Modality in the Movement Control Order (MCO) Speech Texts to Curb the Spread of COVID-19 in Malaysia

Abstract

Speech is a form of language involving the delivery of information that enhances social interactions. Certain modalities are used to characterize these social relationships. Therefore, this study aims to identify the modalities employed by Malaysia’s Prime Minister in the Movement Control Order (MCO) speech text and to describe the social interactions attempted to be established based on the usage of these modalities. Eight speech texts are downloaded from the official website of the Prime Minister’s Office (https://www.pmo.gov.my/speech/). Qualitative and quantitative approaches are applied alongside Fairclough’s (2013) critical discourse analysis theory. The results of the study revealed that there are ten types of modalities used, namely the modality ‘boleh’, ‘dapat’, ‘nak’, ‘mesti’, ‘mungkin’, ‘perlu’, ‘ingin’, ‘hendak’, ‘pasti’dan ‘mahu’. The speaker’s modalities are utilised for two different purposes, namely to give commands and convey information. In comparison, the informative modality is more often utilised than the command modality. The informative modalities usage has proven that the speaker tends to build social relationships that are relaxed in nature with listeners. On the other hand, the command modality usage has hinted that the speaker also builds a formal and serious social relationship with the listeners when proposing his requests. This study not only examines the aspects of language alone but also explores how political organisations manage language in speech texts to convey information when a country is experiencing a global health emergency.