(Luận văn thạc sĩ) modalization and modulation in commencement addresses by english speakers a systemic functional analysis

VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE STUDIES TRƯƠNG THỊ ÁNH MODALIZATION AND MODULATION IN COMMENCEMENT ADDRESSES BY ENGLISH SPEAKERS: A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS (TÌNH THÁI VÀ BIẾN THÁI HĨA TRONG CÁC BÀI PHÁT BIỂU TẠI LỄ TỐT NGHIỆP CỦA CÁC DIỄN GIẢ NĨI TIẾNG ANH: PHÂN TÍCH THEO QUAN ĐIỂM NGỮ PHÁP CHỨC NĂNG) M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS Field: English Linguistic Code: 60.22.15 Hanoi - 2013 VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE STUDIES TRƯƠNG THỊ ÁNH MODALIZATION AND MODULATION IN COMMENCEMENT ADDRESSES BY ENGLISH SPEAKERS: A SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS (TÌNH THÁI VÀ BIẾN THÁI HÓA TRONG CÁC BÀI PHÁT BIỂU TẠI LỄ TỐT NGHIỆP CỦA CÁC DIỄN GIẢ NÓI TIẾNG ANH: PHÂN TÍCH THEO QUAN ĐIỂM NGỮ PHÁP CHỨC NĂNG) M.A MINOR PROGRAMME THESIS Field: English Linguistic Code: 60.22.15 Supervisor: Prof Dr Hoàng Văn Vân Hanoi - 2013 DECLARATION I, Trương Thị Ánh, hereby certify that this thesis is the result of my own research and that the substance of the thesis has not, partly or wholly, been submitted for a degree to any other universities or institutions Signature Trương Thị Ánh i ACKNOWLEGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere thanks and gratitude to the people who assisted and always made the best conditions and environment for me to complete this thesis The first person I would like to send my special thanks to is Prof Dr Hoàng Văn Vân, who spent much of his valuable time supervising and guiding my study I am also indebted to my lecturers in both undergraduate and postgraduate faculties at my university for their precious lectures in linguistics which help me to have the basic and necessary knowledge to carry out this study I also owe many thanks to my family members who gave me great encouragement, my friends and my colleagues who were willing to share my heavy workload at my school so that I could invest my time to this thesis ii ABSTRACT This study investigates the realization of modalization and modulation in commencement addresses made by well-known English speakers The analytical framework of the study is based on M A K Halliday‘s Systemic Functional Grammar theory of modality The data of the research is taken from the analysis of five commencement addresses of Steve Jobs (2005), Bill Gates (2007), Barbara Kingsolver (2008), J K Rowling (2008), and Barack Obama (2009) The results show that modalization and modulation are realized in a variety of forms and expressions which can be modal operators, modal adjuncts, passive verb predicators, and adjective predicators Modalization overtakes modulation in terms of frequency Each group of modal operators and modal adjuncts when being used to realize modalization and modulation has its own effectiveness and specialties iii TABLE OF CONTENTS Declaration…………………………………………………………………… .i Acknowledgements…………………………………………………………………ii Abstract……………………………………………………………………… iii Table of contents……………………………………………………………………iv List of figures and tables………………………………………………………… vi PART A: INTRODUCTION Rationale……………………………………………………………….… The significance of the study………………………………………….…… Aims of the study…………………………………………………… Scope of the study………………………………………………………… Methods of the study………………………………………………… Design of the study…………………………………………… …… … PART B: DEVELOPMENT Chapter 1: Theoretical background 1.1 Semantic-oriented approaches……………………………………………….5 1.2 Pragmatic-oriented approaches………………………………………………7 1.3 Criticisms of the semantic-oriented and pragmatic-oriented approaches……7 1.4 Halliday‘s functional approach………………………………………………9 1.4.1 Halliday‘s notion of modality: Modalization and Modulation………… .9 1.4.2 Modalization: notion and realization………………………………… .11 1.4.3 Modulation: notion and realization……………………………………… 14 1.5 Review of previous studies…………………………………………………16 iv Chapter 2: The study 2.1 Research question…………………………………………………………… 18 2.2 Data collection……………………………………………………………… 18 2.3 Analytical framework…………………………………………………………18 2.4 Data analysis and major findings…………………………………………… 19 2.4.1 Modalization……………………………………………………………… 19 2.4.1.1 Modal adjuncts…………………………………………………………….20 2.4.1.2 Modal operators……………………………………………………… .21 2.4.2 Modulation……………………………………………………………… 22 2.5 Discussion………………………………………………………………… 24 2.5.1 Modalization and Modulation………… ………………………………….24 2.5.2 Modal adjuncts – realization and meanings……………………………… 25 2.5.3 Modal operators of Modalization – realization and meanings………… 32 2.5.4 Modulation…………………………………………………………….… 33 PART C: CONCLUSION Summary and major findings………………………………………………36 Implications……………………………………………………………… 38 Suggestions for further studies…………………………………………….40 REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………41 APPENDIX 1: Raw data……………………………………………………………I APPENDIX 2: Analyzed data…………………………………… XXX v LIST OF FIGURES AND TABLES Figure 1: Speech functions and responses 10 Figure 2: Three values of modality 11 Figure 3: Modalization 12 Figure 4: Modal operators 13 Figure 5: Modal adjuncts 13-14 Figure 6: Modulation 15 Table 1: Modalization in five speeches 19 Table 2: Modal adjuncts in five commencement addresses 20 Table 3: Modal operators in five commencement addresses 22 Table 4: Modulation in five commencement addresses 23 Table 5: Modalization and Modulation 24 vi PART A: INTRODUCTION Rationale Over the years, many grammatical models have been developed, for example phrase structural grammar, structural grammar, transformation grammar, etc These models mainly focus on the structural characteristics of languages, ignoring the possible functions of language In 1920s, functional approach was first introduced by an influential group of literary critics and linguists in Prague Since then funtionalism has been developed by many functional grammarians like Halliday (1985, 1994), Bloor (1995), Eggins (1994), Thompson (1996), Martin (1997), and many others Functionalism can be understood as any approach to the description of language structure which attaches importance to the purposes or functions to which language is put When systemic functional grammar (SFG) was introduced by Halliday in the UK (1985) and later in Australia (1994), functional approach to grammar theory may be understood as the study of language as a network of systems, or interrelated sets of options for making meaning The term function refers to Halliday‘s view that language serves metafunctions as: ideational metafunctions, texture metafunctions, and interpersonal metafunctions Among these metafunctions, the interpersonal ones which refer to the grammatical choices that enable speakers to enact their complex and diverse interpersonal relations may be the most unintelligible perspective The speaker‘s grammatical choices can vary but one of the effective tools may be the use of modality in general or modalization and modulation in particular From this point of view, the researcher has made an effort to investigate and prove the effectiveness of those