Interpreting the Interpersonal Grammatical Metaphor in Nobel Speeches in Literature

Abstract

This paper intends to analyze the use of interpersonal grammatical metaphor in Nobel Speeches in Literature. 29 speeches are downloaded from the Nobel official website as data. The occurrences of the metaphors of mood and metaphors of modality are counted, summed up, and listed; the frequencies of each are calculated as well. Our research results show that interpersonal grammatical metaphor does exist in these speeches and indicate that the metaphors of modality are used more widely than metaphors of mood in speech style. They serve such functions as helping the speakers convey their thoughts successfully and making the thoughts be accepted by audience easily.