Language as Action: A Discourse-Stylistic Analysis of Mood Features in Michelle Obama’S Final Speech

Abstract

This paper aims to examine the stylistic effect of the mood features in Michelle Obama’s final address to the Americans. Anchored on Systemic Functional Linguistics and Discourse Stylistics, it basically focuses on the mood structures and the modality types registered in the speech. The findings disclose that the then U.S. first lady relies more on declarative mood and deontic modality to convey her message. The study thus infers that in her final message to her country citizens, Michelle Obama concentrates on action clauses and behaves as advisor towards women and men, as well as young and adults.