A TRANSITIVITY ANALYSIS OF THE NOVEL GONE WITH THE WIND BY MARGARET MITCHELL

CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY I, the undersigned, hereby certify my authority of the study project report entitled A transitivity analysis of the novel “Gone with the Wind” by Margaret Mitchell submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master in English Language Except where the reference is indicated, no other person‘s work has been used without due acknowledgement in the text of the thesis Hanoi, 2018 Trần Thị Lan Hương Approved by SUPERVISOR (Signature and full name) Đỗ Kim Phương, Ph.D Date:…………………… i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS To fulfill this graduation thesis, I have been indebted to many people, so I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to all of them for their valuable contributions First and foremost, to my supervisor Ph.D Do Kim Phuong, I would like to deeply thank for her patient guidance, encouragement and supervision from the very initial to the final stage of submitting this thesis Without her endless assistance, precious advice and detailed comments my work would not have been completed Furthermore, I owe my special thanks to all the lecturers who have enthusiastically given precious lectures in my M.A course I have obtained a lot of useful knowledge for my study from Assoc Prof Dr Hoang Tuyet Minh, Assoc Prof Dr Ho Ngoc Trung, Assoc Prof Dr Phan Van Que, Prof Assoc Dang Ngoc Huong, Prof Dr Nguyen Dang Suu, Prof Assoc Nguyen Thi Van Dong, Assoc Prof Dr Vo Dai Quang, and other lecturers at the Faculty of Post Graduate Studies of Hanoi Open University For concerns and assistance, my thanks also go to the staff of the Faculty of Post Graduate Studies Besides, I highly appreciate the helpful advice, assistance and participation from my colleagues and friends who help the study to be fulfilled and willingly share their precious time during the process of conducting this thesis In particular, I also would like to convey my great gratitude to my beloved family for their continuous support and encouragement they have provided during the course and throughout the entire study process I will be grateful forever for their support Last but not least, to all the authors of the publications in the list of references, I offer my sincere thanks for their useful materials Hanoi, 2018 Trần Thị Lan Hương ii ABSTRACT This study is concerned with Transitivity System used Chapter of the novel "Gone with the Wind" by Margaret Mitchell The purposes of this research are to identify the process types of transitivity system, to find out their significance in the characterisation of each character in Chapter as well as to describe the implications of the analysis This study is conducted by applying descriptive, analytic and statistical methods There are 395 clauses selected from the chapter All the process types of transitivity system are found in Chapter 2, which are material, mental, relational, behavioral, verbal and existential process The result of the analysis is shown as follows : material (42,53%), mental (19,75%), relational (28,86%), verbal (5,82%), behavioral (0,76%), and existential (2,28%) In addition, the result also presents the occurrences of process types with each of the five characters in the chapter This will be carefully discussed in Chapter of the study The findings of the study can, to some extent, be used as some suggestions for English teachers and learners to have more access to Process types of Transitivity System in order to achieve success in teaching and learning writing English texts Besides, linguistics researchers of Systemic Functional Grammar can conduct further study on the similar topic to investigate another aspects of the issue iii TABLE OF CONTENTS CERTIFICATE OF ORIGINALITY i ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ii ABSTRACT iii TABLE OF CONTENTS iv LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS vi LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale of the study 1.2 Aims and objectives of the study 1.2.1 Aims 1.2.2 Objectives 1.3 Research questions .3 1.4 Methods of the study 1.5 Scope of the study 1.6 Significance of the study 1.7 Design of the study .4 CHAPTER 2: LITERATURE REVIEW 2.1 Previous studies 2.2 Systemic Functional Grammar .8 2.2.1 Introduction to SFG 2.2.2 Metafunctions 2.2.2.1 Ideational Metafunction .10 2.2.2.2 Interpersonal Metafunction 11 2.2.2.3 Textual Metafunction 12 2.3 Transitivity system .13 