Attitude Realisation in Joe Biden’s Presidential Speech Towards Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: An Appraisal Analysis

Abstract

This study aimed to (1) analyse the appraisal attitude devices of Joe Biden, (2) describe the realization of the appraisal attitude, and (3) explain the emphirical reasons of the appraisal attitude in Joe Biden’s presidential speech towards Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. This descriptive qualitative study occupied documentation in collecting the data. Where as Fairclough’s framework of Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) was occupied as an analytical method to analyse the data. Furthermore, Martin & White’s Appraisal Theory (AT) was also adopted as an analytical tool to examine the realisation of Joe Biden’s attitude in his presidential speech. The findings showed that (1) there are 64 (55,17%) items found in the judgement function, 42 (36,20%) items found in the affect function, and there are only 10 (8,62%) items found in the appreciation function of attitudinal appraisal in Joe Biden’s presidential speech. (2) The discursive realization of the attitude appraisal has revealed that Joe Biden emphasizes positive goals which is a restoration of Ukraine’s independence and ability to define its future, that advanced the vital U.S. and allied interests in the protection of democracy, sovereignty and rule of law. (3) Importantly, through the Attitude System of Appraisal Analysis, it is acknowledged that how evoked Joe Biden in regard to Russia’s attack through his choice of words and lexemes since it was figured out that Judgement is the most occuring function used by Joe Biden in his speech. Moreover, it can be noticed the significance of language (discourse) in politics and social contexts leads to the changing of political and social practices and realities. Theoretically, this particular research adds another finding that a person in charge (in this case Joe Biden) has shown his true identity and viewpoints in response to a specific matter (Russia’s attack over Ukraine) through his words and sentences. Further, through the Appraisal System of Attitude analysis, it can be revealed that language plays a very important role in political discourses. It reflects the speaker’s identity and world’s perspective to him.