Text Analysis of President Bush's Speech 'Response To Elections in Iraq' By Using Systemic Functional Grammar.

ABSTRACT

Skripsi ini menganalisis sebuah pidato dari tokoh kenamaan dunia, yaitu
mantan presiden Amerika George W. Bush, yang berjudul Response to Elections
in Iraq. Pidato ini sangat menarik sebab berisi dukungan Presiden Bush terhadap
rakyat Irak dalam proses pemilu perdana di Irak. Pemilu tersebut merupakan
langkah awal masyarakat Irak dalam mencapai sistem demokrasi yang
sesungguhnya, yang tidak mereka dapatkan dari pemerintahan terdahulu. Menurut
Presiden Bush, hal tersebut merupakan pencapaian yang baik dari rakyat Irak.
Saya menganalisis representasi dari pihak yang terkait dalam pidato ini
dengan cara mengaplikasikan salah satu teori yang digunakan untuk menganalisis
teks, yaitu Systemic Functional Grammar, gagasan Michael Halliday. Teori ini
mencakup tiga hal pokok yaitu textual meaning, ideational meaning dan
interpersonal meaning. Hasil analisis dari tiga pokok bahasan tersebut
mengungkapkan bahwa Amerika dan rakyat Irak direpresentasikan positif.
Sebaliknya, teroris direpresentasikan negatif.
Analisis yang berlandaskan teori ini, diharapkan dapat membantu pembaca
dalam mengintepretasikan suatu teks secara objektif tanpa terpaku pada isu-isu
yang berkaitan dengan topik teks tersebut. Semoga skripsi ini juga dapat menjadi
inspirasi bagi pembaca yang berminat pada analisis teks.
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TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS………………………………………………………..i
ABSTRACTS….………………………………………………………………..iii
CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION……………………..................................1
Background of the Study .............................................................................1
Statement of the Problem .............................................................................3
Purpose of the Study ....................................................................................4
Method of Research .....................................................................................4
Organization of the Thesis ...........................................................................4
CHAPTER TWO: THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK………………………...5
Textual Meaning ..........................................................................................6
Cohesion ...............................................................................................6
Theme Rheme .......................................................................................7
Ideational Meaning.....................................................................................11
Transitivity .................................................................................................11
Interpersonal Meaning……………………………………………….......16
Mood……….………………………...…...........................................16

CHAPTER THREE: TEXT ANALYSIS OF PRESIDENTBUSH’S SPEECH
“RESPONSE TO ELECTIONS IN IRAQ” BY USING SYSTEMIC
FUNCTIONALGRAMMAR…..……………………………………………...19
Textual Meaning………………………………………………………..20
Cohesion……………………………………………………..............20
Theme and Rheme…..…………………………………………….…34
Ideational Meaning..……………………………………………………36
Interpersonal Meaning………………………………………………….39
Mood ………………………………………………………………...40
CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSION……………………………………..……44
BIBLIOGRAPHY………..………………………………………………..……48
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APPENDICES…………………………………………………….…………….49
Table 1. Clauses………………………………………………………....49
Figure 1. Identity Chain of Iraqis, the US and the Terrorists…………..52
Table 2.Conjunction…………………………………………………...56
Analysis of Theme Rheme……………………………………………...59
Table 3.Transitivity Process……..……………………………………..67

Table 4. Positive Self-Presentation……………………………………..71
Table 5. Negative Other-Presentation…………………………………..73
Table 6. Clauses of Mood……………………………………….……...74

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APPENDICES

Table 1. Clauses
NO.

CLAUSE

1

Today the people of Iraq have spoken to the world

2


and the world is hearing the voice of freedom from the center of the
Middle East.

3

In great numbers, and under great risk, Iraqis have shown their
commitment to democracy.

4

By participating in free elections, the Iraqi people have firmly rejected the
anti-democratic ideology of the terrorists.

5

They have refused to be intimidated by thugs and assassins.

