INTRODUCTION
Rationale
Movies serve as a mirror of a country's culture, customs, and traditions As a significant art form alongside sculpture, painting, music, and literature, films provide entertainment while also depicting everyday life through contemporary language The language in movies evolves over time, making film one of the most authentic art forms that reflects modern society.
Sitcoms, short for "situation comedy," are a prominent genre in film characterized by humorous plots derived from everyday life and real-time conversations between characters This genre reflects human experiences and societal norms, attracting scholarly interest across various fields due to its blend of verbal humor and contemporary cultural elements Researchers have approached comic discourse from diverse perspectives, including anthropology, psychology, semiotics, and socio-cultural studies For instance, Sciama (2016) explored the cognitive, social, and moral dimensions of humor, while Martin (2007) examined the development of humor and its role in social interactions Additionally, Mulkay (1988) contributed to psychological research by analyzing humor's nature in modern British and North American contexts.
Linguists have utilized pragmatics, discourse analysis, and translation to explore comic discourses in comedy films Šmilauerová (2012) investigated humor strategies in the TV sitcom Friends, focusing on the violation of Grice’s conversational maxims Additionally, Mahdalíková (2014) analyzed the discursive devices that shaped the geek identity of characters in the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory through the lens of discourse analysis and the pragmatic cooperative principle.
A study by Bosch Fàbregas (2016) examined linguistic gender stereotypes in the teen sitcom "Liv and Maddie" and its Spanish translation While various investigations have explored linguistic features in sitcoms through character dialogues, there is a lack of studies analyzing the interpersonal meaning in comedy films using systemic functional grammar This gap is notable, especially given the existing contrastive analyses of interpersonal meaning between English and Vietnamese across diverse fields such as literature, music, and advertising.
The study titled “A Contrastive Analysis of Interpersonal Meaning in American and Vietnamese Sitcoms” utilizes systemic functional grammar to explore the similarities and differences in interpersonal meaning between the two languages The findings aim to provide practical applications for language use, enhancing the teaching and learning of English as a foreign language.
Aims and Objectives of the study
This thesis seeks to enhance the understanding of interpersonal features within the sitcom genre, focusing specifically on the similarities and differences in dialogues between American and Vietnamese sitcoms through the lens of functional grammar.
In order to achieve the stated aims, the thesis will focus on the following objectives:
-To identify and analyze the interpersonal meaning conveyed in the dialogues of American and Vietnamese sitcoms in terms of mood, modality and interpersonal grammatical metaphor of mood and modality
This article aims to analyze the similarities and differences in interpersonal meaning conveyed through verbal resources in American and Vietnamese sitcoms By comparing these two cultural contexts, the study seeks to highlight how humor and communication styles reflect societal values and interpersonal relationships in each country.
Research Questions
Based on the aims of the study, the following questions are expected to be answered respectively:
-What are the interpersonal features revealed by mood, modality, and grammatical metaphor used in American and Vietnamese sitcoms?
-What are the possible similarities and differences between American and Vietnamese sitcoms in terms of interpersonal meaning?
Scope of the Study
This paper examines interpersonal meaning through mood, modality, and interpersonal grammatical metaphor within the framework of functional grammar It compares and contrasts the realization of interpersonal meaning in American and Vietnamese sitcoms, highlighting both similarities and differences in their comic verbal resources Additionally, the study focuses exclusively on the written text of conversations to ensure the reliability of the resources used.
Significance of the Study
Sitcoms focus on everyday life, making their language practical and relatable This research aims to enhance understanding of interpersonal communication in sitcoms Additionally, the study highlights both similarities and differences in interpersonal features between American and Vietnamese conversations, aiding language learners in their comprehension of language nuances.
The Organization of the Study
The study is structured as follows:
Chapter one, the introduction, consists of the rationale, aims and objectives, research questions, the significance of the study, scope of the study and the organization of the paper
Chapter two offers a comprehensive overview of sitcoms, focusing on systemic functional theory and its metafunctions, particularly the interpersonal meaning expressed through various moods, modalities, and interpersonal grammatical metaphors Additionally, it summarizes previous studies in the field to identify a gap in the literature that this research aims to address.
Chapter three outlines the research methods and procedures employed in the study, focusing on the approaches used for data collection, analysis, and overall research execution.
Chapter four delves into the interpersonal meanings conveyed through various mood types, modality, and interpersonal grammatical metaphors in the written texts of American and Vietnamese sitcoms It presents a comprehensive analysis of the data, along with discussions and interpretations of the findings.
Chapter five concludes the study by summarizing the key findings that address the research questions, while also highlighting limitations and offering suggestions for future research.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Sitcom as a genre
Sitcoms, or situation comedies, are a subgenre of comedy films that encompass various styles such as romantic comedy, musical-comedy, and satire They typically feature a series of humorous events aimed at entertaining the audience According to Taflinger (2001), effective sitcoms must engage the intellect and resonate with human experiences, while also reflecting established societal norms familiar to the audience Additionally, the situations presented should be incongruous or inappropriate in context, yet perceived as harmless by viewers.
