A study on projection and its realization in
President Barack Obama’s speech at a campaign
event in Las Vegas Trần Hồng Vân Trường Đại học Ngoại ngữ
Luận văn Thạc sĩ ngành: English Linguistics; Mã số: 60 22 15
Người hướng dẫn: Prof.Dr. Hoàng Văn Vân
Năm bảo vệ: 2013 Abstract. The thesis attempts to investigate one of the two logico-semantic relations in
clause complexes – projection from the viewpoint of systemic functional grammar and
its realization in President Barack Obama’s speech at a campaign event in Las Vegas on
October 24th, 2011. In chapter 1, the author provides an overview of systemic
functional grammar, the metafunctions of language according to Halliday’s view, the
clause complex and the relationship between its clauses. Chapter 2 investigates
projection relations in English which consists of level of projection, mode of projection
and speech function of projection. Basing on the basic understanding of projection, in
chapter 3, the author analyzes the projection relations of clause complexes in President
Obama’s speech. Through the analysis, the underlying meaning of the speech can be
revealed. The last part recapitulates the results of the study, presents the implications
and makes some suggestions for further research.
Keywords. Tiếng Anh; Phóng chiếu; Phóng chiếu; Cú pháp
The aim of the study is to explore how different types of projection are realized in
President Obama’s speech at a Campaign Event in Las Vegas. In order to achieve this aim, an
overview of the key concepts of functional grammar relevant to the study is in need of
exploration to provide the theoretical framework for the analysis.
3. Research question
With such an aim as mentioned, the following question is raised for exploration:
How are projections realized in President Obama’s speech at a Campaign Event in Las
Vegas?
4. Scope of the study
In order to make the most convenience for the author, the study only focuses on exploring
one of the two subtypes of logico-semantic relations between clauses: projection. The text
chosen for analysis is President Obama’s speech at a Campaign Event in Las Vegas on October
24
th
, 2011.
5. Methods of the study
This study uses two main methods: descriptive method and analytical method. The
descriptive method is used to re-examine the basic notions of systemic functional grammar and,
in particular, the notion of projection in the clause complex. The analytical method, on the other
hand, is employed to analyze President Obama’s speech to reveal the different logico-semantic
meanings of the text.
6. Design of the study
The study is divided into 3 parts:
Part A – Introduction – presents the rationale, the aim, the research questions, the scope,
the methods and the design of the study.
Part B – Development – consists of 2 chapters. Chapter 1 – Theoretical background
presents the overview of systemic functional grammar and the notions of clause complex and
projection. Chapter 2, the main chapter of the thesis, explores the realization of projections in
President Barack Obama’s speech at a Campaign Event in Las Vegas.
Part C – Conclusion – recapitulates the results of the study. In this part, the author
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