elements in the thesis The second thing that should be clarified is the researcher‘s choices of genres and the collection of texts that were used in the thesis This study focuses on the commencement addresses made by famous English speakers One thing that can be definitely true is that no one is randomly chosen to give a speech in a university graduation ceremony Those who were given the honor to make speeches at many big universities are prestigious and well-known They all tactfully used their wordy power to persuade their audiences Commencement addresses, therefore, always play an important role in orienting, inspiring, and encouraging students who are going to be graduates Moreover, the success of a commencement address is obvious the interpersonal relation between the speaker and the listeners To achieve this red string – the linkage, modality used in those speeches must be very flexible and intelligent in order to show the speaker‘s ego as well as create the connection between the particular ego and the majority All of the above mentioned reasons motivated the researcher to investigate the realization of modalization and modulation in several selected speeches made by English speakers The significance of the study The significance of the study can be seen the most clearly in its contribution to investigate the use of modality in texts Geoff Thompson (1996) says modality is an extremely complicated area of English grammar Although a number of linguists have been working on this field, the results achieved not satisfy the researcher‘s inquisitiveness Many linguists have pointed out the definition, classification, and degree of modality but everything just stops at the theory and a limited number of typical examples In other words, the exemplification is not attached to any specific original texts Writers of some PhD theses have been applying SFG framework or modality to analyze real texts but none of them have taken commencement speeches as sources of data This thesis, which aims to investigate the realization of modalization and modulation in some authentic commencement addresses, thus fills the blanks of studying how modality is realized in commencement speeches An additional point motivating the researcher to carry out this study is derived from the realistic demand In textbooks currently used in Vietnamese schools, the realization of modality in texts are mostly introduced and analyzed in terms of only modal verbs Other means to realize modality are not fully presented and exploited, which in some way limit students‘ understanding and ability to flexibly use modality in creating their own texts This thesis is hoped to give clear clarification of all means to realize modality in English and how the good exploitation of these means can, to some extent, support developments of students‘ language skills 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 Modality: Modulation – Modal operator – High howcould you not? Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low And I hope you will come back here to Harvard 30 years from now and reflect on what you have done with your talent and your energy Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time I hope you will judge yourselves not on your professional accomplishments alone, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Barbara Kingsolver, 2008 What can I say to people who know almost everything? Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low Modalization – Modal adjunct – Degree There was a time when I surely knew, Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Probability But that great pedagogical swilling-out must have depleted my reserves, Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – High I can't believe how much I don't know Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – High I can discern a kind of gaseous exchange in which I exuded cleverness and gradually absorbed better judgment Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low wisdom is what people will start wanting from you, after your last exam Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median what they really mean is: it was wise Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity Honestly, it is harrowing for me to try to teach 20-year-old students Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Persuasion The best I can think to tell them is: Quit smoking, and observe posted speed limits Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low This will improve your odds of getting old enough to be wise Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median If I stopped there, you might have heard my best offer Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low so I'll proceed Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median The alleged outfitwillnot be described here Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median whatever you're imagining will perfectly suffice Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Now, I believe parents should uphold respect for adult authority XXXIX 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time Modalization – Modal operator - Median How could it be otherwise? Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low itcan't be important Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - High You may also hear this when you declare a major in English Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low Some workplaces actually quantify your likelihood of being distracted by family or volunteerism Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity Now, the rule of "Success" has traditionally meant having boatloads of money Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time But we are not really supposed to put it in a boat Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity A house would the customary thing Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Ideally it should be large, with a lot of bathrooms and so forth, but no more than four people Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median If two friends come over during approved visiting hours, the two children have to leave Modality: Modulation – Modal operator – High The bathroom-to-resident ratio should at all times remain greater than one Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median I'm just observing, Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity youcan observe a lot just by watching Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low it will be a large, empty-ish office Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median you don't have to share Modality: Modulation – Modal operator – Low youcan get it delivered Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low youmayneverhave to come face to face with another person Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality Modulation – Modal operator – Low And so we find ourselves in the chapter of history I would entitle: Isolation and Efficiency Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Even the architecture of our planet is collapsing under the weight of our efficient productivity Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity XL 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 Congress said, we need to think about that Modality: Modulation – Modal operator - High westill need to think about it Modality: Modalization– Modal adjunct - Time Now we can watch as glaciers disappear, the lights of biodiversity go out, the oceans reverse their ancient orders Modality: Modalization– Modal adjunct – Time Modalization – Modal operator - Low How could our weather turn murderous, pummel our coasts and push new diseases like denge fever onto our doorsteps? Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low It's an emergency on a scale we've never known Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Usuality We can't slow down our productivity and consumption, that's unthinkable Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - High Can't we just go home and put a really big lock on the door? Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – High Modalization – Modal adjunct - Intensity The world will save itself Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Now we can either shift away from a carbon-based economy, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low the climate scientists are now saying they're sorry but that's not even the point Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time Modalization – Modal adjunct - Intensity We won't get time to use it all Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median we'll have to reduce our carbon emissions by 80 percent, within a decade Modality: Modulation – Modal operator High We're still stuck on a strategy of bait-and-switch Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time we'll keep the cars but run them on ethanol made from corn Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median They always manage to have the last word, even when they are dead Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity How can we get from here to there, without burning up our ship? Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low That will be central question of your adult life: to escape the wild rumpus of carbon-fuel dependency, in the nick of time Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median You'll make rules that were previously unthinkable, imposing limits on what we can use and possess Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Modalization – Modal operator – Low XLI 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 You will radically reconsider the power relationship between humans and our habitat Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median In the words of my esteemed colleague and friend, Wendell Berry, the new Emancipation Proclamation will not be for a specific race or species, but for life itself Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Nations have already joined together to rein in global consumption Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time But our government is reluctant to address it, for one reason: it might hurt our economy Modality: Modulation – An adjective predicator Modalization – Modal operator – Low We can't grant humanity to all people, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – High itwould hurt our cotton plantations, our sugar crop, our balance of trade Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median You have to find another way Modality: Modulation – Modal operator - High You will be told to buy into business as usual Modality: Modulation – Modal operator & Passive verb predicator A lot of people, in fact, are rethinking the money answer Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Intensity Could I get it closer to home? Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low Previous generations rarely asked about the hidden costs Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Usuality Some European countries already are calculating the "climate cost" on consumer goods and adding it to the price Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Time We're even warming up to the idea Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Intensity that the wealthy nations will have to help the poorer ones, Modulation – Modal operator – High It will grind some gears in the machine of Efficiency Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median But we can retool Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low We can also rethink the big, lonely house as a metaphor for success Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low You've probably spent very little of your recent life in a free-standing unit with a bathroom-to-resident ratio of greater than one Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Probability Maybe more like 1:200 Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Probability XLII 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 you didn't have to ask about their problems Modality: Modulation – Modal operator - Low youhad to step over them to get into the room Modality: Modulation – Modal operator - High You're told that's all about to change Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Degree Even when there was no money in it Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Intensity The scholars who study social well-being can put it on charts and graphs Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low you might guess, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median You can take that to the bank Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low I'm not sure Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Probability what they'll with it down there, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median but you could try Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low You could walk out of here with an unconventionally communal sense Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low how your life may be Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low This could be your key to a new order: Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low You could invent a new kind of Success Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low you could say: Life Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low You'll see things collapse in your time, the big houses, the empires of glass The new green things that sprout up through the wreck Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median Those will be yours Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median We already did Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Time The hardest part will be to convince yourself of the possibilities, and hang on Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median Hope is the only reason you won't give in, burn what's left of the ship and go down with it Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median You have to love that so earnestly Modality: Modulation – Modal operator - High XLIII 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 You may be asked to stand behind the barn Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low