The sitcom genre uniquely blends spoken and written modes, as its dialogues are pre-scripted for actors to follow, resulting in spoken exchanges that engage the audience While it encompasses both forms, sitcoms primarily feature casual conversation as their defining characteristic.
Bakhtin (1986) also showed his attention into casual conversation He pointed out that
Language manifests through individual utterances that are shaped by the specific conditions and objectives of their context These utterances are characterized not only by their thematic content and linguistic style but also by their compositional structure While each utterance is unique, different spheres of language use cultivate relatively stable types of these utterances, which can be referred to as speech genres.
Sitcoms often feature casual conversations that include anecdotes, which are brief stories designed to entertain and amuse audiences According to Eggins and Slade (1997), the structure of anecdotal text comprises five key components.
(i) Abstract: Signals the retelling of an unusual or amusing incident (ii) Orientation: Sets the scene
(iii) Crisis: Provides details of the unusual incident
(iv) Reaction: Reaction to the crisis (v) Coda (optional): Reflection on or evaluation of the incident
Casual dialogues reveal key social and interpersonal functions, highlighting how individuals connect, share information, and sustain relationships (Paltridge, 1997) Additionally, the entertaining aspect of anecdotes allows participants to exchange experiences and demonstrate agreement and shared perceptions (Eggins).
& Slade, 1997, p 229) luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
Overview of Systemic Functional Grammar
Systemic functional linguistics (SFL), developed from J.F Firth's work by Halliday, focuses on language in context, emphasizing the interplay between linguistic meaning and social context What sets SFL apart is its systematic and functional characteristics, illustrating how language is realized through semiotic devices to convey meaning It views social context and semantic features within a network of systems that facilitate utterance creation, allowing researchers to explain language as a semiotic tool interacting with social contexts Halliday (1994) identified three functional modes of language meaning within the semantic system: ideational, interpersonal, and textual meanings, which operate simultaneously at all language levels Consequently, speakers and writers adjust grammar to reflect their experiences, contextual perceptions, and communicative intentions.
Figure 2.1 Metafunctions in relation to field, mode and tenor
Experiential meaning is the first metafunction, focusing on the content of a message that helps individuals conceptualize the world for their benefit It involves expressing information, conveying new insights, and sharing knowledge through language Essentially, experiential meanings empower language users to organize their experiences and understanding of the world, as noted by Halliday (1994).
The ideational meaning is expressed through a transitivity system that includes three key components: process, participants, and circumstances Among these, the process is fundamental, serving as the foundation for the development of participants and circumstances There are six distinct types of processes, with the three primary ones being material processes, which involve actions and events; mental processes, which pertain to conscious activities such as perception, cognition, and emotion; and relational processes, which focus on states of being and becoming Additionally, there are three other types: behavioral, verbal, and existential processes.
The interpersonal meaning plays a crucial role in social interactions by facilitating the establishment and maintenance of relationships between the speaker and the listener According to Thompson (2004), it serves as a tool for expressing feelings and attitudes about the world Additionally, interpersonal meaning reflects how we communicate through language, highlighting the relationship between information providers and recipients in both spoken and written forms Halliday's analysis of English links this component to mood, modality, and grammatical metaphor, emphasizing its significance in effective communication.
The textual meaning focuses on how messages are organized and conveyed, known as the textual function, which includes three subtypes of semantic systems: thematic system, information structure, and cohesion system The thematic organization, which pertains to message delivery, comprises two key components: Theme and Rheme According to Halliday and Matthiessen (2004, p 64), the Theme serves as the starting point of the message, while the Rheme provides new information developed from the Theme Together, the combination of Rheme and Theme in a clause conveys a complete meaning within the textual organization.
This study focuses on the interpersonal meaning of language, specifically through the mood system, modality system, and interpersonal grammatical metaphor It explores how the context of situation can be expressed using lexico-grammatical units, namely Transitivity, Theme, and Mood and Modality systems The following sections will provide a detailed discussion of these elements.
Language serves as a reflection of the social relationships present in a text, particularly through the lens of interpersonal metafunction This metafunction highlights how grammatical choices in language are influenced by the social roles, status, and relationships of the speakers For example, the interpersonal language employed in a letter to an employer differs significantly from that used in a casual conversation with close friends.
The mood system is essential for understanding the distinct features of interpersonal meaning in English clauses It consists of two main components: a mood element that conveys the argument and a residue that may be omitted The mood element serves as a mechanism to express various mood categories within the interpersonal clause structure, as noted by Halliday and Matthiessen (2004, p 120).
“'the burden of the clause as an interactive event”, and as the nub of the proposition
The mood element consists of the subject, represented by a nominal group, and the finite, a component of the verbal group that conveys information about temporality (past, present, future), modality (such as probability), and polarity (positive or negative).
