal theory.
In recent years, the Appraisal theory has gained significant attention from researchers in Vietnam, leading to a growing number of master's theses focused on this topic Notably, Nguyen Uy Dung (2010) explored the linguistic features of stylistic devices in political speeches by US Presidents through the lens of discourse analysis Similarly, Vo Duy Duc (2011) contributed to this field with his study on style, further highlighting the relevance of Appraisal theory in understanding language use in political contexts.
The article "Structure and Ideology in English and Vietnamese Business Hard News Reporting: A Comparative Study" employs Appraisal Theory to analyze the language used in hard business news across English and Vietnamese texts The study reveals that both languages exhibit a similar structural framework and utilize a consistent reporter voice, although they differ significantly in how key social groups are presented These insights are valuable for enhancing English journalism education in Vietnam Additionally, Nguyen Thi Thanh Hien's 2014 research investigates interpersonal meaning in hotel brochures in both languages, also using Appraisal Theory, and finds notable similarities in the use of attitudinal language.
Numerous studies have been conducted in Vietnam and globally, yet there is a notable lack of research focusing on attitudinal resources in English short love stories through the lens of Appraisal Theory by J.R Martin and P.R.R White (2005) This gap in literature motivates my thesis, "An Investigation into Attitudinal Resources in English Love Short Stories," aimed at enriching the understanding of this area.
Furthermore, it is hoped that this thesis will help language learners of English have a better insight into the use of attitudinal resources in love short stories.
SUMMARY
In Chapter 2, we explored previous studies and theories related to Appraisal Theory, focusing particularly on the Attitude resources highlighted by linguists, notably Martin & White, whose work provides a crucial theoretical foundation for this thesis We examined the definitions and classifications of Appraisal Theory and Attitude resources, clarifying the distinctions among the three subdivisions of Attitude This comprehensive review equips us to effectively analyze the Attitude resources present in love stories.
METHODS AND PROCEDURES
RESEARCH METHODS
This research is carried out with the methods as follows:
The study utilizes a mixed-methods approach, integrating both qualitative and quantitative techniques The quantitative aspect effectively quantifies the percentage of attitudinal resources, while the qualitative component analyzes and elucidates the roles these resources play within the data.
The analysis of the texts utilized both analytic and synthetic methods The analytic approach focuses on identifying and isolating specific aspects, while the synthetic perspective emphasizes the interdependence of these components, highlighting how they function together as a cohesive whole.
The descriptive method provides a comprehensive analysis of data, focusing on how attitudinal resources operate to communicate the writers' messages to their readers.
DESCRIPTION OF DATA
This study analyzes thirty English love short stories, each ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 words The stories were carefully selected from renowned websites dedicated to love narratives, including Chobirdokan and Planet of Success These sources offer a variety of beautiful, cute, and even sad love stories, providing a rich tapestry of emotions and themes related to love.
DATA ANALYSIS
With the corpus of the thirty English love short stories, the data was analyzed with the following steps:
- The attitudinal resources used in the thirty English love short stories were located;
- The ways attitudinal resources function to convey the messages of the writers towards the readers were described by the use of Appraisal as a theoretical framework.
RESEARCH PROCEDURES
The study was carried out as follows:
- First, the topic for our investigation was chosen by a thoroug review of previous studies
- Next, the data was collected;
- Then, the attitudinal resources used in thirty English love short stories were identified;
- After that, the ways the writers used the attitudinal resources to convey their messages towards their readers were discussed;
- Finally, some implications for teaching and learning English as a foreign language were suggested.
RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY
The two important criteria to guarantee the quality of data are reliability and validity
In terms of reliability, the data for this study was collected from the famous blogs as mentioned in the references Therefore, the quality of the data is quite reliable
In terms of validity, the theoretical background for this thesis is based on ideas and theories of well-known linguists presented in widely-circulated publications
For the factors mentioned above, it can be said that the reliability and validity of the study are guaranteed
This chapter outlines key methods and essential steps that establish a robust framework for data collection and analysis in the study The following chapter will present the study's findings and engage in a discussion of those results.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
GENERAL FEATURES OF ARS IN ENGLISH LOVE SHORT
The table below displays the total number of ARs found in the whole of the corpus examined
Table 4.1 ARs in thirty short love stories
ARs Affect Judgement Appreciation Total Thirty English love short stories 178 119 89 386
Table 4.1 reveals that all three sub-types of Attitude—Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation—are present in the thirty English love short stories, though they are distributed unevenly Emotional items are the most frequently occurring, indicating that writers prioritize expressing the feelings and emotions of those in love Additionally, there are more Judgment items than Appreciation items, suggesting that these authors focus more on attitudes towards behaviors they admire or criticize, rather than on evaluations of semiotic and natural phenomena The following sections will further explore the distribution of Attitude Resources in English love short stories and their underlying messages.