6

And they have demonstrated the kind of courage


7

that is always the foundation of self-government.

8

Some Iraqis were killed

9

while exercising their rights as citizens.

10

We also mourn the American and British military personnel

11

who lost their lives today.


12

Their sacrifices were made in a vital cause of freedom, peace in a troubled

49

region, and a more secure future for us all.
13

The Iraqi people, themselves, made this election a resounding success.

14

Brave patriots stepped forward as candidates.

15

Many citizens volunteered as poll workers.


16

More than 100,000 Iraqi security force personnel guarded polling places

17

and conducted operations against terrorist groups.

18

One news account told of a voter

19

who had lost a leg in a terror attack last year,

20

and went to the polls today, despite threats of violence.


21

He said,

22

"I would have crawled here

23

if I had to (crawl).

24

I don't want terrorists to kill other Iraqis

25

like they tried to kill me.


26

Today I am voting for peace."

27

Across Iraq today, men and women have taken rightful control of their
country's destiny,

28

and they have chosen a future of freedom and peace.

29

In this process, Iraqis have had many friends at their side.

30

The European Union and the United Nations gave important assistance in

the election process.

31

The American military and our diplomats, > have been skilled and

32



33

and their sacrifices have helped to bring Iraqis to this day.

34

The people of the United States have been patient and resolute, even in
difficult days.

35


The commitment to a free Iraq now goes forward.

36

This historic election begins the process of drafting and ratifying a new
constitution,

37

which will be the basis of a fully democratic Iraqi government.

38

Terrorists and insurgents will continue to wage their war against
democracy,

39

and we will support the Iraqi people in their fight against them.

40

We will continue training Iraqi security forces

41

so this rising democracy can eventually take responsibility for its own
security.

42

There's more distance

43

to travel on the road to democracy.

44

Yet Iraqis are proving

45

they're equal to the challenge.

46

On behalf of the American people, I congratulate the people of Iraq on this
great and historic achievement.

47

Thank you very much.

51

Figure 1. Identity Chain of Iraqis, the US and the Terrorists

Iraqis

the US

the Terrorists

1. the people of Iraq
2. the center of the Middle East
3. Iraqis
Their (commitment to democracy)
52

4. the Iraqi people

the terrorists

5. They

thugs and assassins

6. They
7.
8. Some Iraqis
9. Their (rights as citizens)
10.

We
the American and British military personnel

11.

Their (lives)

12.

Their (sacrifices)
us

13. The Iraqi people
Themselves
14. Brave patriots
Candidates

53

15. Many citizens
poll workers
16. 100,000 Iraqi security force personnel
17.
18. a voter
19.
20.
21. He
22. I

terrorist groups

23. I
24. I
other Iraqis

terrorists

25. Me

they

26. I
27. men and women
their (country's destiny)
54

28. they
29. Iraqis
Their (side)
30.
31.

The American military
our

32.

our

33. Iraqis

their (sacrifices)

34.

The people of the United States

35.
36.
37.
38.

Terrorists and insurgents

39. Iraqi people

we

40.

we

55

41.
42.
43.
44. Iraqis
45. They
46. the people of Iraq

the American people
I

Table 2. Conjunction
NO CLAUSE

CLAUSE

ADD

(1) Today the people of



CONS

TEMP

NO
1

1 and 2

Iraq have spoken to the
world (2) and the world is
hearing

the

voice

of

freedom from the center
of the Middle East.
2

8 and 9

(8)Some

Iraqis

were

killed

(9)

while



exercising their rights as
citizens.
3

16 and 17 (16) More than 100,000
Iraqi

security



force

personnel guarded polling
places (17) and conducted
operations

against

terrorist groups.
4

18, 19

(18) One news account

and 20

told of a voter (19) who
had lost a leg in a terror
attack last year, (20) and
went to the polls today,
56



COMP

despite

threats

of

would

have

violence.
5

22 and 23 (22)

"I



crawled here (23) if I had
to (crawl).
6



24 and 25 (24) I don't want terrorists
to kill other Iraqis (25)
like they tried to kill me.