(ii) The Residue consists of functional elements of three kinds: Predicator,
Complement and Adjunct of the clause luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
Here is the example for the mood element in the clause:
Ex 1 Sister Susie is sewing shirts for soldiers
Subject Finite Predicator Complement Adjunct
In Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG), three distinct mood structures are recognized: declarative, interrogative, and imperative The presence and positioning of the Subject and Finite elements indicate these mood structures.
Table 2.1 Relation of Mood selection to Mood structure
(Matthiessen, Martin, & Painter, 1997, p 63) Mood selection Mood element Example (mood in bold)
Indicative declarative non-exclamative exclamative interrogative yes/no Wh- imperative
Subject^Finite Wh^Subject^Finite
Finite^Subject Wh^Finite^Subject
……… they^will build the house How quickly^they^will build the house! will^they build the house?
In English, declaratives exist in the form of statements with the structure of subject preceding Finite Declarative mood consists of two types: affirmative and negative statement
Ex 2 Henry James wrote “The Bostonians”
Ex 3 Henry James didn’t write” The Bostonians”
(Eggins, 2004, p 154) luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
Declarative clauses can be categorized as full or elliptical A full declarative clause includes a complete structure with both a subject and a finite verb, while an elliptical declarative clause omits certain elements, such as the subject, finite verb, or predicator, often occurring in responses.
(Will you join the dance?)
(Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004, p 151) (Who killed Cock Robin?)
Ex 5 I (said the sparrow) with my bow and arrow
(Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004, p 151) (ii) Interrogative Mood
In English, interrogative mood is primarily categorized into two types: Wh-questions, which utilize words like who, where, which, what, when, why, and how, and yes/no questions In these structures, the subject's position can vary, appearing either before or after the finite verb.
Ex 6 Is Simon reading Henry James? finite Subject Predicator complement
Ex 7 Who wrote “The Bostonians”
Wh/subject finite Predicator complement
Ex 8 When did Henry James write “The Bostonians”
Wh/adjunct:circ finite subject predicator complement
Ex 4 I might do subject Finite predicator
I won’t subject finite mood luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
Elliptical interrogative clauses are frequently used in casual conversation, occurring when the context is established The omitted elements in these clauses resemble those found in elliptical declarative sentences.
Ex 9 Piece of dialogue Elliptical elements
Ex 10 Piece of dialogue Elliptical elements
-Met Fred on the way here
(Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004, p 152) (iii) Imperative Mood
Eggins (2004, p 177) identifies four types of imperative structures, which include a mood element that can consist of both finite (F) and subject (S), only finite, or only subject Additionally, there is an imperative structure where the finite precedes the subject These mood elements are further categorized into two types: affirmative and negative imperatives.
Ex 11 Don’t you take My copy of “The Bostonians”
Finite:neg subject predicator complement
The elements of imperative clause can be omitted except predicator This case is realized in a typical elliptical imperative structure based on the context as follows
Ex 13 Piece of dialogue Physical context
Brad: Look! The man walking up the hill (Eggins & Slade, 1997, p 92) luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
Omitted components can often be inferred from the surrounding physical context, allowing Brad to avoid explicitly stating details like “Look at that man walking up the hill!” (Eggins & Slade).
Previous studies related to the research
Systemic functional grammar (SFG), developed by Michael Halliday, has gained significant attention from linguists worldwide in recent years, leading to extensive research across various fields In Vietnam, numerous linguists have engaged in exploring and discussing linguistic issues from diverse perspectives, aiming to enhance and develop the theoretical framework of Vietnamese SFG.
One of the most influential linguists in Vietnam is Cao Xuân Hạo
In 1991, a model for sentence analysis was proposed, focusing on three key aspects: syntactics, semantics, and pragmatics This model emphasized the theme-rheme structure for describing Vietnamese syntax, moving away from the traditional subject-verb (S-V) structure Conversely, Diệp Quang Ban (2005) advocated for the S-V structure in analyzing Vietnamese sentences, utilizing Halliday's systemic functional grammar model to explore three metafunctions: experiential, interpersonal, and textual.
Linguistic scholars have conducted extensive research across various fields and genres based on the theoretical framework of Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) Notably, Nguyễn Thị Thu Hiền (2016) explored the interpersonal function in English press commentaries through the lens of functional grammar and appraisal theory Her findings highlighted that the use of rhetorical questions, diverse modalities, and attitudinal resources effectively conveyed both implicit and explicit communication between authors and readers, reflecting the authors' emotions, judgments, and attitudes towards the issues discussed in the text.
In a recent study, Hoàng Văn Vân (2018) utilized systemic functional grammar to analyze three translations of the poem "Bánh trôi nước." The findings highlighted both similarities and differences in ideational, interpersonal, and textual meanings among the versions Additionally, the research indicated that the translations varied more significantly in lexical choices compared to syntactic structures.
Vinh Tô (2018) examined three linguistic features—lexical density, nominalization, and grammatical metaphor—in English language teaching textbooks within the Vietnamese context, utilizing a systemic functional linguistics framework The study revealed that as the textbook levels increase, the complexity of the texts also rises, evidenced by higher mean scores in nominalization and grammatical metaphor, resulting in greater lexical density in the selected written materials.
