Transitivity and Modality Analysis of Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’s Speeches on Handling COVID-19

Abstract

—Speech is one of the communication media that can be used to convey certain ideas and intentions of the speaker. The current study aims to analyze the use of transitivity and modality in Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus’s speeches on handling COVID-19 and interpret their meanings. Data comprises the transcripts of two speeches delivered at the media briefing on COVID-19 on 11 March 2020 and 1 April 2021 available on the World Health Organization website (www.who.int). The transcripts were then examined and evaluated using Halliday’s (1994) transitivity theory and Halliday's (1994) and Lock’s (1996) modality theories. The results reveal that the speeches made use of material, relational, mental, behavioral, verbal, and existential processes of transitivity, as well as potentiality/ability, obligation, usuality, inclination, and probability of modality. Depending on the contexts of speech, the use of transitivity and modality indicates certain interpretations of meaning. Moreover, this study contributes best practices to health socialization during the pandemic and gives a great impact on the public’s better understanding of how to properly handle COVID-19.