2.3.1 Three components of the process 14 2.3.2 Types of process 17 2.3.2.1 Material Process 17 2.3.2.2 Mental Process .20 2.3.2.3 Relational Process 21 2.3.2.4 Verbal Process 23 2.3.2.5 Behavioural Process .25 2.3.2.6 Existential Process .26 iv 2.4 Summary 26 CHAPTER 3: METHODOLOGY 27 3.1 Subjects 27 3.2 Instruments 27 3.3 Procedures 28 3.4 Statistical Analysis .29 3.5 Summary 29 CHAPTER 4: ANALYSIS OF PROCESS TYPES OF TRANSITIVITY SYSTEM USED IN CHAPTER OF THE NOVEL "GONE WITH THE WIND" 31 4.1 Process Types of Transitivity used in Chapter of the novel "Gone with the Wind" 31 4.2 The significance of the identified transitivity patterns in the characterisation of each character in Chapter .38 4.3 Implications of the analysis in writing and teaching and learning writing 50 4.4 Summary 51 CHAPTER 5: CONCLUSION .53 5.1 Summary of Findings 53 5.2 Concluding remarks 54 5.3 Recommendations for Further Study 54 REFERENCES 56 APPENDIX: 59 v LIST OF ABBREVIATIONS Adj: Adjunct Cir: Circumstantial Compl: Complement Fin: Finite Pre: Predicator Pro: Process SFG: Systemic Functional Grammar SFL: Systemic Functional Linguistics vi LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES Figure 2.1 Main systems of the metafunctions (Wilcock, 1993, p.19) .10 Figure 2.1 Layers of the metafunctions (Wilcock, 1993, p.19) .12 Table 2.1 Summary of processes and participants 15 Table 4.1: Process types in Chapter .31 Table 4.2: Summary of Process types in Chapter 39 vii CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION 1.1 Rationale of the study Language, no matter how it is defined, analyzed and accessed, is a tool of communication It is widely believed that people who study and use a language are interested in how meanings can be made and understood through choices of words and grammatical resources Therefore, language and language study attract a lot of academic researchers from different disciplines to better understand contemporary society There are numerous language fields for linguistics researchers to conduct studies on They may study the language of science, politics, religion, economics, literature, daily life, etc for their own reasons An analysis of a famous literary work in the light of Systemic Functional Grammar is my priotity over any other topics with the following justifications The first motive for the study is based on the very book "Gone with the Wind" This is the only novel by American modern woman writer Margaret Munnerlyn Mitchell, popularly known as Margaret Mitchell, was published in 1936 It is a successful commercial novel and a world popular classic "Gone with the Wind" broke the sales record and was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1937 As of 2014, a Harris poll found it to be the second favorite book of American readers, just behind the Bible More than 30 million copies have been printed worldwide Despite its popularity and great success, it has not got much attention from the literary critics and linguistics researchers The second reason concerns the Systemic Functional Grammar approach Among many different approaches to study and analyze the grammar of a language, Functional Grammar is found very useful and interesting because it offers language reseachers and learners an analytic tool of looking at the whole text Although it has been studied by many famous linguists in the world, it has not been studied much in Vietnam The last crucial factor leading to this study is the implications of the analysis in writing as well as in teaching and learning writing The result of the study provides an useful tool for teachers and learners to be able to analyze and understand English written texts Applying process types in writing, teaching and learning writing, they will achieve better language competence With these ideas in mind, in this study, Chapter of the novel "Gone with the wind" by Margaret Mitchell will be analysed in terms of Transitivity Process with the knowledge of Systematic Functional Grammar It is hoped that this study will provide some insights into the characterisation of each character in the chapter as well as suggest some applications for English-writing teachers and learners 1.2 Aims and objectives of the study 1.2.1 Aims This study aims at analysing Types of Process used in Chapter of the novel "Gone with the wind" by Margaret Mitchell and explaining the significance of the identified Transitivity patterns in the characterisation of each character in the chapter 1.2.2 Objectives To