Phan Văn Hòa, Trần Hữu Phúc, and Nguyễn Thị Tú Trinh (2017) researched Vietnamese simple clauses, highlighting the influence of major contemporary grammatical approaches Their study revealed that structural models, shaped by European and American structuralists like Saussure and Bloomfield, alongside functional models inspired by Dik’s functional grammar and Halliday’s systemic functional grammar, dominate the analysis of Vietnamese simple clauses.
Numerous scholars have explored the linguistic aspects of sitcoms, with Rahmi (2017) conducting a study on the joke strategies in "How I Met Your Mother." This research focused on the pragmatic meanings of the jokes and the functions of pranks as portrayed by the characters The study identified 14 distinct joke strategies, with ambiguity being the most prevalent, allowing for varied interpretations among conversational participants Furthermore, the jokes delivered by the characters convey assertive, expressive, and directive meanings, reflecting the speaker's power, solidarity, and psychological defense.
Zand-Vakili, Kashani, and Tabandeh (2012) examined the frequency of speech events in the sitcom "Friends" to explore media discourse phenomena Their research highlighted a sample of spoken discourse alongside native speakers' cultural norms The findings revealed that the most common event in friendly relationships involved confiding personal secrets and seeking help, consultation, and sympathy from friends Additionally, various speaking factors influenced each speech event, aligning with Hymes' speaking model.
Syafitri (2018) conducted a sociolinguistic study on the forms and functions of jokes in the movie "Ghostbusters 2016." The findings revealed that the most commonly used form of humor in the film was identified.
“Ghostbusters 2016” were simple sentence and the function of joke was to amuse others and her/himself in informal setting that was used in close relationship
Mahdalíková (2014) conducted research on the discursive devices that shape the geek identity of characters in the American sitcom "Big Bang Theory," utilizing discourse analysis and the pragmatic cooperative principle The findings revealed that geeks often discuss less common topics and employ a more formal language style, characterized by idioms and specialized terminology, rather than colloquial expressions.
In her 2016 study, Phạm Thị Thanh Ly analyzed humor strategies in English and Vietnamese sitcoms through a pragmatic lens, focusing on how characters violate Grice's Cooperative Principle to generate humor in their conversations The research identified 12 humor strategies and three sub-strategies that breach four of Grice's maxims, with the maxim of quantity being the least utilized in both cultures Notably, English sitcoms favor strategies related to quality and irony, while Vietnamese sitcoms predominantly employ strategies involving the maxim of manner and lexical puns, reflecting traditional influences.
Previous studies have extensively explored systemic functional grammar and the sitcom genre; however, there is a notable lack of research on the interpersonal meaning in American and Vietnamese sitcoms This study aims to address this gap in the literature.
This chapter is divided into two main sections The first section provides a theoretical background essential for understanding the study's objectives, with a focus on Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) and its interpersonal meanings, particularly through mood, modality, and interpersonal grammatical metaphors Key areas of focus include Mood types (declarative, interrogative, imperative), Modality (modal finite operators and modal adjuncts), and interpersonal grammatical metaphors The second section reviews relevant previous studies that relate to this thesis The following chapter will outline the methods and procedures that highlight the study's main focus in Chapter 4.
METHODOLOGY
Research method
In order to achieve the aims and objectives mentioned in Chapter 1, this thesis was conducted with the following methods:
This study employed qualitative methods to describe and analyze data, revealing the features of interpersonal meaning in American and Vietnamese sitcoms Additionally, quantitative approaches were utilized to examine the frequency of mood types, the expression of modality, and the interpersonal grammatical metaphor system present in the written dialogues of these sitcoms.
-Comparative and contrastive methods were applied to find out the similarities and differences in interpersonal resources used in comic verbal resources in American and Vietnamese sitcoms.
Data collection
Sitcom series typically consist of multiple seasons, with each episode lasting around 20-30 minutes and containing approximately 4000 words of dialogue To conduct a contrastive analysis, this study analyzed eight sitcom episodes, comprising four American and four Vietnamese episodes, which were coded as AS1-AS4 for American sitcoms and VS1-VS4 for Vietnamese sitcoms.
The American sitcom resource was sourced from freely available movie scripts at http://transcripts.foreverdreaming.org/, while Vietnamese sitcoms were accessed through the YouTube link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWOSL6NQsPc.
Data analysis
The research was conducted with following steps:
The dialogues in American and Vietnamese sitcoms were scripted as texts, fulfilling my need to analyze the interpersonal features present in both cultures' comedic narratives.
The study analyzed all sitcom resources AS1-AS4 and VS1-VS4 to identify components of interpersonal meaning, focusing on aspects such as mood, modality, and interpersonal grammatical metaphor.
The analysis of data involved utilizing a quantitative method to calculate the distribution of mood, modality, and interpersonal grammatical metaphor occurrences To enhance clarity, detailed tables and figures were provided, accompanied by relevant examples.