7

27 and 28 (27) Across Iraq today,



men and women have
taken rightful control of
their country's destiny,
(28) and they have chosen
a future of freedom and
peace.
8

31, 32

(31)

and 33

military

The

diplomats,
working

American
and

our

>

have been skilled and
relentless, (33) and their
sacrifices have helped to
bring Iraqis to this day.
57



9

38 and 39 (38)

Terrorists

and



insurgents will continue
to wage their war against
democracy, (39) and we
will support the Iraqi
people

in

their

fight

against them.
10

40 and 41 (40) We will continue
training

Iraqi



security

forces (41) so this rising
democracy can eventually
take responsibility for its
own security.
11

44 and 45 (44)

Yet

Iraqis

are

proving (45) they're equal
to the challenge.

ADD

= additive

CONS

= consequential

TEMP

= temporal

COMP

= comparative

From 11 conjunctions:
6 additives

1 temporal

3 consequential

1 comparative
58



Analysis of Theme Rheme
1. Today

the people of Iraq have spoken to the world

Topical Theme

2. and

Rheme

the world is hearing the voice of freedom from the center of the

Str.

Topical

Textual

Topical

Rheme

Theme

Middle East.

3. In great numbers, and under great risk,
Topical Theme

Iraqis have shown their
Rheme

commitment to democracy.

4. By participating in free elections, the Iraqi people have firmly rejected the
Topical Theme

Rheme

anti-democratic ideology of the terrorists.

5. They
Topical Theme

have refused to be intimidated by thugs and assassins.
Rheme
59

6. and
Str.

they

have demonstrated the kind of courage

Topical
Rheme

Textual Topical
Theme

7. that
Str.

is always the foundation of self-government.
Rheme

Textual
Theme

8. Some Iraqis
Topical Theme

9. while
Str.

were killed
Rheme

exercising their rights as citizens
Rheme

Textual
Theme

10. We

also mourn the American and British military personnel

Topical Theme Rheme

11. who

lost their lives today.

Str.
Textual Rheme
Theme

12. Their sacrifices
Topical Theme

were made in a vital cause of freedom, peace in a
Rheme

60

troubled region, and a more secure future for us all.

13. The Iraqi people, themselves, made this election a resounding success.
Topical Theme

14. Brave patriots
Topical Theme

15. Many citizens
Topical Theme

Rheme

stepped forward as candidates.
Rheme

volunteered as poll workers.
Rheme

16. More than 100,000 Iraqi security force personnel guarded polling places
Topical Theme

17. and

Rheme

conducted operations against terrorist groups.

Str.
Textual Rheme
Theme

18. One news account told of a voter
Topical Theme

Rheme

61

19. who

had lost a leg in a terror attack last year,

Str.
Textual Rheme
Theme

20. and

went to the polls today, despite threats of violence.

Str.
Textual Rheme
Theme

21. He

said,

Topical Theme Rheme

22. "I

would have crawled here

Topical Theme Rheme

23. if
Str.

I

had to (crawl).

Topical

Textual Topical Rheme
Theme

24. I

don't want terrorists to kill other Iraqis
Topical Theme

25. like
Str.

they

Rheme

tried to kill me.

Topical

Textual Topical Rheme
Theme
62

26. Today

I am voting for peace."

Topical Theme

Rheme

27. Across Iraq today, men and women have taken rightful control of their
Topical Theme

Rheme

country's destiny,

28. and

they

Str.

have chosen a future of freedom and peace.

Topical

Textual Topical Rheme
Theme

29. In this process,
Topical Theme

Iraqis have had many friends at their side.
Rheme

30. The European Union and the United Nations
Topical Theme

gave important assistance
Rheme

in the election process.

