Positive Discourse Analysis of Premier’s Press Conference throughAppraisal Theory

1 Background of the research

In 1952，American structural linguist Z.S.Harris put forward the discourse analysis firstly and it has developed for fifty years.So far，the research on discourse analysis is mainly classified into critical discourse analysis and non-critical discourse analysis.In 1999，J.R.Martin came up with a new notion called Positive Discourse Analysis（PDA for short），which made discourse analysis research obtain a new headway.

2 The definition of Appraisal Theory

The theoretical framework of the Positive Discourse Analysis mainly centers on the Appraisal Theory.The Appraisal Theory originates from traditional systematic functional linguistics making a research on interpersonal meaning and develops on the basis of the research，also namely appraisal system.It focuses on how to establish the speakers own attitude and standpoint in the context.The Appraisal Theory puts its concentration on the vocabulary level，made an in-depth study on the language attitude resources of the speaker，especially concerning the language attitude of the speaker body，so as to provide relative systematic analytical appliance for the study on interpersonal meaning.It includesattitude and engagement.

3 The definition of the Positive Discourse Analysis

Martin along with White has carried out a thorough discussion on motivation，content and manner of the Positive Discourse Analysis.They thought，evaluation theory equipped with functional grammar can not only be used to criticize but also construct；that is the Positive Discourse Analysis，which is came up with by Martin according to the shortcomings of the critical discourse.Positive Discourse Analysis refers to evaluate passages，news or contexts with a favorable attitude and analyzes targeted context with a complete and constructive standpoint.

4 PDA of premiers remarks：Attitude

4.1 Affect resources

Affect resources refer to ones that reflect feelings，emotions and relationships.It is classified into negative and positive emotion.When answering journalists questions，premiers cannot avoid coping with some hot issues such as Chinese companies to make investment and do business overseas.As to the words concerning government policies in reform，premiers positive emotion should show more in conference.

For example，“我們也愿意看到中國企業走出去（+affect），中國公民到國外去創業。”

In Chinas real estate market，for example，“我們支持居民自住性住房和改善性住房需求（+affect），促進房地產市場長期平穩健康發展。”

From the perspective of Positive Discourse Analysis，the words underlined and explained with the illustration in brackets can show intense affect.The series of words present that it is a kind of political strategy for premier to use positive affect resources to cheer up people，show confidence and display strength of Chinese government to tackle with some tough obstacles faced in China.endprint

4.2 Judgment resources

Judgment is the evaluation on peoples characters，behaviors and personalities.Judgment resources occupy the largest proportion in the whole attitude system.Similarly，it can be classified into positive judgment and negative one.The following examples of the underlined words are good presentation of positive judgment resources.

Premier makes judgments on the functional changes and institute reform on the status of social esteem and social sanction.

For example，“本屆政府會繼續下大力氣來推進簡政放權。”

Premier presents that the government has made up its mind to adapt some powerful measures not only aiming to motivate peoples activity and enthusiasm to start up new business，but also with the purpose of building a clean and efficient government.

Another example which has something with anti-corruption centers on：“中國黨和政府一貫堅持反腐倡廉的方針。” Premiers statement again represents to the public about Chinese government has made strong efforts to ensure that all acts of corruption will be brought to account.

Speaking of the environmental protection policies，for instance，“政府在治理霧霾等環境污染方面決心是堅定的，也是下了很大的氣力。”

4.3 Appreciation resources

Appreciation resources are a kind of evaluation resource about reaction，composition and valuation.In Premiers Press Conference，Premier always makes positive evaluations on governments reform，people in Hong Kong and Taiwan and foreign relations.Through this way，premier is able to win much support and trust from the audience and make them believe that they will have a wonderful future，which also acts as a salient point in establishing harmonious society.

For example，answering to the way getting along well with all the other countries，premier says “我們希望看到鄰居之間都和睦相處，歐洲和其他國家共同發展，合作共贏的局面，這既有利于相關方，也有利于中國。” Admittedly，the words full of positive judgment resources indicate that China and the United States are different in state system，but what is more important for the two countries is to extensively share common interests.

Premier adds，“當然，談判向世界發出了明確的信號，就是中美經貿關系會更加密切，這個中美關系的‘壓艙石 會更沉更穩。” These positive underlined words show that China advocates all the countries can make joint efforts to establish a new model of interstate relations characterised with no-conflict，no-confrontation，mutual respect and win-win cooperation all the time.

4.4 PDA of premiers remarks：Engagement

4.4.1 Contract resources

Contract resources include disclaim and proclaim.Disclaim is the refusal and replacement or the impropriety of some words or sounds.It is classified into negation （deny） or counter.According to the perspective of dialogue，negation is a resource for introducing the alternative positive position into the dialogue，and hence acknowledging it，so as to refuse it （Martin&White，2008）.endprint

For example，“但是你說有大量中國人到海外購房，而且成了某些熱點城市的最大購買群體，這可能還需要做評估，我沒有這方面確切的消息。” Negation resource“沒有確切的消息”has obviously a feature of dialogue，which correspond to“消息不準確，并沒有大量中國人海外購房”.By doing so，audiences will think that most Chinese are sensible to purchase houses overseas.Therefore，premier by using negation resources emphasize the positive meaning of stability and sensibility of Chinese consumer group towards the real estate market both home and abroad.

Counter is to use one view or status to replace another，namely，to displace one voice with another.“Refute”is generally represented by typical conjunctions.

For example，“去年我國經濟增速放緩，但是就業不增反減，簡政放權起了很重要的支撐作用。”

In the first example，the foreign media only focus on the economy slowdown in China.They enjoy no achievements from streamlining administration and delegating government powers during the process of economic slowdown.

Compared with disclaim，proclaim is relatively few.It is usually expressed by“of course，naturally，admittedly”.

For example，“當然，治理環境污染是一個系統工程。”

The use of resource“當然”means that premiers statement is not controversial.The environmental management in any country does need a “marathon”in the long run.Premier says so in order to let people be aware that environmental protection is not implemented in one day.

4.4.2 Expand resources

Expand resources are composed of entertain resources and attribute resources.Attribute refers to that the author presents some views through others discourse and it does not occur in the Premiers Press Conference in 2015.So the writer places more attention on entertain research.

For example，“大陸將會繼續維護臺資企業和臺商的合法權益，保持對他們的合理優惠政策。”

“今年習近平主席將應邀對美國進行國事訪問，相信會進一步推進中美關系的發展。”

The first example implies the premier hopes that through carrying out favorable policies to Taiwan，the two sides can further enhance personnel interflow and bring the hearts and minds of people across the Straits closer to each other.In the second example，premier proves Chinas emphasis on Sino-America relations，as well as its active actions to build new model of major country relations featuring mutual respect and win-win cooperation.

5 Major findings of the study

By means of Positive Discourse Analysis，the positive meaning gets constructed and the purpose of Premiers Press Conference is also achieved.The major findings may be established as the frequent use of positive vocabularies ensure the validity of evaluation resources in the data and the comprehensive analysis of the data make the purpose of Premiers Press Conference come true from the perspective of Positive Discourse Analysis.That is the validity of the combination of Appraisal Theory with Positive Discourse Analysis.Hence operational mechanism of Positive Discourse Analysis and Appraisal Theory in the analysis of Premiers Press Conference is achieved by interpreting evaluation resources from positive aspects successfully.

作者簡介：

張鑫（1995.11.09—），女，漢，中國，西北政法大學翻譯碩士，研究生二年級，英語筆譯。endprint