ARS OF AFFECT
Affect refers to the semantic resources utilized to convey emotions, making it an essential tool for writers of love stories to effectively express their feelings A detailed analysis of 178 Affect items—categorized into Dis/Inclination, Un/happiness, In/security, and Dis/satisfaction—illustrates their distribution across thirty English short love stories.
Table 4 2 Affect in the ELSSs
Table 4.2 and Figure 4.1 illustrate that various types of Affect resources are utilized in English love short stories (ELSSs), with differing frequencies across the dataset Among the thirty stories analyzed, Un/Happiness is the most prevalent Affect item, appearing in 74% of instances, followed by Dis/Inclination at 17% In decreasing order, In/Security and Dis/Satisfaction are present at 6% and 3%, respectively.
In ELSSs, the primary type of Affect items is Dis/Inclination, predominantly reflecting expressions of desire A statistically significant term in this context is "want," which conveys various intended meanings This word often indicates the actions individuals desire from their partners or the gestures they wish to perform for their loved ones.
(4.1) “I do not only want to learn how to apply her makeup; I want her to wear the most beautiful make-up so her inner beauty also shines on the outside.” [E10]
As she washed the dishes in the kitchen, memories flooded her mind of him hugging her from behind, reminding her of the times she had grumbled at his little annoyances She recalled how he would carelessly toss towels around, lounge while she cooked and cleaned, and only offer to help when she least desired it.
(4.3) With a tear in his eye and a smile on his face, he meekly said, “I understand I just want you to always be happy Take care of yourself, and my eyes.” [E28]
(4.4) After a while, she suddenly decided to move abroad, claiming that she wanted to earn some money for us He wanted to make her his wife [E29]
Secondly, the word want is employed to express the desire of the people who fall in love, as can be seen in the examples below:
(4.5) He really wanted to ask her out but he didn’t have the courage
(4.6) The girl wants to meet him for the last time but he didn’t
(4.7) The girl then asked the boy to pull over because she wanted to talk [E27]
In addition, the writers employ this word to imply some more different meanings which can be found in the cases below:
(4.8) Ravana came to hear how very beautiful Sit a was He wanted to make her his wife [E22]
The young groom, dressed in his elegant attire and adorned with a jeweled dagger, was taken aback by the request to shut the door He firmly refused, stating, "I will not do a servant's chore; you can close it yourself."
The word "wanted" in example (4.8) illustrates a strong determination to pursue the affection of a woman, while in contrast, the term "want" in example (4.9) reflects the young groom's dissatisfaction as it conveys his wife's command for him to perform a household task.
Also, in ELSSs, the writers employ this word with negative word not
This is shown in the following examples:
(4.10) In the mean time the girl’s family brought so many marriage proposals for her The girl said “No, I do not want to marry now.” [E13]
She ended the relationship decisively, stating, "I never want to see you again; you've already died to me I'm finished with you."
She decided not to burden him with her feelings, so she wrote a letter expressing her desire to move on rather than wait any longer.
Although the same words are used, different meanings are expressed
In the examples provided, the girl's expressions of refusal and desire reflect her complex emotions regarding love and commitment In example (4.10), she avoids outright rejecting marriage proposals, indicating her willingness to wait for her true love Conversely, the phrase "not ever want" in example (4.11) signifies her boredom with her current relationship and her intention to move on Lastly, in instance (4.12), her use of "not wanting" conveys a deep love for her partner, as she wishes to avoid being a burden to him.
The second most frequently occurring affect item in ELSSs is Un/Happiness This article highlights several examples from the corpus that illustrate the presence of Happiness Affect in ELSSs.
(4.13) The two had fallen so deeply in love that they decided to get married according to traditional Indian rituals [E1]
(4.14) He was so in love with her that he also promised her that he would one day bring her an Olympic medal [E4]
(4.15) It’s a beautiful ending of an incredibly inspiring love story that shows that nothing can ever stand in-between to people who really love each other [E5]
Love is a profound and beautiful experience, akin to the depths of the ocean It radiates warmth and light, much like the sun, and offers a calming refreshment, similar to rain Allow me to demonstrate the true essence of love.