31. The American military and our diplomats, > have been skilled and
Rheme

relentless,
63

32.
Rheme

33. and

their sacrifices have helped to bring Iraqis to this day.

Str.

Topical

Textual Topical

Rheme

Theme

34. The people of the United States have been patient and resolute, even in
Topical Theme

Rheme

difficult days.

35. The commitment to a free Iraq now goes forward.
Topical Theme

36. This historic election
Topical Theme

Rheme

begins the process of drafting and ratifying a new
Rheme

constitution,

37. which

will be the basis of a fully democratic Iraqi government.

Str.
Textual

Rheme

Theme
64

38. Terrorists and insurgents

will continue to wage their war against

Topical Theme

Rheme

democracy,

39. and
Str.

we

will support the Iraqi people in their fight against them.

Topical

Textual Topical Rheme
Theme

40. We

will continue training Iraqi security forces

Topical Theme

41. so
Str.

Rheme

this rising democracy can eventually take responsibility for its
Topical
Rheme

Textual Topical
Theme

own security.

42. There
Topical Theme

's more distance
Rheme

65

43. to travel on the road to democracy.
Rheme

44. Yet

Iraqis

Str.

are proving

Topical

Textual Topical Rheme
Theme

45. They
Topical Theme

're equal to the challenge.
Rheme

46. On behalf of the American people,
Topical Theme

I
Rheme

of Iraq on this great and historic achievement.

47. Thank you very much.
Rheme

66

congratulate the people

Table3. Transitivity Processes
NO.

CLAUSE

PROCESS

1

Today the people of Iraq have spoken to the world

Verbal

2

and the world is hearing the voice of freedom from

Mental

the center of the Middle East.
3

In great numbers, and under great risk, Iraqis have

Material

shown their commitment to democracy.
4

By participating in free elections, the Iraqi people

Material

have firmly rejected the anti-democratic ideology
of the terrorists.
5

They have refused to be intimidated by thugs and

Mental

assassins.
6

And they have demonstrated the kind of courage

Material

7

thatis always the foundation of self-government.

8

Some Iraqis were killed

Material

9

whileexercising their rights as citizens.

Mental

10

We also mourn the American and British military

Mental

Relational

personnel
11

wholost their lives today.

Material

12

Their sacrifices were made in a vital cause of

Material

freedom, peace in a troubled region, and a more
secure future for us all.

67

13

The Iraqi people, themselves, made this election a

Material

resounding success.
14

Brave patriots stepped forward as candidates.

Material

15

Many citizens volunteered as poll workers.

Material

16

More than 100,000 Iraqi security force personnel

Material

guarded polling places
17

andconducted operations against terrorist groups.

Material

18

One news account told of a voter

19

who had lost a leg in a terror attack last year,

Material

20

andwent to the polls today, despite threats of

Material

Verbal

violence.
21

He said,

Verbal

22

"I would have crawled here

Material

23

if I had to (crawl).

Material

24

I don't want terrorists to kill other Iraqis

Mental

25

like they tried to kill me.

Material

26

Today I am voting for peace."

Material

27

Across Iraq today, men and women have taken

Behavioral

rightful control of their country's destiny,
28

and they have chosen a future of freedom and

Mental

peace.
29

In this process, Iraqis have had many friends at
their side.

Relational

68

30

The European Union and the United Nations gave

Material

important assistance in the election process.
31

The

American

military

and

our

diplomats,

Relational

have been skilled and relentless,
32



Material

33

and their sacrifices have helped to bring Iraqis to

Material

this day.
34

The people of the United States have been patient

Relational

and resolute, even in difficult days.
35

The commitment to a free Iraq now goes forward.

36

This historic election begins the process of drafting

Relational
Material

and ratifying a new constitution,
37

whichwill be the basis of a fully democratic Iraqi

Relational

government.
38

Terrorists and insurgents will continue to wage

Material

their war against democracy,
39

and we will support the Iraqi people in their fight

Material

against them.
40

We will continue training Iraqi security forces

Material

41

so this rising democracy can eventually take

Material

responsibility for its own security.
42

There's more distance

Existential

43

totravel on the road to democracy.