You may feel you're not up to the task Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low You can be as earnest and ridiculous Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low you need to be, Modality: Modulation – Modal operator - High That could be you Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low you might as well know, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low sometimesyou have to stand Modality: Modulation – Modal operator – High You might have to pop the clutch and run Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low Definitely you don't want to go directly to jail Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Obligation butstill, here you go, passing time, passing strange Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Time youwill have to pass it off Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median you'llstill want to take the express Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median You might still have just enough time Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low Modalization – Modal adjunct - Time 262 J K Rowling, 2008 The first thing I would like to say is ‗thank you.‘ Modality: Modulation – Modal operator – Median Now all I have to is take deep breaths, 263 Modality: Modulation – Modal operator – High I can’t remember a single word she said 261 264 265 Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – High I might inadvertently influence you to abandon promising careers in business Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low Actually, I have wracked my mind and heart for what I ought to say to you today Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity XLIV 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 Modulation – Modal operator - High These may seem quixotic or paradoxical choices, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low my overactive imagination was an amusing personal quirk that would never pay a mortgage, or secure a pension Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Modalization – Modal adjunct - Usuality I know that the irony strikes with the force of a cartoon anvil, now Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Time I would take a vocational degree Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Hardly had my parents‘ car rounded the corner at the end of the road than I ditched Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality theymight well have found out for the first time on graduation day Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low I think they would have been hard put to name one less useful than Greek mythology when it came to securing the keys to an executive bathroom Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median I would like to make it clear Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median I cannotcriticise my parents Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – High I would never experience poverty Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Modalization – Modal adjunct - Usuality 276 Poverty entails fear, and stress, and sometimes depression Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality 277 you have never known hardship or heartbreak Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality 278 Talent and intelligence never yet inoculated anyone against the caprice of the Fates Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality Modalization – Modal adjunct - Time You might be driven by a fear of failure quite as much as a desire for success Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low Indeed, your conception of failure might not be too far from the average person‘s idea of success, Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity Modalization – Modal operator – High 279 280 XLV 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 so high have you already flown Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time we all have to decide for ourselves what constitutes failure, Modality: Modulation – Modal operator – High the world is quite eager to give you a set of criteria if you let it Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Degree Had I really succeeded at anything else, Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity I might never have found the determination to succeed in the one arena I believed I truly belonged Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality Modalization – Modal adjunct - Admission I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time You might never fail on the scale I did, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality you might as well not have lived at all Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low I had never attained by passing examinations Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality I could have learned no other way Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low I had friends whose value was truly above the price of rubies Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Admission you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Time You will nevertruly know yourself Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality Modalization – Modal adjunct - Admission it has been worth more than any qualification I ever earned Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality I would tell my 21-year-old self that personal happiness lies in knowing that life is not a check-list of acquisition or achievement Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median you will meet many people of my age and older who confuse the two Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median the humility to know that will enable you to survive its vicissitudes XLVI 298 299 300 301 301 Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median Now you might think that I chose my second theme, Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time Modalization – Modal operator - Low I personallywill defend the value of bedtime stories to my last gasp, Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Opinion Modalization – Modal operator - Median we have never shared Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality I shall never forget the African torture victim, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median Modalization – Modal adjunct - Usuality I shall remember walking along an empty corridor Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median 302 303 I have never heard since Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Usuality She had just had to give him the news that in retaliation for his own outspokenness against his country‘s regime 304 Modality: Modulation – Moder operator - High I saw more evidence about the evils humankind will inflict on their fellow humans 305 Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median I had ever known before Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality 306 307 308 309 310 Amnesty mobilises thousands of people who have never been tortured or imprisoned for their beliefs to act on behalf of those who have Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality Ordinary people, whose personal well-being and security are assured, join together in huge numbers to save people they not know, and willnever meet Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Modalization – Modal adjunct - Usuality They can think themselves into other people‘s places Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Low Ofcourse, this is a power, like my brand of fictional magic, that is morally neutral Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Obviousness One might use such an ability to manipulate, or control, just as much as to understand or sympathise XLVII 311 312 Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low Modalization – Modal adjunct - Intensity They choose to remain comfortably within the bounds of their own experience, never troubling to wonder how it would feel to have been born other than they are Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct - Usuality They can refuse to hear screams or to peer inside cages Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low 313 they can close their minds and hearts to any suffering that does not touch them personally Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low 314 theycan refuse to know Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low 315 I might be tempted to envy people who can live that way, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low 316 I could not then define, was this, written by the Greek author Plutarch Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – High 317 What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median 318 But how much more are you, Harvard graduates of 2008, likely to touch other people‘s lives? Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Probability Even your nationality sets you apart Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity it will not only be your proud families who celebrate your existence, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median I am nearly finished Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Degree 319 320 321 322 I have one last hope for you, which is something that I already had at 21 Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time 323 we were bound by enormous affection, by our shared experience of a time that couldnever come again, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low Modalization – Modal adjunct - Usuality we held certain photographic evidence that would be exceptionally valuable if any of us ran for Prime Minister Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median 324 XLVIII 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 I hope that even if you remember not a single word of mine, Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity Barack Obama, 2009 a scholarship program that will help open the doors of higher education to students from every background Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median this program will serve as a model for universities across this country Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median I'd just like to clear the air about that little controversy everybody was talking about a few weeks back Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity I have to tell you, Modality: Modulation – Modal operator – High I really thought this was much ado about nothing, but I think we all learned an important lesson Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity I learned never again to pick another team over the Sun Devils in my NCAA bracket Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality It won't happen again Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median President Crow and the Board of Regents will soon learn all about being audited by the IRS Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Now, in all seriousness, I come here not to dispute the suggestion that I haven't yet achieved enough in my life Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time She has a long list of things that I have not yet done waiting for me when I get home Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time I come to affirm that one's title, even a title like President of the United States, says very little about how well one's life has been led Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity no matter how much you've done, or how successful you've been, there's always more to do, always more to learn, and always more to achieve Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality you too cannot rest on your laurels Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – High Not even some of those remarkable young people who were introduced earlier not even that young lady who's got four degrees yet today Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time XLIX 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 You can't rest Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – High Your own body of work is also yet to come Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time Now, some graduating classes have marched into this stadium in easy times Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time It should be clear to you by now the category into which all of you fall Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median you're still looking for a job Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time Maybe you've got student loans Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Probability no, you definitely have student loans Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Obligation and you're wondering how you'll ever pay them off Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median Maybe you've got a family to raise, Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Probability and you're wondering how you'll ensure that your children have the same opportunities Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median you'vehad to get an education and pursue their dreams Modality: Modulation – Modal operator - High Now, in the face of these challenges, it may be tempting to fall back on the formulas for success that have been pedaled so frequently in recent years Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time Modalization – Modal operator – Low that's how you will measure success Modality: Modalization – Modal operator - Median Now, you can take that road Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time Modalization – Modal operator – Low itmay work for some Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low let me suggest that such an approach won't get you where you want to go; Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median thatin fact, the elevation of appearance over substance, of celebrity over character, of short-term gain over lasting achievement is precisely what your generation needs to help end Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity 357 Now, ASU, I want to highlight Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time 358 it distracts you from what's truly important, and may lead you to L 