Appraisal Devices Realizing Attitudes in Barack Obama’s First Inaugural Speech

Abstract

Following Martin and Rose’s (2007) Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) approach, this paper, adopting qualitative analysis, analyzed Barack Hussein Obama’s Inaugural Address “new era of responsibility” from the perspective of Appraisal System. Martin and Rose (2007) divided Appraisal System into three distinct sub-systems: Source (Engagement), Amplification, and Attitude. In the process of detailed analysis, this paper focused on Obama’s Attitude, the feelings, and values that are negotiated with the audience (Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation), towards his speech. Analyzing the data that falls under the genre of political discourse, it could be inferred that the address employed three kinds of Attitudes; Affect, Judgment, and Appreciation. The findings of the study revealed that Obama’s speech was full of hope and a positive attitude toward the future of the United States. The president used accessible language but still formal; he used affirmative and simple direct sentences in his speech, so he can easily shorten the distance between him and the audience.