69

Material

44

Yet Iraqis are proving

Behavioral

45

they're equal to the challenge.

Relational

46

On behalf of the American people, I congratulate

Verbal

the people of Iraq on this great and historic
achievement.
47

Thank you very much.

Material Process

:27

Relational Process

:7

Mental Process

:6

Verbal Process

:4

Behavioral

:2

Existential Process

:1

Material

70

Table 4. Positive Self-Presentation
NO.

CLAUSE

CLAUSE

(+/-)

In great numbers, and under great risk, Iraqis

(+)

NO.
1

(3)

have shown their commitment to democracy.
2

(4)

By participating in free elections, the Iraqi
people

have

firmly

rejected

the

(+)

anti-

democratic ideology of the terrorists.
3

(6)

And they have demonstrated the kind of

(+)

courage
4

(11)

who lost their lives today.

(+)

5

(12)

Their (the American and British military

(+)

personnel) sacrifices were made in a vital
cause of freedom, peace in a troubled region,
and a more secure future for us all.
6

(13)

The Iraqi people, themselves, made this

(+)

election a resounding success.
7

(14)

Brave patriots stepped forward as candidates.

(+)

8

(15)

Many citizens volunteered as poll workers.

(+)

9

(16)

More

force

(+)

and conducted operations against terrorist

(+)

than

100,000

Iraqi

security

personnel guarded polling places
10

(17)

groups.
71

11

(19)

who had lost a leg in a terror attack last year,

(+)

12

(20)

and went to the polls today, despite threats of

(+)

violence.
13

(22)

"I would have crawled here

(+)

14

(23)

if I had to (crawl).

(+)

15

(26)

Today I am voting for peace."

(+)

16

(32)



(+)

17

(33)

and their sacrifices have helped to bring Iraqis

(+)

to this day.
18

(36)

This historic election begins the process of

(+)

drafting and ratifying a new constitution,
19

(39)

and we will support the Iraqi people in their

(+)

fight against them.
20

(40)

We will continue training Iraqi security forces

(+)

21

(41)

so this rising democracy can eventually take

(+)

responsibility for its own security.
22

(43)

to travel on the road to democracy.

(+)

23

(47)

Thank you very much.

(+)

72

Table 5. Negative Other-Presentation
NO.

CLAUSE

CLAUSE

(+/-)

They have refused to be intimidated by thugs

(-)

NO.
1

(5)

and assassins.
Ac: Thugs and assassins have been refused to
intimidate by them.
2

(8)

Some Iraqis were killed (by the terrorists)

(-)

3

(25)

like they tried to kill me.

(-)

4

(38)

Terrorists and insurgents will continue to wage

(-)

their war against democracy,

73

Table 6. Clause of Mood
NO.

CLAUSE

MOOD

1

Today the people of Iraq have spoken to the

Declarative

world
2

and the world is hearing the voice of freedom

Declarative

from the center of the Middle East.
3

In great numbers, and under great risk, Iraqis

Declarative

have shown their commitment to democracy.
4

By participating in free elections, the Iraqi

Declarative

people have firmly rejected the anti-democratic
ideology of the terrorists.
5

They have refused to be intimidated by thugs and

Declarative

assassins.
6

And they have demonstrated the kind of courage

Declarative

7

that is always the foundation of self-government.

Declarative

8

Some Iraqis were killed

Declarative

9

while exercising their rights as citizens.

Declarative

10

We also mourn the American and British

Declarative

military personnel
11

who lost their lives today.

Declarative

12

Their sacrifices were made in a vital cause of

Declarative

freedom, peace in a troubled region, and a more
secure future for us all.

74

13

The Iraqi people, themselves, made this election

Declarative

a resounding success.
14

Brave patriots stepped forward as candidates.

