Genre Analysis of Movie Trailer Discourse: A Systemic Functional Linguistics Perspective

Abstract

Genre analysis from functional perspectives has been extensively applied to various discourses in recent decades. However, movie trailer discourse (MTD), as a crucial promotional tool, remains understudied. This research conducts a generic analysis of 20 English movie trailer transcriptions drawing on Hasan’s Generic Structure Potential (GSP) theory and Martin’s Schematic Structure framework. Adopting a descriptive and qualitative methodology, the study investigates the generic properties of MTD and explores its semantic realizations through the three metafunctions (ideational, interpersonal, and textual) within Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL).

The study addresses a gap in genre research by tentatively applying SFL to MTD analysis. Findings reveal that MTD exhibits a fixed schematic structure with distinct stages for meaning realization. Furthermore, MTD serves three key functions: (1) providing a narrative preview, (2) engaging audiences, and (3) integrating seemingly fragmental elements into a cohesive unit. This study not only expands the application of SFL to MTD but also offers insights into enhancing language mechanism for language learners to express their ideas appropriately in multimodal discourse.