Transitivity and Ideological Construction during the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis: A Case Study of Chinese President Xi Jinping's Speeches about “A Community of Common Health for Mankind”
Keywords:
A Community of Common Health for Mankind, COVID-19 Crisis, Ideologies, Transitivity, Systemic-Functional GrammarAbstract
As the Novel Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic spread internationally, new challenges were confronted. This research studied transitivity process distribution in President Xi Jinping's speeches in China about “A Community of Common Health for Mankind” between May 2020 and May 2021. Data were analyzed following transitivity theory in M. A. K. Halliday’s Systemic-Functional grammar. Hidden ideology reflected in speech discourse was also evaluated according to Norman Fairclough’s theory of discourse analysis and ideology. The results were that five process types exist: (1) material process (2) relational process (3) existential process (4) verbal process (5) mental process. These reflect national and universal ideology characteristics. These findings suggest that only by proceeding from the overall interests of human society, focusing on shared aspects of human life and health, transcending ideological differences, and united cooperation, can all nations collaboratively address global crises.
References
Butt, David et al. (2000). Using Functional Grammar: An Explorer’s Guide (2nd Edition). Sydney: Macquarie University.
Fairclough, N. (1989). Language and Power. London: Longman Group Limited.
Fairclough, N. (ed.) (1992). Critical Language Awareness. New York: Longman Group UK. Limited.
Fowler, R. (1991). Language in the news: Discourse and Ideology in the Press. London/New York: Routledge.
Fowler, R., et al. (1979). Language and Control. London: Routledge and Kegan Paul.
Halliday, M.A.K. (1994). An Introduction to Functional Grammar. London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M. A. K. (2004). An introduction to functional grammar (2nd ed.). London: Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M. A. K., & Matthiessen, C. M. I. M. (2004). An introduction to functional grammar. London: Edward Arnold.
Hodge, R., & Kress. G. (1979). Language as Ideology.London: Routledge & Kegan Paul.
Simpson, P. (1993). Language, Ideology and Point of View. New York: Routledge.
Chen, N., & Chen, F. 陈娜 & 陈明富. (2020). The Connotation, Logic and Significance of Xi Jinping's Initiative to Build a Community of Common Health for Mankind (《习近平构建人类卫生健康共同体倡议的内涵、逻辑与意义》). Guihai Tribune, 36(4): 25-28. [In Chinese]
He, W., & Wei, R. 何伟 & 魏榕. (2016). Review of Transitivity Studies within Systemic Functional Linguistics (《系统功能语言学及物性理论发展综述》).Journal of University of Science and Technology Beijing (Social Sciences Edition), 32(1):1-20. [In Chinese]
Hu, A., & Li, Z. 胡鞍钢 & 李兆辰. (2020). China’s Actions, Initiatives and Plans in the Context of a Community of Common Health for Mankind (《人类卫生健康共同体视域下的中国行动、中国倡议与中国方案》). Journal of Xinjiang Normal University (Philosophy and Social Sciences). 41(5): 54-63. [In Chinese]
Hu, Z., & Zhu, Y., & Zhang, D. 胡壮麟 & 朱永生 & 张德禄. (1989). A Survey of systemic functional Grammar (《系统功能语法概论》). Changsha: Hunan Education Publishing House. [In Chinese]
Sun, J., & Wang, D. 孙敬鑫 & 王丹. (2020). The Building of “A Healthy Silk Road” Should be “Fast and Steady” (《“健康丝绸之路”建设宜“蹄疾步稳”》). China Today, 68(5): 38-41. [In Chinese]
Wang, H., & Wang, F., & Yin, P. 王和私 & 王芙蓉 & 尹丕安. (2013). Critical Discourse Analysis of the U.S. State of the Union (《美国国情咨文的批评性话语分析》). Journal of Xi’an International Studies University, 21(4): 49-52. [In Chinese]
Wang, Y. 王毅. (2020a). Resolutely Win the Battle Against the Epidemic and Promote the Construction of “Community with a Shared Future for Humanity” (《坚决打赢抗击疫情阻击战推动构建人类命运共同体》). QIUSHI Journal, 32(5): 13. [In Chinese]
Wang, Y. 王毅. (2020b). Following Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy to Build a Community with a Shared Future for Mankind Through International Coperation Against COVID-19 (《以习近平外交思想为指引在全球抗疫合作中推动构建人类命运共同体》). QIUSHI Journal,, 32(8) Retrieved June 20, 2021 from http://www.qstheory.cn/dukan/qs/2014/2020-04/16/c_1125858205.htm [In Chinese]
People's Daily 《人民日报》. (2020, May 18). Xi Jinping delivered a speech at the opening ceremony of the video conference of the 73rd World Health Assembly (《习近平在第73届世界卫生大会视频会议开幕式致辞》). Retrieved June 10, 2021 from http://jhsjk.people.cn/article/31713988 [In Chinese]
People's Daily 《人民日报》. (2020, June 18). Xi Jinping Presided over Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19 and Delivered a Keynote Speech (《习近平主持中非团结抗疫特别峰会并发表主旨讲话》). Retrieved June 10, 2021 from http://jhsjk.people.cn/article/31750859 [In Chinese]
People's Daily 《人民日报》. (2020, September 22). Xi Jinping's Speech at the Symposium of Expert Representatives in the Field of Education, Culture, Health and Sports (《习近平在教育文化卫生体育领域专家代表座谈会上的讲话》) Retrieved June 10, 2021 from http://jhsjk.people.cn/article/31871323 [In Chinese]
Xi, J. 习近平. (2020). Build a Strong Public Health System to Provide a Strong Guarantee for the Maintenance of People's Health (《构建起强大的公共卫生体系，为维护人民健康提供有力保障》). QIUSHI Journal, QIUSHI Journal, 32(17) Retrieved June 10, 2021 from http://jhsjk.people.cn/article/31862359 [In Chinese]
Xin, B. 辛斌. (2005). Critical Linguistics: Theory and Application (《批评语言学:理论与应用》). Shanghai: Shanghai Foreign Language Education Press. [In Chinese]
Xinhua News Agency 新华社. (2021, May 21). Working Together to Build a Community of Common Health for Mankind -- Remarks at the Global Health Summit (《携手共建人类卫生健康共同体——在全球健康峰会上的讲话》) Retrieved June 30, 2021 from http://jhsjk.people.cn/article/32110248 [In Chinese]
Zheng, J. 郑建凤. (2013). Critical Discourse Analysis of the London Olympics News Report (《伦敦奥运报道的批评性话语分析》). Journal of Shanxi Normal University (Social Science Edition), Vol. 40(6): 149-151. [In Chinese]