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 compromise your values and your principles and commitments Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Admission Modalization – Modal operator – Low that other stuff, the trappings of success may be a byproduct of this larger mission, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low itcan't be the central thing Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – High But the second problem with the old approach to success is that a relentless focus on the outward markers of success can lead to complacency Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low It can make you lazy Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low We too often let the external, the material things, serve as indicators that we're doing well, Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality none of us can afford to be complacent Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low Professors might earn the distinction of tenure, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low they'll keep putting in the long hours and late nights Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median It can happen to Presidents Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low their legacy could not be more different Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – High We've become accustomed to the title of "military super-power," forgetting the qualities that got us there not just the power of our weapons, but the discipline and valor and the code of conduct of our men and women in uniform Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity the rest of the world has grown hungrier, more restless in constant motion to build and to discover not content with where they are right now, Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time it'snow abundantly clear that we need to start doing things a little bit different Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time you'llneed to continuously adapt to a continuously changing economy Modality: Modulation – Modal operator – High You'll end up having more than one job and more than one career over the course of your life; to keep gaining new skills possibly even new degrees; Modality: Modulation – Modal operator – Median Modalization – Modal adjunct – Possibility/ Intensity and you'll have to keep on taking risks as new opportunities arise LI 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 Modality: Modulation – Modal operator – High we'llneed a fundamental change of perspective and attitude Modality: Modulation – Modal operator – High I'm not just referring to the date of your birth certificate Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity It's what led two guys in a garage named Hewlett and Packard to form a company that would change the way we live and work; Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median That's the great American story: young people just like you, following their passions Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity socan you ASU, so can you Class of 2009 So can you Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median Teach in a high-need school where the kids really need you; Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity give a chance to kids who can't who can't get everything they need maybe in their neighborhood, maybe not even in their home we can't afford to give up on Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – High Modalization – Modal adjunct – Probability Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity developing new sources of clean energy that will power our economy and preserve our planet Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median you can also make your mark in smaller, more individual ways Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low That's what so many of you have already done during your time here at ASU Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Time As you think about life after graduation, as you look into the mirror tonight after the partying is done that shouldn't get such a big cheer Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median you may look in the mirror tonight Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low and you may see somebody who's not really sure what to with their lives Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low Modalization – Modal adjunct - Intensity what you may see, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low a troubled child might look at you and see a mentor Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low A homebound senior citizen might see a lifeline Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low The folks at your local homeless shelter might see a friend LII 392 393 394 395 396 397 398 Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low theyjust know that you're somebody who cares, somebody who makes a difference in their lives Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity the one thing I know about a body of work is that it's never finished Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality You may have setbacks, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low and you may have failures, Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low you're not even getting started, not by a long shot Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity if you ever forget that, just look to history Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity Your body of work is never done Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality 399 that's not just how you'll ensure that your own life is well-lived Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Intensity Modalization – Modal operator – Median 400 It's how you'll make a difference in the life of our nation Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median I talked about the focus on outward markers of success that can help lead us astray Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low wenever knew we had to find the greatness that lies within each of us Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality Modulation – Modal operator - High 401 402 403 don'tever shy away from that endeavor Modality: Modalization – Modal adjunct – Usuality 404 I can promise that Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Low youwill be the better for that continued effort, as will this nation that we all love Modality: Modalization – Modal operator – Median 405 LIII ...VIETNAM NATIONAL UNIVERSITY, HANOI UNIVERSITY OF LANGUAGES AND INTERNATIONAL STUDIES FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSTGRADUATE STUDIES TRƯƠNG THỊ ÁNH MODALIZATION AND MODULATION IN COMMENCEMENT ADDRESSES. .. that modalization and modulation are realized in a variety of forms and expressions which can be modal operators, modal adjuncts, passive verb predicators, and adjective predicators Modalization. .. commencement addresses 20 Table 3: Modal operators in five commencement addresses 22 Table 4: Modulation in five commencement addresses 23 Table 5: Modalization and Modulation 24 vi PART A: INTRODUCTION