achieve the aims mentioned-above, the following objectives are put forwards: + Identifying Process Types of Transitivity System used in Chapter of the novel "Gone with the wind" by Margaret Mitchell + Showing the significance of the identified transitivity patterns in the characterisation of each character in Chapter + Suggesting some implications of the analysis of Process Types 1.3 Research questions With the above aims and objectives, the study deals with the following research questions: What are Process Types of Transitivity System used in Chapter of the novel "Gone with the wind" by Margaret Mitchell ? What is the significance of the identified transitivity patterns in the characterisation of each character in Chapter 2? What are the implications of the analysis of Process Types? 1.4 Methods of the study From the aims and objectives stated above, the study is conducted based mainly on three major methods: descriptive, analytic and statistical The descriptive method concerns with the description of the theoretical background and framework of Systemic Functional Grammar, in terms of Metalfunctions and Transitivity System The analytic method helps to identify Transitivity System used in Chapter of the novel "Gone with the wind" by Margaret Mitchell The analysis of the source language text‘s clause is mainly based on Halliday‘s theories of Systemic Functional Grammar taken in “An introduction to Functional Grammar‖ The statistical method is used to figure out the percentage of each process type used in Chapter of the novel "Gone with the wind" by Margaret Mitchell 1.5 Scope of the study With regards to the problems and objectives of the study, the writer has to limit the scope of the study Therefore, this study concentrates on the analysis of Process Types in Chapter of the novel "Gone with the wind" by Margaret Mitchell 303 Moreover, Scarlett and her father were bound together by a mutual suppression agreement Moreover, Scarlett were bound together by a mutual and her suppression agreement father Cir Carrier Pro: Relational Attribute 304 If Gerald caught her climbing a fence instead of walking half a mile to a gate, or sitting too late on the front steps with a beau, If Gerald caught her climbing a fence instead of walking half a mile to a gate, or sitting too late on the front steps with a beau, Cir Actor Pro: Material Goal Cir 305 he castigated her personally and with vehemence, he castigated her personally and with vehemence, Sayer Pro: Verbal Receiver Cir 306 but he did not mention the fact to Ellen or to Mammy but he Cir Sayer did not mention the fact Pro: Verbal to Ellen or to Mammy Verbiage Cir 307 And when Scarlett discovered him jumping fences after his solemn promise to his wife, And when discovered Scarlett him jumping fences after his solemn promise to his wife, 104 Cir Actor Pro: Material Recipient Pro: Material Scope Cir 308 or learned the exact amount of his losses at poker, or learned Cir the exact amount of his losses at poker, Pro: Mental Phenomenon 309 as she always did from County gossip, as she Cir always Actor did Cir from County gossip, Pro: Material Cir 310 she refrained from mentioning the fact at the supper table she refrained Actor from mentioning Pro: Material the fact Cir at the supper table Scope Cir 311 Scarlett and her father each assured the other solemnly Scarlett and her father each Sayer assured the other Pro: Verbal solemnly Receiver Cir 328 that to bring such matters to the ears of Ellen would only hurt her, that to bring such matters to the ears of Ellen Cir would Actor hurt her Pro: Material Goal 312 and nothing would induce them to wound her gentleness and Cir nothing would Actor induce Pro: Material them Goal to wound her gentleness Pro: Material Goal 313 Scarlett looked at her father in the fading light, Scarlett looked at her father in the fading light 105 Actor Pro: Material Goal Cir 314 and, without knowing why, she felt comfortable in his presence and, without she felt comfortable in his presence knowing why, Cir Carrier Pro: Relational Attribute Cir 315 There was something vital and earthy and coarse about him that appealed to her something vital and earthy There was and coarse about him that appealed to her Existent Pro: Existential Phenomenon 316 Being the least analytic of people, she did not realize that this was Being the least analytic of people, Cir she did not realize Senser that this was Pro: Mental Phenomenon 317 because she possessed in some degree these same qualities , despite sixteen years of effort on the part of Ellen and Mammy to obliterate them because she possessed in some degree these same qualities, despite sixteen years of effort on the part of Ellen and Mammy to obliterate them Cir Carrier Pro: Relational Attribute 318 ―You look very presentable now,‖ she said , She ―You look very presentable now,‖ said Sayer Pro: Verbal Quoted 319 and I don‘t think anyone will suspect you‘ve been up to your tricks unless you brag about them and I Don‟t think anyone will suspect you‟ve been up to your tricks unless you brag 106 about them Cir Senser Pro: Mental Phenomenon 320 But it does seem to me that after you broke your knee last year, jumping that same fence ‖ But it does seem to me that after you broke your knee last year, jumping that same fence Cir Carrier Pro: Relational Attribute 321 ―Well, may I be damned if I‘ll have me own daughter telling me what I shall jump and not jump,‖ he shouted, giving her cheek another pinch giving her cheek another pinch Cir he “Well, may I be damned if I‟ll have me own daughter telling me what I shall jump and not jump,” shouted Sayer Pro: Verbal Verbiage 322 And besides, Missy, what are you doing out here without your shawl?‖ And Missy Missy, what are you doing out besides Cir here without your shawl Sayer Pro: Verbal Verbiage 323 She slipped her arm through his she slipped Actor her arm through his Pro: Material Circumstance 324 and said: ―I was waiting for you‖ and Cir “I was waiting for you” said Sayer Pro: Verbal Quoted 325 I didn‘t know you would be so late didn‟t know I Senser Pro: Mental you would be so late Phenomenon 107 326 I just wondered if you had bought Dilcey I Just wondered Senser if you had bought Dilcey Pro: Mental Phenomenon 327 and the price has ruined me and the price Cir has ruined Actor me Pro: Material Target 328 ―And the only reason you bought her was because Dilcey asked you to buy her.‖ and the only reason you bought her was because Dilcey asked you to buy her Cir Carrier Pro: Relational Attribute 329 Gerald looked crestfallen and embarrassed, as always when caught in a kind deed Gerald looked crestfallen and embarrassed, as always when caught in a kind deed Carrier Pro: Relational Attribute 330 and Scarlett laughed outright at his transparency and Scarlett Cir laughed Behaver outright at his transparency Pro: Behavioural Cir 331 The shadows were falling thicker now, The shadows were Carrier Pro: Relational falling thicker now, Attribute 332 the last greenish tinge had left the sky and a slight chill was displacing the balminess of spring the last greenish tinge Actor had left Pro: Material the sky and a slight chill was displacing the balminess of spring Goal 108 333 But Scarlett loitered, wondering how to bring up the subject of Ashley without permitting Gerald to suspect her motive But Scarlett loitered wondering how to bring up the subject of Ashley without permitting Gerald to suspect her motive Cir Actor Pro: Material Circumstance 334 This was difficult , for Scarlett had not a subtle bone in her body; This was difficult, for Scarlett had not a subtle bone in her body Carrier Pro: Relational Attribute 335 and Gerald was so much like her and Gerald was Cir Carrier Pro: Relational so much like her Attribute 336 he never failed to penetrate her weak subterfuges, never he failed to penetrate her weak subterfuges Cir Actor Pro: Material Circumstance 337 even as she penetrated his even as Cir she penetrated Actor His Pro: Material Circumstance 338 And he was seldom tactful in doing it And he was Cir Carrier Pro: Relational seldom tactful in doing it Attribute 339 ―How are they all over at Twelve Oaks?‖ “How are they all over at Twelve Oaks?” 109 Sayer Pro: Verbal Verbiage 340 ―Did they say anything about the barbecue tomorrow? ‖ “Did they say anything about the barbecue tomorrow? Sayer Pro: Verbal Quoted 342 ―Now that I think of it they did Miss — what‘s-her-name — the sweet little thing who was here last year, you know you “Now that I think of it they did Miss — what‟s- know her-name — the sweet little thing who was here last year, Senser Pro: Mental Phenomenon 343 Ashley‘s cousin — oh, yes, Miss Melanie Hamilton, that‘s the name — she and her brother Charles have already come from Atlanta and —‖ Ashley‟s cousin — oh, she and her yes, Miss Melanie Hamilton, that‟s the name brother Charles Cir have already come from Atlanta and Actor Pro: Material Cir 344 Scarlett‘s heart sank at the news Scarlett‟s heart sank Actor at the news Pro: Material Cir 345 She had hoped against hope that something would keep Melanie Hamilton in Atlanta where she belonged, She had hoped against hope that something would keep Melanie Hamilton in Atlanta where she belonged Senser Pro: Mental Phenomenon 346 ―Was Ashley there, too?