(4.17) “I ready don’t know the reason, but I can prove that I love You”
The writers in the examples demonstrate their affection by directly using the verbs and nouns associated with love, a common and effective choice throughout the stories in the data corpus.
Besides, the feeling of happiness can be expressed through many different words Here are some examples from the corpora:
(4.18) After some moment the girl felt something aand she started to like him.[E13]
(4.19) The door opens as she approaches it and a man gets out, runs towards her, hugs her and then kisses her
She cherished his endearing habits, such as hugging her while sleeping, playfully tickling her, engaging in games, and simply enjoying quiet moments together His presence brought her joy, whether he was following her from room to room or just sitting silently by her side.
Before I could speak, she slapped me, causing me to fall Kneeling beside me, she hugged me and exclaimed, “You’re an idiot! I didn’t run away from you.”
By using the verbs such as like, hugs, adored etc as in examples (4.18), (4.19), (4.20) and (4.21), the writers want to express the affection the people often show towards their lovers
Besides, one more common word is used to express the happy feelings of the lovers in the ESLSs is smile, which is illuminated in the following examples:
(4.22) “Would you like that wrapped?” she asked him, flashing him the cutest smile once again [E12]
(4.23) The girl shook her head while smiling: "No" What was happening with the guy?
(4.24) And then the doors open and there she is – my love – she looks at me– then smiles and says in that melodious voice of hers,“ sorry, we are closed” [E19]
(4.25) With a smile, she turned around and waved good-bye [E16]
From the examples, it can be seen clearly that the feeling of joythe lovers can feel through their love are expressed by the verb and noun smile
Similarly, the happy feeling is shown through some other kinds of words, as can be illustrated in the following cases
(4.26) This proposal goes for marriage, but the girl’s family didn’t agree with this proposal However, they were happy each other [E13]
(4.27) The parents decided to move away, hoping that she could eventually forget everything and be happy [E18]
(4.28) He looked calm, he looked happy on his wedding day… on his funeral… [E21]
In addition to the items of happiness, there are the items of unhappiness, as can be seen in the following examples:
(4.29) The girl felt hopeless and began to cry, but the boy put his arms around her, held her tightly and said, " and I am one of those fools." [E15]
(4.30) In return, the guy sent million & million of reply and countless of phone calls…, all the girl could do, besides crying, is still crying…(E18)
As she waited in the beautifully adorned church, dressed in her flowing white gown and delicate tiara, tears streamed down her face as she gazed at the empty chair meant for him, adorned with a pearl necklace This poignant moment highlights the deep sorrow and emotional turmoil often experienced in love, as illustrated by the use of negative expressions like "cry," "crying," and "wept." These words effectively convey the heartache that accompanies love, emphasizing the bittersweet nature of such profound emotions.
ARS OF JUDGMENT
The Judgment attitudinal system focuses on evaluating human behavior and character Like the expression of feelings, judgments about individuals can be both positive and negative, and these evaluations can be made either explicitly or implicitly (Martin and Rose).
In the chart below, the distribution of the ARs of Explicit and Implicit Judgments in thirty short English love stories can be seen
Figure 4.2 ARs of Judgment in ELSSs
The analysis of Table 4.3 and Figure 4.2 indicates that writers predominantly use implicit judgment items in English Language Student Samples (ELSSs), with implicit judgments comprising 52% compared to 48% for explicit judgments This suggests a strategic choice by the writers to convey evaluations more subtly, as implicit judgments can be integrated within sentences or the overall text, while explicit judgments use clear lexical items like "kind," "polite," and "smart." Consequently, the preference for implicit judgment allows for a more nuanced evaluation of characters' behaviors, which will be further explored in the subsequent analysis of each judgment type.
Judgments are divided into personal judgments which denote either admiration or criticism, and moral judgments which indicate praise or condemnation Personal judgments expressing positive evaluation of a
ExplicitImplicit character are subsumed under admiration, the negative ones under criticism Martin and White (2005) term this type of judgment ‘social esteem’ They are
“concerned with the way in which people’s behavior lives up to or fails to live up to socially desirable standards” Below are provided examples together with further explanations
(4.56) It is the year 1975, when Charlotte Von Sledvin, a 19-year-old student of a Swedish royal family, travels to India to get a portrait made by a gifted artist [E1]
(4.57) She had always been a happy person, a fortunate young human being, but this new love in her life widened her views, she was happier than ever [E21]
In the discussed examples, the authors employ positive and explicit terms like "gifted" and "fortunate" to commend the abilities and normalcy of the characters in their romantic narratives Additionally, the evaluation of individuals in love is reflected through their actions.