Declarative

15

Many citizens volunteered as poll workers.

Declarative

16

More than 100,000 Iraqi security force personnel

Declarative

guarded polling places
17

and

conducted

operations

against

terrorist

Declarative

groups.
18

One news account told of a voter

Declarative

19

who had lost a leg in a terror attack last year,

Declarative

20

and went to the polls today, despite threats of

Declarative

violence.
21

He said,

Declarative

22

"I would have crawled here

Declarative

23

if I had to (crawl).

Declarative

24

I don't want terrorists to kill other Iraqis

Declarative

25

like they tried to kill me.

Declarative

26

Today I am voting for peace."

Declarative

27

Across Iraq today, men and women have taken

Declarative

rightful control of their country's destiny,
28

and they have chosen a future of freedom and
peace.

75

Declarative

29

In this process, Iraqis have had many friends at

Declarative

their side.
30

The European Union and the United Nations

Declarative

gave important assistance in the election process.
31

The American military and our diplomats, > have been skilled and relentless,
32



Declarative

33

and their sacrifices have helped to bring Iraqis to

Declarative

this day.
34

The people of the United States have been

Declarative

patient and resolute, even in difficult days.
35

The commitment to a free Iraq now goes

Declarative

forward.
36

This historic election begins the process of

Declarative

drafting and ratifying a new constitution,
37

which will be the basis of a fully democratic

Declarative

Iraqi government.
38

Terrorists and insurgents will continue to wage

Declarative

their war against democracy,
39

and we will support the Iraqi people in their fight

Declarative

against them.
40

We will continue training Iraqi security forces

76

Declarative

41

so this rising democracy can eventually take

Declarative

responsibility for its own security.
42

There's more distance

Declarative

43

to travel on the road to democracy.

Declarative

44

Yet Iraqis are proving

Declarative

45

they're equal to the challenge.

Declarative

46

On behalf of the American people, I congratulate

Declarative

the people of Iraq on this great and historic
achievement.
47

Thank you very much.

Declarative

77

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY
A speech can be defined differently; one of the definitions is “a formal talk
given usually to a large number of people on a special occasion” (“Speech”).
Through a speech, people can deliver important information or persuade others for
certain purposes. Therefore, by delivering a speech, someone can gain what
she/he is intending to achieve.
To reach her/his goal, a speaker must deliver her/his speech orderly so that
the information of the speech will be acceptable. Besides, a speech should be
delivered orderly so that the language used in the speech will not offend certain
people even though there are some hidden critical meanings in the speech. The
use of hidden meaning in a speech also becomes one of the reasons for a speech to
be chosen as the data source of this thesis. This study attempts to reveal the
speaker’s ideas by analyzing the meaning of each clause within the speech.
A text analysis of a speech can be carried out by using many theories, one
of which is Michael Halliday’s Systemic Functional Grammar. Systemic
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Functional Grammar is appropriate for analyzing a speech because this theory can
be useful to find the meaning of a text in detail; also it can be used to analyze each
of the clause structures in a text. All in all, Systemic Functional Grammar
discusses the function of each word used in a text so that all the words and
structures in the text will practically be analyzed. Hence, the interpretation of the
ideas of the text will be presented objectively.
To interpret the ideas of the text, three kinds of meaning are utilized:
textual meaning, ideational meaning and interpersonal meaning, which will be
comprehensively explained in Chapter Two. By using this theory of meaning, the
analysis will not result in subjective interpretations as it is based on a scientific
theory.
President George Bush’s speech was chosen to be the data source because
he is one of the most phenomenal figures of the world in the twenty-first century.
Moreover, he is one of the presidents of a big country in the world, the United
States of America. Almost everything that he delivered always caught the world’s
attention. One of his speeches, “Response to Elections in Iraq,” has been chosen
because this speech was delivered by Bush when he was still occupying the
presidential position. This particular speech is important because the issue about
the United States’ relationship with Iraq is very well-known around the world as
Iraq is a country that was embattled by the United States. The battle happened
because some Iraqi people became the suspects of the bombing incident at World
Trade Center building in the USA on September 11, 2001.
The speech was delivered on January 30, 2005. In this speech, Bush
showed his supports towards the people of Iraq that participated in the election of
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a new government. Bush was thought to support the election in Iraq because the
election could help the United States to destroy the terrorists from Iraq. The
United States also supported the election in Iraq because the people of Iraq were
considered to deserve the freedom to channel their voice as free civilians of a
country. It was believed that the Iraqis also needed to release themselves from the
government that made use of terrorism.
This study is significant for the readers as from it they will learn how to
get the idea of a text, in this case a speech, critically, by applying Halliday’s
Systemic Functional Grammar theory in the analysis. By knowing that the speech
is scientifically analyzable, it is expected that the readers will not make a
subjective and personal interpretation of a text that was delivered by a particular
well-known person with a certain image. This study may also help avoid an issue
that comes up from the opinion of certain people with certain purposes.
Furthermore, the readers will be well aware of how to be as critical as possible in
interpreting a text.
(667 words)

