1. 研究目的与意义（文献综述包含参考文献）

literature review

public speaking refers to a public speaker delivering a continuous speech before a large audience about systematic suggestions and propositions in spoken language with the help of facial expressions, sign and body gestures and the strong motion (lucas, 1995: 7). the famous ancient greek philosopher aristotle made a classification of english public speaking into ”forensic, deliberative or epideictic” which is universally acknowledged as legal, political or ceremonial. according to people#8217;s practical need, public speaking can be divided into political, economic, academic, moral, legal, religious, military speeches. in this thesis, the author pays attention to english political speeches which take two presidents#8217; speeches as an example. many scholars have studied political speeches from varied aspects which are different from the aspect of this paper.

tong qiuhua (2009), the author of analysis on the interpersonal functions of barack obama#8217;s victory speeches, probes into the interpersonal function, mood, and modality of victory speeches. from these three aspects, she also uses halliday#8217;s functional grammar as its base. differently, the author analyses evaluation system and polarity in obama#8217;s victory speeches. the results tell us that speakers like to adopt declarative sentences and the first person subject to express their ideas which can have persuasion, informing and entertaining effects.

yu chaoguo (2011) studies the modalities of english inauguration addresses who take 26 victory speeches of successive presidents of america as a large sample. he pays attention to modal devices which base on polarity and modality of halliday#8217;s functional grammar. the result of his research is speakers like to use high-value modalities in their speeches intentionally which can express their willing and resolution. obviously, audience can be moved or persuaded when they hear those high-value modalities, such as must, can, can#8217;t and so on. however, audiences are willing to accept some information mentioned in the speech when speakers use mid-value modalities because these can encourage audience to have the same feelings with speakers. according to yu chaoguo#8217;s research, the rate of mid-value modalities is 53.5% which is higher than high-value and low-value ones.

2. 研究的基本内容、问题解决措施及方案

The thesis is directed on the interpersonal functions of English public speeches. The author takes Barack Hussein Obama#8217;s campaign speech in the state of Kansas and Franklin. D. Roosevelt#8217;s victory speech at the same place. The thesis is different from the traditional ones which study public speaking from its content and rhetoric. Based on Halliday#8217;s functional grammar, this paper aims to study the interpersonal functions of public speeches at the aspect of mood and modality which can be saw from speakers#8217; expressions. This paper will help you figure out how interpersonal functions are realized in public speeches and the author will try to explore some elements that achieve interpersonal meaning in the two speeches.