Analysis of Commencement Speech from a Transitivity Perspective—A Case Study of 2022 NYU Commencement Speech from Taylor Swift

本文从系统功能语法的及物性视角出发，对泰勒·斯威夫特在2022年纽约大学毕业典礼上的演讲进行了深入分析。研究主要关注演讲的及物性特征和各类过程小句的分布规律，旨在探究演讲背后的语言策略和丰富的内涵。研究发现，在演讲中，物质过程、关系过程和心理过程小句占据主导地位，反映了演讲的思想内涵和丰富的人文关怀，充满了情感共鸣和行动力。通过对毕业演讲的语篇进行及物性分析，有助于揭示此类演讲的语言风格和修辞手法，帮助人们更好地欣赏和评价毕业演讲。Based on Systemic Functional Grammar, this paper conducts an in-depth analysis of Taylor Swift’s 2022 commencement speech at New York University from the perspective of transitivity. The study primarily focuses on the transitivity features of the speech and the distribution patterns of various process clauses, aiming to explore the linguistic strategies and rich connotations behind the speech. The research finds that material, relational, and mental process clauses dominate the speech, reflecting its ideological connotation and profound humanistic concern, filled with emotional resonance and a call to action. By analyzing the transitivity features of commencement speech, it helps to reveal the linguistic style and rhetorical techniques of such speeches, aiding people in better appreciating and evaluating commencement speeches.