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The problems of this study are stated as the following questions:
1. What is the textual meaning of this speech?
2. What is the ideational meaning of this speech?
3. What is the interpersonal meaning of this speech?

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PURPOSE OF THE STUDY
Based on the statement of the problem, this study is done for purposes of
analyzing:
1. the textual meaning of this speech.
2. the ideational meaning of this speech.
3. the interpersonal meaning of this speech.

METHOD OF RESEARCH
First, I selected the data of my study after searching some reliable sources
in the Internet. Then, I explored several references to support the data analysis and
after the analysis was finished, the report was written.

ORGANIZATION OF THE THESIS
The thesis is divided into four chapters. The first chapter is Introduction,
which consists of Background of the Study, Statement of the Problem, Purpose of
the Study, Method of Research and Organization of the Thesis. The second
chapter presents Theoretical Framework and the third chapter contains the
analysis of the speech. Finally, there is the last chapter, Conclusion. The thesis
ends with Bibliography and Appendices.

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CHAPTER FOUR

CONCLUSION

Before analyzing the textual, ideational and interpersonal meaning of the
speech entitled “Response to Elections in Iraq,” first I divide the speech into
clauses and find the actors of the speech. This step is a part of a process to find the
textual meaning. The actors of the speech are the United States, the people of Iraq
and the terrorists. As the speech was delivered by Bush, who at that time was the
president of the United States, the representation of the United States must be
positive. However, to make the analysis more objective, the actors of the speech
have to be divided into two groups based on their favor in raising a democratic
system in Iraq as the speech is related to democracy in Iraq. The result indicates
that the United States and the people of Iraq encourage the process of raising a
democratic system in Iraq while the terrorists do not. Based on the result, it can be
stated that the United States and the people of Iraq are called the self and the
terrorists are called the other. By supporting the people of Iraq in raising a
democratic system, Bush tries to create a positive image for the United States.
Besides, Bush emphasizes that there is a group of people called the terrorists who
become the enemy in the process of raising a democratic system in Iraq. To get
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the evidence of the positive and negative representations of the actors of this
speech, this study needs to analyze the textual meaning, ideational meaning and
interpersonal meaning of the speech.
The elements which have to be analyzed to get the textual meaning are
reference, lexical cohesion and theme rheme. As stated in Chapter Three, the
result of textual meaning analysis points out that the actors are divided into two
sides: the self and the other. To divide the actors, the study gathers each pronoun
of each actor. The result shows that Bush mostly use inclusive pronoun. In my
opinion, Bush’s purpose to use many inclusive pronouns is to avoid distance
between him as the speaker and the hearer. He wants the hearers to agree to his
idea and he wants the hearers to support his statement. In addition, by analyzing
the theme and rheme of each clause of this speech, the study conveys how Bush
states the main point of the information. Theoretically, the most important
information will be the theme of a clause.
The second meaning is ideational meaning, which is realized by analyzing
the transitivity. Transitivity focuses on the process of each clause in the speech.
By knowing the process of each clause, it is possible to make representation of the
self and the other from the actions that they do. The actions done by the self refer
to positive actions while all of the actions done by the terrorists refer to negative
actions. I believe, when Bush states the positive and negative actions of the self,