- Qualitatively discussing the findings reveals the similarities and differences in interpersonal features in conversations of American and Vietnamese sitcoms.
Reliability and Validity
The literature review on Systemic Functional Grammar is primarily based on the theoretical framework established by the renowned linguist Halliday This section synthesizes insights from various authoritative sources, including Halliday (1994), Thompson (2004), Eggins (2004), and Matthiessen et al (1997), among others, to provide a comprehensive understanding of systemic functional grammar.
Another evidence for the reliability and validity is lying in the collection of data Both American and Vietnamese sitcoms resources are mainly collected from the most popular websites
Three effective methods—qualitative, quantitative, and comparative—were flexibly employed to enhance the efficiency of linguistic research These approaches significantly contributed to the analysis of interpersonal features in American and Vietnamese sitcoms.
From stated evidences above, this research is confirmed as a reliable and valid one luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
Mood in ASs and VSs
4.2 The occurrence of interrogative structures in Ass 36 4.3 Percentage of affirmative and negative imperative in
4.4 Proportion of Mood structure in VSs 41
4.5 Distribution of interrogative mood structures in VSs 45 4.6 Distribution of imperative structures in VSs 48
4.7 Modal operators used in ASs 54
4.8 Modal operators used in VSs 59
4.9 Frequency of metaphor of mood in Ass 66
4.10 Distribution of metaphor of mood in VSs 69 4.11 Frequency of values of metaphor of modality in Ass 74 4.12 Distribution of values of metaphorical modality in VSs 76 luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
2.1 Metafunctions in relation to field, mode and tenor 9 4.1 Distribution of full and elliptical declarative in ASs 35 4.2 Distribution of full and elliptical interrogative in ASs 38 4.3 Distribution of full and elliptical imperative in ASs 40 4.4 Proportion of full and elliptical declarative in VSs 44 4.5 Distribution of full and elliptical interrogative structures in VSs
4.6 Proportion of full and elliptical imperative structures in
4.7 Frequency of mood in Ass and VSs 50
4.8 Frequency of modality in Ass 53
4.9 Distribution of modal adjunct in ASs 56
4.10 Frequency of modality in VSs 59
4.11 Proportion of modal adjuncts in VSs 62
4.12 Distribution of modality in Ass and VSs 64 4.13 Frequency of values of modal operators in Ass and VSs 65
4.14 Metaphorical mood in Ass and VSs 72
4.15 Distribution of value metaphor of modality in Ass and
79 luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
• VSs (1-4): Vietnamese sitcoms from 1 to 4
• ASs (1-4): American sitcoms from 1 to 4 luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
This chapter outlines the foundational elements of the thesis, beginning with the rationale behind the study It then details the aims and objectives, presents the research questions, defines the scope, highlights the significance of the study, and concludes with an overview of the organization of the thesis.
Movies serve as a mirror of a country's culture, customs, and traditions As a significant art form alongside sculpture, painting, music, and literature, films provide entertainment while also depicting everyday life through contemporary language The language in movies evolves over time, making film one of the most authentic art forms that reflects modern society.
Sitcoms, short for "situation comedy," are a prominent genre in film characterized by humorous plots derived from everyday life and real-time conversations between characters This genre reflects human experiences and societal norms, attracting scholarly interest across various fields due to its blend of verbal humor and contemporary cultural elements Researchers have approached comic discourse from diverse perspectives, including anthropology, psychology, semiotics, and socio-cultural studies For instance, Sciama (2016) explored the cognitive, social, and moral dimensions of humor, while Martin (2007) examined the development of humor and its role in social interactions Additionally, Mulkay (1988) contributed to psychological research by analyzing humor's nature in modern British and North American contexts.
Linguists have utilized pragmatics, discourse analysis, and translation to explore comic discourses in comedy films Šmilauerová (2012) investigated humor strategies related to the violation of Grice’s conversational maxims in the TV sitcom Friends Additionally, Mahdalíková (2014) analyzed the discursive devices that shaped the geek identity of characters in the American sitcom The Big Bang Theory through the lens of discourse analysis and the pragmatic cooperative principle.
A study by Bosch Fàbregas (2016) examined linguistic gender stereotypes in the teen sitcom "Liv and Maddie" and its Spanish translation While various investigations have explored linguistic features in sitcoms through character dialogues, there is a lack of studies analyzing the interpersonal meaning in comedy films using systemic functional grammar This gap is notable, especially given the existing contrastive analyses of interpersonal meaning between English and Vietnamese across diverse fields such as literature, music, and advertising.
The study titled “A Contrastive Analysis of Interpersonal Meaning in American and Vietnamese Sitcoms” utilizes systemic functional grammar to explore the similarities and differences in interpersonal meaning between the two languages The findings aim to provide practical applications in language use, enhancing the teaching and learning of English as a foreign language.
1.2 Aims and Objectives of the study
This thesis seeks to enhance the understanding of interpersonal features within the sitcom genre, focusing specifically on the similarities and differences in dialogues between American and Vietnamese sitcoms through the lens of functional grammar.