‖ ―He was.‖ 110 “Was Ashley there, too?” “He was.” Sayer Pro: Verbal Quoted 347 ―Why didn‘t you say so without beating around the bush?‖ “Why didn‟t you say so without beating around the bush?” Sayer Pro: Verbal Quoted 348 Scarlett could think of nothing to say Scarlett could think Actor of nothing to say Pro: Mental Cir 349 and she felt her face growing red with annoyance she felt Actor her face growing red with annoyance Pro: Mental Cir 350 Scarlett‘s hand fell from his arm Scarlett‟s hand fell Actor from his arm Pro: Material Cir 351 So it was true! so it was Cir Carrier Pro: Relational True Attribute 352 A pain slashed at her heart as savagely as a wild animal‘s fangs A pain at her heart as savagely as a wild animal‟s fangs slashed Actor Pro: Material Cir 353 Through it all, she felt her father‘s eyes on her, a little pitying, a little annoyed at being faced with a problem for which he knew no answer Through it all she felt her father‟s eyes on her, a little pitying, a little annoyed at being 111 faced with a problem for which he knew no answer Cir Senser Pro: Mental Phenomenon 354 He loved Scarlett, she loved Senser Scarlett, Pro: Mental Phenomenon 355 but it made him uncomfortable to have her forcing her childish problems on him for a solution but It made uncomfortable to have her forcing her childish problems on him for a solution Cir Carrier Pro: Relational Attribute 356 Ellen knew all the answers Ellen knew Senser all the answers Pro: Mental Phenomenon 357 Scarlett should have taken her troubles to her Scarlett Actor should have taken Pro: Material her troubles to her Goal 358 Scarlett was silent and her heart sank Scarlett was silent and her heart sank Carrier Pro: Relational Attribute 359 She could think of no defense for this last, for she knew Gerald was right she Senser Could think Pro: Mental of no defense for this last, for she knew Gerald was right Phenomenon 360 Ashley‘s heart was in none of the pleasant things he did so well 112 Ashley‟s heart was Carrier Pro: in none of the pleasant things he did so well Attribute Relational 361 He was never more than politely interested in any of the things he was never more than politely interested in any of the things Carrier Pro: Relational Attribute 362 that vitally interested everyone else vitally Cir that Token interested everyone else Pro: Relational Value 363 By this time, Gerald was thoroughly tired of the conversation and thoroughly annoyed By this time, Gerald was Cir Carrier Pro: Relational thoroughly tired of the conversation (Relational) and thoroughly annoyed Attribute 364 that the problem should be upon his shoulders that the problem should be Cir Carrier Pro: Relational upon his shoulders Attribute 365 He felt aggrieved, moreover, Moreover, He Cir Senser Felt aggrieved Pro: Mental Phenomenon 366 that Scarlett should still look desolate after being offered the best of the County boys and Tara, too that Scarlett should still look desolate after being offered the best of the County boys and Tara, too 113 Cir Carrier Pro: Relational Adj Subject Fin Residue Attribute Pre Adj Mood Residue 367 Gerald liked his gifts to be received with clapping of hands and kisses Gerald liked Senser his gifts to be received with clapping of hands and kisses Pro: Mental Phenomenon 368 Gerald looked at her bowed head and shuffled his feet uneasily Gerald looked Actor at her bowed head and shuffled his feet uneasily Pro: Material Goal 369 Gerald took her arm and passed it through his Gerald took Actor her arm and passed it through his Pro: Material Goal 370 Scarlett blew her nose on her torn handkerchief, Scarlett blew Actor her nose on her torn handkerchief Pro: Material Goal 371 and they started up the dark drive arm in arm, the horse following slowly And They Cir Actor started up the dark drive arm in arm, the horse following slowly Pro: Material Goal 372 Near the house, Scarlett was at the point of speaking again Near the house Scarlett was Cir Carrier Pro: Relational at the point of speaking again Attribute 373 when she saw her mother in the dim shadows of the porch 114 when she saw her mother in the dim shadows of the porch Cir Actor Pro: Mental Goal 374 She had on her bonnet, shawl and mittens, She had