A Comparative Study of Modality Metaphor in German and American Political Discourse ——Taking Foreign Ministers’ Opening Remarks about Antiterrorism as an example

DOI: 10.5176/2251-3566_L318.208

Authors: Duan Sufang, Zhang Yi, Wang Jiayu

Abstract: Modality metaphor, as an essential part of grammatical metaphor in Systemic Functional Linguistics, is of great significance to the speaker’s attitude and judgment. In this thesis, we take the opening remarks of the foreign ministers of Germany and the United States on the anti-terrorism as the research object, and based on the modality metaphor theory of functional grammar, examine the modal metaphors in English and German from three dimensions: modality type, modality orientation, and modality value. This thesis also sums up the similarities and differences between the two languages and summarizes the possible reasons behind the results, simultaneously demonstrates the influence and function of modality metaphor on the construction of political stand and attitude..

Keywords: systemic functional linguistics, modality metaphor, political discourse