In order to achieve the stated aims, the thesis will focus on the following objectives:
-To identify and analyze the interpersonal meaning conveyed in the dialogues of American and Vietnamese sitcoms in terms of mood, modality and interpersonal grammatical metaphor of mood and modality
This article aims to analyze the similarities and differences in interpersonal meaning conveyed through verbal resources in American and Vietnamese sitcoms By comparing these two cultural contexts, the study seeks to highlight how humor and communication styles reflect societal values and norms.
Based on the aims of the study, the following questions are expected to be answered respectively:
-What are the interpersonal features revealed by mood, modality, and grammatical metaphor used in American and Vietnamese sitcoms?
-What are the possible similarities and differences between American and Vietnamese sitcoms in terms of interpersonal meaning?
This paper examines interpersonal meaning through mood, modality, and interpersonal grammatical metaphor within the framework of functional grammar It compares and contrasts the realization of interpersonal meaning in American and Vietnamese sitcoms, highlighting both similarities and differences in their comic verbal resources Additionally, the study focuses exclusively on the written text of conversations to ensure the reliability of the resources used.
Sitcoms focus on everyday life, making their dialogue highly relevant and practical This research aims to enhance understanding of interpersonal dynamics depicted in sitcoms Additionally, the study highlights both similarities and differences in interpersonal features between American and Vietnamese conversations, providing valuable insights for language learners.
1.6 The Organization of the Study
The study is structured as follows:
Chapter one, the introduction, consists of the rationale, aims and objectives, research questions, the significance of the study, scope of the study and the organization of the paper
Chapter two offers a comprehensive overview of sitcoms, focusing on systemic functional theory and its metafunctions, particularly the interpersonal meanings expressed through various moods, modalities, and interpersonal grammatical metaphors Additionally, it summarizes previous studies in the field to identify a gap in the literature that this research aims to address.
Chapter three outlines the research methods and procedures employed in the study, focusing on the strategies used for data collection, analysis, and overall research execution.
Chapter four delves into the interpersonal meanings conveyed through various mood types, modality, and interpersonal grammatical metaphors in the written texts of American and Vietnamese sitcoms It presents a comprehensive analysis of the data collected, along with discussions and interpretations of the findings.
Modality in ASs and VSs
The modality system not only reflects mood but also illustrates the interaction between speakers and listeners, along with their attitudes and opinions regarding the conversation topic This system comprises two key components: modal operators and modal adjuncts.
The distribution of occurrence of modal operators and modal adjuncts in ASs is shown in Figure 4.8
Figure 4.8 Frequency of modality in ASs
Figure 4.8 clearly shows that modal adjuncts account for just over 2% compared to modal operators, which stand at 51.06% and 48.93%, respectively This slight difference highlights the preferred method of conveying speakers' viewpoints and attitudes A detailed analysis of these two subtypes of the modality system will be presented in the following sections.
The occurrence of modal operators in ASs is shown in Table 4.7
Modal operators Modal adjuncts luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
Table 4.7 Modal operators used in ASs
Low value Can, may, could, might, dare, don’t/didn’t need
Median value Will, would, should, won’t, shouldn’t, wouldn’t
High value Must, ought to, need, have/has to, can’t 68 29.69%
According to Table 4.7, addressers tend to favor median values in casual conversations, with a preference rate of 40.62%, compared to low and high values, which each account for 29.69%.
The median value is predominantly expressed by the term "will," which appears with a frequency of 64.51% This term is commonly utilized to indicate a moderate degree of probability within the framework of modalization and is frequently abbreviated in spoken language.
(AS-4) Richard: If kid is what I take to be with you then kids it is
Richard: If I have to I'll, I'll do all again, I'll do the 4 o'clock feeding thing, I'll go to the P.T.A meetings, I'll coach the soccer team
In a specific context as in (AS-4), the character repeats the word “I’ll” as his commitment to taking responsibility for being fatherhood in the future
Richard's actions are anticipated based on the contextual conditions, and the use of "will" serves to predict the likelihood of the situation.
(AS-1) Carol: Where are they?
Monica: I'm sure they'll be here soon luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
Apart from employing “will” to talk about the prediction or intention of speakers to do in the future, it is also used in making polite requests in everyday dialogues
(AS-3) Chandler: And what did you bring?
Lorraine: She's checking the coats Joey, I'm gonna go wash the cab smell off my hands Will you get me a white zinfandel, and a glass of red for Janice?
The modal verb "can" is prominently used in ASs to convey requests and permissions, exemplified by Lily's statement: "Can you get me in there? I kind of need to kill him," highlighting its role in expressing urgency and desire for action.
(AS-4) Best man: Yo! Can I have your attention, please? Thank you I remember when Barry got home from his first date with Rachel (AS-1) Monica: Can we come in?
The modal verb "can," when combined with personal pronouns like "I," "you," and "we," serves various functions in communication, particularly in making requests and seeking permission Additionally, "can" is utilized to discuss possibilities For instance, in a conversation, Phoebe mentions her friend Abby, who suggests that to break the cycle of bad boyfriends, one can perform a cleansing ritual.
