Positioning One-Self as Leader Through a Speech: Mood and Modality Analysis

Abstract

Fighting fascism was shown by Charlie Chaplin in his speech in The
Great Dictator film. Thus, this research aimed to reveal Chaplin's Point
of View, attitudes, and judgments toward people through mood and
modality analysis in his speech. The-descriptive qualitative method and
Hallidayan SFL theory were used to analyze the speech. The findings
revealed that Chaplin used 81% declarative and 19% imperative from
54 clauses. Chaplin did not use interrogatives in the speech to
encourage people to fight fascism. Furthermore, the researchers found
that Chaplin mostly used 92% modalization probability to describe a
wonderful future if the dictator loses. Furthermore, Chaplin used an 8%
modulation obligation to depict an action that Chaplin should take.
Based on the data, it could be interpreted that Chaplin's position was
higher than the audiences. He viewed his audience as being weak.
Chaplin calls on the soldiers to stop being the slaves of dictators and
refuse to listen to their orders. This study from the speech could provide
information for people interested in mood and modality and the
meaning of the speech related to the Russia-Ukraine war.