You are beautiful, with a sweet voice and a caring nature Your loving demeanor, thoughtfulness, and radiant smile enhance your charm, making every movement captivating.
(4.59) The girl I thought was spoiled ended up taking care of me for several months and proved herself to be a loving woman and a faithful friend [E30]
In the analyzed examples, the characters' behavior is assessed by their lovers rather than the writers, revealing two key insights Firstly, this suggests a profound bond between the lovers, indicating their deep understanding of one another, as demonstrated in example (4.58) Secondly, it highlights that their evaluations are more accurate, as they occur during challenging times, as illustrated in example (4.59).
Also, in ELSSs the writers use negative expilicit judgments of social esteem to express their evaluation of behavior of the people falling in love For example:
(4.60) However, the youthful couple began to drift apart due to the busy schedule of life and the never-ending worries of daily problems, their life became difficult [E16]
(4.61) All night long, the young couple sat there, acting every bit as stubborn as married couples twice their age [E23]
By using the above words, the writers want to evaluate the childish character of these couples, which may be the factor leading to the break of their love
These above meanings are also expressed implicitly, as shown in the following examples:
(4.62) It was an ambitious plan and he was heavily ridiculed for it
After 22 years of unwavering determination, a path was forged through the hill Her father reflected on this journey, noting that in just one month, he would embrace the responsibilities of becoming a teen father He made a commitment to himself to turn his life around and become the father he wished he had for his daughter.
For years, Frank consistently visited his wife in the hospital, unwavering in his hope for her recovery despite the doubts of doctors and others During each visit, he shared cherished memories of their time together, keeping their bond alive and nurturing his belief in her eventual healing.
Over the course of a year, Avril and David developed a deep connection through their letters, ultimately falling in love without ever meeting After seven years of correspondence, they finally met in person for the first time.
The new student, a distinguished gentleman in his prime, exhibited an immense passion for makeup artistry Eager to absorb knowledge, he tirelessly pursued excellence, determined to achieve satisfaction in his craft.
The guy struggled with expressing himself, which frequently upset the girl Coupled with family pressure, her frustration often directed towards him, while he chose to endure her anger in silence.
The writers illustrate their evaluation of individuals in love through their actions, highlighting the theme of patience This patience enables them to undertake significant efforts for their partners, such as carving paths through mountains, waiting and hoping for long periods, enduring hardships in silence, or transforming themselves into better individuals.
Some more implicit judgment of social esteem can be realized in the following examples:
Charlotte had to leave once more to finish her studies in London, creating a distance of thousands of miles between her and her partner Despite the physical separation, their feelings for each other remained unchanged.
In a heartfelt confession, the man revealed, "Your mother shared your photos without your consent, and I couldn't help but notice that nothing has changed; you're still the person I fell in love with You remain as beautiful as ever, and I want you to know that I LOVE YOU!"
In a poignant moment, he asked her to express her love for him one last time, embracing her tightly before asking her to wear his helmet, knowing that this gesture symbolized his impending sacrifice.
(4.71) He picked her up and jumped out of the four-storey house He landed on his back with her on top of him He died to save her life [E26]
The authors effectively illustrate their characters' loyalty and courage, as seen in examples (4.68) and (4.69) for fidelity, and (4.70) and (4.71) for bravery This highlights that true love enables individuals to wait patiently for their partners, embrace their flaws, and make significant sacrifices to ensure their lovers' well-being.
ARS OF APPRECIATION
The categories of Affect and Judgment focus on people, while the Appreciation category evaluates objects As indicated in Table 4.7, writers utilize fewer appreciation items compared to judgment items, suggesting that the narratives emphasize human experiences over material aspects Table and Figure 4.4 will illustrate the Appreciation Rates (ARs) in thirty short English love stories.
Instances Rate Instances Rate Total
Figure 4.3 ARs of Appreciation in ELSSs
According to Figure 4.3, Reaction items are the most prevalent in ELSSs, comprising 63% of occurrences, followed by Composition items at 21% Valuation items represent the least frequent category, making up 16% of the total A detailed analysis of how each type of appreciation resource is utilized within the data corpus will be provided below.
The analysis of the data reveals that the term "beautiful" is the most frequently used word in expressing positive reactions, as demonstrated by several examples.