In conversations, the frequent use of "can't" indicates a speaker's perceived inability to perform an action, reflecting a high modality in their expression For instance, in a dialogue, Joey expresses his discomfort by saying, "Can you stop yellin'? You're makin' me nervous, and I can't go when I'm nervous." This highlights how anxiety can hinder one's ability to act.
(AS-2) Ted: I'm bailing, see ya
Barney: Oh hey, I can't see her face Is she hot? luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
The term "can’t" serves to inhibit listeners from taking certain actions, while the full form "cannot" is often employed to emphasize the prevention of those actions.
Lily reflects on her past experiences, admitting that her adventurous moments were often driven by dares and fun Although she longs to return to her college days, she acknowledges that life only allows for forward movement, not backward.
(AS-3) Chandler: Ok, you cannot do this to me
Joey: You're right, I'm sorry You're right
Modal adjuncts play a significant role in identifying the modality system, often surpassing the use of modal operators in ASs They are categorized into two subtypes: mood adjuncts, which convey additional information regarding probability, usuality, and obligation, and comment adjuncts, which reflect the speaker's attitude towards the proposition or specific speech function (Halliday & Matthiessen, 2004).
129) Figure 4.9 is the distribution of two subtypes of modal adjuncts in ASs
Figure 4.9 Distribution of modal adjunct in ASs
Figure 4.9 illustrates a significant disparity between two types of modal adjuncts, with mood adjuncts comprising 92.88% and comment adjuncts only accounting for 7.11%.
Among mood adjuncts identified by probability, time, usuality, intensity, etc., adjuncts of intensity appear at the highest rate in ASs By using the adjuncts
Mood adjuncts and comment adjuncts play a crucial role in expressing a speaker's attitude and viewpoint during conversations For instance, they can convey varying degrees of intensity, allowing for a more nuanced discussion of the topic at hand.
(AS-1) Rachel: Ok, so anyway, you were telling me about Paris, it sounds fascinating
Dr Franzblau: It really was There was this great little pastry shop right by my hotel There you go, dear
(AS-3) Rachel: How did we end up with these jerks? We're good people!
Monica: I don't know Maybe we're some kinda magnets
(AS-2) Barney: One of the twenty-four similarities between girls and fish is that they're both attracted to shiny objects You never read my blog, do you?
(AS-4) Rachel: Oh honey, I'm so proud of you, Min
Barry (entering): Oh Rach, you're still here, at our wedding, they were packing up the chopped liver about now
Dr Franzlau's use of the intensifier "really" to modify an omitted adjective in his first speech turn highlights his agreement with Rachel's perspective and underscores his enthusiasm for the allure of Paris.
Speakers can simultaneously use adjuncts of probability, such as "maybe," and adjuncts of intensity, like "just," to convey predictions with a low level of certainty This combination serves as a pre-modification of verbal groups, enhancing the expression of uncertainty in communication.
(AS-4) Joey: Then I don't know what it is? What's the problem?
Interpersonal grammatical metaphor
As mentioned in Chapter 2, interpersonal metaphor is understood as unusual ways to express something, called incongruent form involving types of clauses of mood and modality
Low value Median value High value
ASs VSs luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
4.3.1 Interpersonal grammatical metaphor of mood
4.3.1.1 Interpersonal grammatical metaphor of mood in ASs
Congruent coding of mood is achieved through the alignment of mood choice with speech functions, where a declarative statement conveys information, an interrogative asks for information, and an imperative requests action In contrast, Thompson (2004) noted that incongruent forms arise when mood choices and speech roles do not align The statistics of mood metaphor are illustrated in Table 4.9.
Table 4.9 Frequency of metaphor of mood in ASs
Metaphor of mood Number of the occurrence Percentage
The data reveals that declarative mood metaphors dominate, accounting for 50.60% of the total, while interrogative mood metaphors follow at 44.04%, and imperative mood metaphors are significantly lower at 5.36% This suggests that speakers predominantly use declarative structures to convey commands and questions.
(AS-3) Monica: You cannot do this
Rachel: (I cannot) Do what, do what?
Ted expresses his disdain for clubs, stating he would much prefer attending a wine tasting event instead.
(AS-1) Joey: Oh yeah? And who do you like?
Joey: (you like) The Celtics? Ha They couldn't hit a boat if wait
(AS-4) Phoebe: I think my boyfriend ever so dreamy, I wonder what our wedding's gonna be like
In casual conversation, speakers often use declarative mood structures to ask questions, as seen in the provided examples These structures typically feature a subject followed by a finite verb, with the option to omit the subject, as illustrated in examples (AS-1) and (AS-3) The primary purpose of this mood metaphor, as demonstrated in (AS-1), (AS-2), and (AS-3), is to express the speaker's feelings about the situation Additionally, in example (AS-4), the speaker employs an indirect approach by saying "I wonder" instead of directly asking, "What’s our wedding gonna be like?"
