Analyzing selected letters by Antonio Gramsci in terms of appraisal theory: A review study

Abstract

This paper uses the appraisal theory to analyze selected letters by Antonio Gramsci letters because no studies have used the appraisal theory to examine Antonio Gramsci. Thus, the qualitative method has been considered to analyze and compare these categories. Such comparison and analysis benefit from previous research works conducted in this field. The paper identifies the three interconnected levels of analysis to provide a complete picture of the text's interpretation. These levels are: description, explanation and interpretation. A good interpretation cannot be achieved by dividing these levels of analysis. Interpretation and explanation are part of description, which is concerned with the formal aspects of the text. Because power, beliefs, and identities are intertwined with the text's linguistic elements, the researchers is able to decipher ideologically shaped and produced texts to show relations and patterns of power and dominance that are created and shaped by discursive and societal structure. In texts, grammatical emphasis is used to convey authority and persuade the reader, the degree of power and ideology in text production may be seen in the usage of strong words and clauses. The study findings showed that many discursive strategies, including reported verbs, complete and connected concepts, and unambiguous intentions, in text articulation, creation, and understanding were used. Gramsci was able to effectively prepare the route to his argument by connecting the concepts and comparing the present to the past. To make his language strong and compelling, he used more model verbs, transitive verbs, passivisation, repetitious structure, and nominalization”.