(4.81) It’s a beautiful ending of an incredibly inspiring love story that shows that nothing can ever stand in-between to people who really love each other [E5]
(4.82) The notes are beautiful and very personal statements meant to encourage Carol in this difficult time [E8]
(4.83) I do not only want to learn how to apply her makeup; I want her to wear the most beautiful make-up so her inner beauty also shines on the outside.”[E10]
(4.84) You know love is like an ocean, it's deep and beautiful [E15]
The writers express that love enhances the beauty of everything around us, as illustrated in examples (4.81) and (4.82) They also convey a desire to create beautiful experiences for their partners, as seen in examples (4.83) and (4.84) Additionally, the term "sweet" ranks second in frequency among positive reactions, further emphasizing the theme of love's uplifting qualities.
(4.85) She looked up at him and smiled “Can I help you?” said she in the sweetest voice ever [E12]
(4.86) After their wedding, the couple had a sweet and happy life for some more days [E16]
You are truly beautiful, with a sweet voice and a caring nature Your loving demeanor, thoughtfulness, and radiant smile, along with every graceful movement, make you exceptionally special.
The term "sweet" in the examples above signifies that individuals in love tend to perceive everything associated with their partners, as well as shared experiences, through a romantic and affectionate lens.
One more word that is used so frequently in the thirty English love short stories is the adjective great For instances:
(4.88) It was an ambitious plan and he was heavily ridiculed for it
After 22 years of unwavering determination, a path was forged into the hill During her coma, she heard Frank's voice, which she credited as the key factor in her return to consciousness.
(4.90) In great secrecy, they planned their escape and set these plans into action when the young man’s family finally found out about it [E9]
(4.91) Rama’s army met Ravana’s army and there was a great battle between them [E22]
The writers utilize the adjective "great" and its superlative form "greatest" to convey distinct concepts, as demonstrated in the provided examples.
The authors express their gratitude for the various ways individuals demonstrate their affection for their partners, highlighting the significance of these emotional displays Additionally, they acknowledge the challenges that couples must navigate to be together, emphasizing the efforts lovers make to overcome obstacles The use of positive adjectives further illustrates the appreciation for aspects of love and relationships, showcasing the depth of emotion involved.
(4.92) Love is like the sun, it shines and it's warm Love is like rain, it's calm and refreshing [E15]
(4.93) And then the doors open and there she is – my love – she looks at me– then smiles and says in that melodious voice of hers, “sorry, we are closed”
(4.94) She saw herself, all in wonderful glory of her childhood and where she still waited for her “Knight” [E21]
Adjectives like warm, refreshing, melodious, and wonderful illustrate how love transforms perceptions, making everything appear miraculous and splendid to those who experience it.
Conversely, negative reaction items are present in the data corpus, where writers utilize them to assess the challenges faced by lovers in their lives.
(4.95) Tragically enough, his wife died from the serious injuries before
Dashrath could do anything about it [E2]
(4.96) In 2007, his beautiful wife Susann died in a car accident It was an unimaginable tragedy for the young man [E4]
In 2012, bomb disposal expert Taylor Morris suffered severe injuries from an improvised bomb explosion in Afghanistan Faced with a shocking diagnosis, Gene chose to spend his remaining time making essential arrangements for his wife Carol, with whom he had shared 30 years of marriage.
Writers often use various adjectives to highlight the challenges faced by those in love, underscoring that love is not always a smooth journey This suggests that lovers may need to make significant sacrifices to achieve happiness in their relationship.
One more negative word whose frequency of occurrence is the highest in ELSSs is painful which can be realized through the examples below:
(4.99) If I am really not the missing part of your love, let me go and search for some one who can feel this It is less painful this way
Let us go on our own ways and search for our own life partners [E16]
(4.100) The boy sensed there was something wrong because of the painful silence they shared between them that night [E27]
From the examples we can see that the writers use the neggative adjective painful in different situations but with the same intended meanings
That is the writers want to describe the pangs the lovers often feel at the moment of separation
Similarly, through the negative reaction items, the writers evaluate things around the people who have said goodbye to their lovers as follows:
(4.101) In the dark and lonely night, he lit his cigarette and felt the lingering ache in his heart [E16]
(4.102) Oh the sky didn’t fall, the stars didn’t shine down, the snowfall was not whiter, the moon was not bigger, the rain was still irritating [E21]
When individuals are in a happy relationship, they perceive the world around them as beautiful and vibrant Conversely, when love is lacking, their outlook turns bleak, leading to feelings of dullness and negativity Writers often use negative adjectives like "dark," "lonely," and "irritating" to illustrate the perspective of those experiencing unhappiness in love.
The analysis reveals that complex items, primarily negative in nature, are prevalent in ELSSs, highlighting the challenges faced by individuals in love during difficult times.