Carol encourages you to remove the pin from the item you placed, reassuring you that you will find someone special She believes the right woman is out there, just waiting for you.
(AS-4) Chandler: Well, I think you should seriously consider the marriage thing, give Rachel another chance to dress up like Princess
In sitcom dialogue, the use of declarative metaphorical mood to convey commands is prevalent For instance, rather than directly stating "Take the pin out," a character may opt for a more indirect approach that offers consolation Similarly, combining a projecting clause with a modal operator allows for gentle advice, as seen in the phrase "Consider the marriage thing," instead of using a straightforward imperative.
Making up the relatively remarkable proportion, the interrogative metaphorical mood is also employed to express speaker’s statement and command in the interaction
(AS-1) Lydia: Hey, Knick fan, am I interested in your views on fatherhood? Uh, no
Joey: Ok, look, maybe I should just go
(AS-3) Lorraine: She's checking the coats Joey, I'm gonna go wash the cab smell off my hands Will you get me a white Zinfandel, and a glass of red for Janice?
In the examples provided, Lydia employs an interrogative metaphorical mood to assert her disinterest in the opinions on fatherhood, highlighting her strong stance on the matter Additionally, a command is subtly conveyed through the interrogative mood in another instance, where the speaker uses a modal operator to transform a direct imperative into a more polite request, demonstrating a desire for courteous communication.
Besides, the imperative mood is also employed to convey speaker’s statement and question with the relatively small number in the communication
(AS-2) Robin: Well, I hate to take his side but come one a wine tasting?
What's the big plan for next Saturday, scrabble night?
Lily: Don't check your email
(AS-4) Claire: Oh, yeah Norah Jones just gets better and better
Lily: Please tell if me we can drink the wine now luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
In the example provided (AS-2), the speaker, Lily, employs the imperative mood by saying, “Don't check your email.” This implies that she has previously communicated the necessary information in the email, effectively conveying the message without explicitly stating, “I have already told you in the email.”
The imperative mood in the phrase "Don't check your email" implies a prior communication, as indicated by "I have already told you in the email." A typical example of this is found in the statement made by Lily, who uses an imperative form to suggest drinking immediately, opting for "Can we drink the wine now?" in a more indirect manner.
The analysis of interpersonal metaphor of mood reveals its significant role in enhancing interactions, particularly in American sitcom conversations This understanding paves the way for a deeper exploration of the application of interpersonal metaphor of mood in various contexts.
4.3.1.2 Interpersonal grammatical metaphor of mood in VSs
The interpersonal grammatical metaphor of mood in verbal structures (VSs) encompasses three primary types: declarative, interrogative, and imperative The distribution of these metaphorical moods is detailed in Table 4.10.
Table 4.10 Distribution of metaphor of mood in VSs
Metaphor of mood Number of the occurrence Percentage
Total 202 100% luan van tot nghiep download luanvanfull moi nhat z z @gmail.com Luan van thac si
Table 4.10 reveals that metaphorical mood in verb structures (VSs) constitutes the largest share at 51.49%, while metaphorical imperatives are absent Following the metaphor of declaratives, metaphorical interrogatives hold a notable presence at 48.51%.
It is noticeable that declarative metaphor of mood is much more prominent in Vietnamese sitcom conversation, now we take a look at some particular examples below
(VS-1) Sơn: Ừ Mà Sơn qua đây học đây nè, ba Sơn cũng phải mua cho Sơn một cái nhà riêng để ở đó
Kim Chi: (Ba Sơn) Mua nhà bên Singapore?
(VS-4) Quyết: Thôi được rồi, thống nhất là Kiều Linh và Phan sẽ đi thi
Nhớ phải được giải đấy, không được giải thì đừng về gặp anh em nữa
Kiều Linh nhấn mạnh rằng con phải từ bỏ mối quan hệ hiện tại và không được làm việc ở đó Bà đưa cho con 100 nghìn để trả tiền nước và yêu cầu con chia tay anh ta, nếu không cuộc đời sẽ chỉ gắn liền với những điều tồi tệ.
The declarative metaphorical mood primarily serves two speech functions: questioning and commanding A clause from prior dialogues, when combined with a rising intonation, can express surprise, as illustrated in example (VS-1), despite its elliptical declarative structure being less common than commands in declarative form Examples (VS-2) and (VS-4) demonstrate the use of modal operators "phải" and "sẽ" in statements to convey commands during communication.
From the perspective of the second rank, interrogative metaphorical moods also play a remarkable role in conversation with the function of statement and command
Kim Long than thở về cơn đói, trong khi Đức Hạnh cũng đồng cảm và nhắc nhở rằng ai cũng đang đói Đức Hạnh tự nhận mình là người đói nhất và kêu gọi ba mình cho một miếng cơm.
(VS-2) Bạn gái Quyết: Nếu không được thêm chỉ tiêu, sao anh không đuổi bớt một người đi, thêm người mới vào có phải tốt hơn không?