Delivering A Good Speech by Identifying the Interpersonal Meaning Found in Joe Biden’s Victory Speech: A Case on Systemic Functional Linguistics

Abstract

This research aims to classify the interpersonal meaning in Joe Biden’s victory speech. It is an interesting phenomenon because by revealing the interpersonal meaning, people can be assisted to be successful in communication. The researchers used a qualitative research design to answer the research question and chose content analysis since the results of data analysis were in descriptive phenomena, such as words, clauses, and utterances. The research findings showed that mood elements: found 174 subjects and 176 finites. Meanwhile, residue elements found 120 predicators, 133 complements, 9 mood adjuncts, 71 circumstantial adjuncts, 2 comment adjuncts, and 54 conjunctive adjuncts. In addition, the speech function identified 162 Statements, 4 Questions, and 11 Commands. Thus, it is concluded that Joe Biden tended to use finites, in contrast with comment adjuncts, and Statements, in contrast with questions (only 4 questions were found in his speech). This study also showed that the speaker was greatly assisted by using interpersonal meaning to make a good speech.