on her bonnet, shawl and mittens Carrier Pro: Relational Attribute 375 and behind her was Mammy, her face like a thundercloud, holding in her hand the black leather bag in which Ellen O‘Hara always carried the bandages and medicines And behind her was Mammy Cir Pro: Relational Carrier , her face like a thundercloud, holding in her hand the black leather bag in which Ellen O‟Hara always carried the bandages and medicines Attribute 376 she used in doctoring the slaves she used in doctoring the slaves Actor Pro: Material Cir 377 Mammy‘s lips were large and pendulous Mammy‟s lips were large and pendulous Carrier Pro: Relational Attribute 378 and when indignant, she could push out her lower one to twice its normal length and, she could push out when indignant Cir her lower one to twice its normal length Actor Pro: Material Goal 379 It was pushed out now, 115 It was pushed Goal out now Pro: Material Circumstance 380 and Scarlett knew that Mammy was seething over something of which she did not approve and Scarlett knew that Mammy was seething over something of which she did not approve Cir Senser Pro: Mental Phenomenon 381 Her voice was raised questioningly, Her voice was raised questioningly Goal Pro: Material Attribute 382 as though she on Gerald‘s assent to her plan, a mere formality but one dear to the heart of Gerald as though she Cir Actor Gerald‟s assent to her plan, a mere formality but one dear to the heart of Gerald on Pro: Material Goal 383 ―Take my place at the table, dear,‖ said Ellen, patting Scarlett‘s cheek softly with a mittened hand patting Scarlett‟s cheek softly with a mittened hand Cir Ellen Sayer “Take my place at the table, dear,” said Pro: Verbal Verbiage 384 In spite of her choked-back tears, Scarlett thrilled to the never-failing magic of her mother‘s touch , to the faint fragrance of lemon verbena sachet 116 In spite of Scarlett thrilled to the never-failing magic of her her choked- mother‟s touch, to the faint fragrance of lemon verbena back sachet tears Cir Behaver Pro: Behavioral Behavior 385 that came from her rustling silk dress That Carrier came from her rustling silk dress Pro: Relational Attribute 386 To Scarlett, there was something breath-taking about Ellen O‘Hara, a miracle To Scarlett Cir something breath-taking about Ellen O‟Hara, a miracle There was Pro: Existential Existent 387 that lived in the house with her and awed her and charmed and soothed her that lived, awed, soothed Actor in the house with her Pro: Material Circumstance 388 Gerald helped his wife into the carriage and gave orders to the coachman to drive carefully Gerald Actor helped his wife into the carriage and gave orders to the coachman to drive carefully Pro: Material Goal 389 He had already forgotten Scarlett‘s heartbreak had already forgotten Scarlett‟s heartbreak He Senser Pro: Mental Phenomenon 390 and his mind was only on plaguing his valet and his mind was Cir Carrier Pro: Relational only on plaguing his valet Attribute 117 391 Scarlett slowly climbed the steps after him, her feet leaden slowly Scarlett Cir climbed Actor the steps after him, her feet leaden Pro: Material Goal 392 She thought that, after all, a mating between herself and Ashley could be no queerer than that of her father and Ellen Robillard O‘Hara She thought That after all, a mating between herself and Ashley could be no queerer than that of her father and Ellen Robillard O‟Hara Senser Pro: Mental Phenomenon 393 As always, she wondered how her loud, As always, she Cir wondered Senser how her loud Pro: Mental Phenomenon 394 insensitive father had managed to marry a woman like her mother, insensitive father had managed to marry Actor Pro: Material a woman like her mother Goal 395 for never were two people further apart in birth, breeding and habits of mind for never two people were Cir Carrier Pro: Relational further apart in birth, breeding and habits of mind Attribute 118 ... in Chapter of the novel "Gone with the wind" by Margaret Mitchell The analysis of the source language text‘s clause is mainly based on Halliday‘s theories of Systemic Functional Grammar taken... by Margaret Mitchell ? What is the significance of the identified transitivity patterns in the characterisation of each character in Chapter 2? What are the implications of the analysis of Process... "Gone with the wind" by Margaret Mitchell and explaining the significance of the identified Transitivity patterns in the characterisation of each character in the chapter 1.2.2 Objectives To achieve