he wants to show the evidence that the self, who are the people of Iraq and the
United States, are in the same track to raise a democratic system in Iraq. However,
Bush also states some negative actions of the terrorists for the purpose of showing
that their effort to raise a democratic system in Iraq is not that easy. They face a
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struggle in the process of raising democracy. I think Bush also tries to give such
suggestion to the hearer that the terrorists have to be embattled as they obstruct
the effort of the people of Iraq, who are supported by the United States, to raise a
democratic system in Iraq.
The last meaning that I analyze is interpersonal meaning. Interpersonal
meaning is related to the speaker’s attitudes, in this case Bush’s attitudes toward
the other actors of this speech. Interpersonal meaning can be realized by analyzing
mood system and finite element. The finite elements consist of modality and
tenses. On grounds that each clause in this speech has a declarative mood type, it
can be concluded that Bush’s purpose in delivering this speech is to inform
something to the hearers not to demand information or to order the hearer to do
something. He also makes no distance for he does not state any clause with
imperative mood type.
Analysis of modality shows the probability to happen in the future, which
involves the self and the other as the participants. Yet, the result tells that the self,
in this case the United States, is expected to continue helping the people of Iraq in
raising a democratic system. In contrast, the other is expected to continue
obstructing the Iraqis’ effort in raising a democratic system, which also becomes
the reason for the United States to be expected to keep helping the Iraqis.
Through the analysis of tenses, it is also shown by the use of clauses in the
form of past, present and future tenses that the self is represented positively while
the other is again represented negatively. I think the reason for Bush to give the
information by attaching the past events is he wants to make the hearers accept
his idea because he states everything based on facts.
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My suggestion to the readers that have interest in text analysis is they
should find the compatible data to be analyzed. I suggest that they should analyze
the data produced by a well-known figure for the reason that it is possible to
check whether the analysis is truly objective or not. Usually a well-known figure
has their own image that makes them easily judged only by their image, not the
fact or the thing that truly happens to them. For instance, Bush is a well-known
figure. He is well-known for the fact that he is one of the United States presidents;
he is also popular because he condemns terrorism. He opposes the terrorists; he
believes that they come from Iraq because he once suspected that the bomber of
9/11 in WTC building was Iraqis. As Bush is anti Iraq, it will be hard to accept the
idea of this speech if an analysis based on a theory about text analysis is not
conducted. There are many theories which can be used to analyze a text.
However, I use Systemic Functional Grammar owing to the fact that this theory
focuses on the analysis of each clause of the text. Accordingly, I consider that the
result of the analysis using this theory will be reliable.

(1080 words)

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BIBLIOGRAPHY

Primary Text
Presidentialrhetoric.com. President George W. Bush’s speech “Response to
Elections in Iraq,” 30 January 2005. Web. 28 February 2013.

Printed and Online References
CNN.com. “Bush Insists Iraq, Al Qaeda Had ‘Relationship’,” 17 June 2004.
Web. 11 April 2014
CNN.com. “The Rise and Fall of the Dictator,” 14 December 2003. Web. 26 May
2014.
Gerot, Linda and Peter Wignell. Making Sense of Functional Grammar. Sydney:
Antipoden Educational Enterprises, 1994. Print
Stanford.edu. “What is Democracy?,” 21 January 2009. Web. 19 September 2013
Wilcock, Graham. “Origins of SFG,” 15 November 2001. Web. 6 May 2013.

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