Analysis of Mood Elements, Transitivity, and Clause Complex

Grammar, Meaning, and Discourse“Whiskey Speech” by Noah S. Sweat

1

Whiskey Speech by Noah S. Sweat

"My friends,"I had not intended to discuss this controversial subject at this particular time. However, I want you to know that I do not shun controversy. On the contrary, I will take a stand on any issue at any time, regardless of how fraught with controversy it might be. You have asked me how I feel about whiskey. All right, here is how I feel about whiskey."If when you say whiskey you mean the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster, that defiles innocence, dethrones reason, destroys the home, creates misery and poverty, yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little children; if you mean the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair, and shame and helplessness, and hopelessness, then certainly I am against it."But;"If when you say whiskey you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine, the ale that is consumed when good fellows get together, that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips, and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; if you mean Christmas cheer; if you mean the stimulating drink that puts the spring in the old gentleman's step on a frosty, crispy morning; if you mean the drink which enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and to forget, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies, and heartaches, and sorrows; if you mean that drink, the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars, which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools, then certainly I am for it."This is my stand. I will not retreat from it. I will not compromise."

Noah S. Sweat - Whiskey Speech

Source:

http://www.famous-speeches-and-speech-topics.info/famous-short-speeches/noah-s-sweat-whiskey-speech.htm


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1. ANALYSIS OF MOOD ELEMENTS

My friends,[Minor Clause – not analyzed]

1.I had not intended to discuss this controversial subject at this

Subject Finite Predicator Complement AdjunctMood Residue

particular time.of time

2.However, I want you to know

Subject Finite Predicator ComplementMood Residue

3.that I do not shun controversy.


4.On the contrary, I will take a stand on any issue

Subject

Finite

Predicator

Complement

CircumstantialAdjunct

Mood Residue

at any time, Circ. Adjunct

5.regardless of how fraught with controversy it might be.

Complement/Wh. Subject Finite PredicatorResidue Mood


3

6.You have asked me

Subject Finite Predicator Complement

Mood Residue

7.how I feel about whiskey.

Adj./Wh

Subj. Fin. Pred. Compl.

MoodResidue

Circumstantial Adjunct

All right, [Minor Clause – not analyzed]

8. here is how I feel about whiskey.

Subject Finite Adjunct/Wh Subject Finite

Predicator Complement

MoodResidue

ComplementMood Residue

9.If when you say whiskey

Adjunct/ Wh Subject Finite Predicator Complement Mood

Residue

10.you mean the devil's brew,the poison scourge, the bloody monster,

Subj Fin Pred ComplementMood Residue

11.that (whiskey) defiles innocence,


4


12. (whiskey) dethrones reason,


13. (whiskey) destroys the home,


14. (whiskey) creates misery and poverty,


yea, [Minor Clause – not analyzed]

15.literally (whiskey) takes the bread from the mouths of little children;

Circ. Adjunct

Subj Fin Pred Complement

Mood Residue

16.if you mean the evil drink


17.that (whiskey) topples the Christian man and woman


from the pinnacle of righteous, gracious living Circumstantial Adjunct

into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair, and shame and


5

Circumstantial Adjunct

helplessness, and hopelessness, Circumstantial Adjunct

18.then certainly I am against it.

Mood Adjunct Subject Finite ComplementMood Residue

But;[Conjunction – not analyzed]


Adjunct/Wh

Subject Finite Predicator Complement

Mood Residue

20. you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine,


21. the ale that is consumed

Subject Finite PredicatorMood Residue

22.when good fellows get together,

Adjunct/Wh Subject Finite Predicator Circ. AdjunctMood Residue

23.that (whiskey) puts a song in their hearts

Subject Finite Predicator Complement Circ. AdjunctMood Residue


6

and laughter on their lips, Complement Circ. Adjunct

and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; Complement Circ. Adjunct

24.if you mean Christmas cheer;


25.if you mean the stimulating drink


26.that (stimulating drink) puts the spring


in the old gentleman's step on a frosty, crispy morning; Circumstantial Adjunct

27.If you mean the drink


28.which (the drink) enables a man


to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and to forget, if only for a little

while, life's great tragedies, and heartaches, and sorrows;


7

29.if you mean that drink,


30.the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of dollars,

Subject Fin Pred ComplementMood Residue

31.which (that drink) are used to provide tender care


for our little crippled children, our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful Circumstantial Adjunct

aged and infirm; to build highways and hospitals and schools, Predicator Complement

32.then certainly I am for it.

Mood Adjunct Subject Finite ComplementMood Residue

33. This is my stand.

Subject Finite ComplementMood Residue

34. I will not retreat from it.

Subject Finite Predicator Circ. AdjunctMood Residue


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35.I will not compromise.

Subject Finite ComplementMood Residue

Comment about the text regarding its MOOD SYSTEM:

It is not very difficult to analyze the mood system of the script. After separating

the clauses, we can simply analyze their mood and residue. However, mainly the

difficulty deals with how to analyze the clause which actually belongs to residue

(e.g. complement or adjunct: see clause number 6, 7, and 8).

Mood system is used to express interpersonal meanings: about the speaker’s

attitude in exchanging meaning and wording. In exchanging meaning, the speaker

tent to speak informally and use declarative wordings to convey his view about the

topic. We can see this by taking a look at the diction he chose.


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2. ANALYSIS OF TRANSITIVITY

My friends,[Addressee]

1.I had not intended to discuss this controversial subject

Senser Mental: Cognitive Phenomenon

at this particular time.Circumstance: Time

2.However, I want you to know

Senser Mental: Affect Senser Mental : CognitionPhenomenon

3.that I do not shun controversy.

Behaver

Behavioral Range

4.On the contrary, I will take a stand on any issue at any time,

Behaver

Behavioral Range Circ: Matter Circ: Time


Attribute Carrier Attributive

6.You have asked me

Actor Material Client

7.how I feel about whiskey. Phenomenon Senser Mental: Cognition Circ: Matter

All right, [Minor Clause – not analyzed]


10

8.here is how I feel about whiskey.Token Id:

IntensivePhenomenon Senser Mental:

CognitionCirc: Matter

Value


Sayer Verbal Verbiage

10.you mean the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster,

Senser Mental: Cognition

Phenomenon

11.that ( it ) defiles innocence,

Actor Material Range

12.( it ) dethrones reason,


13.( it ) destroys the home,


14.( it ) creates misery and poverty,


yea, [Minor Clause – not analyzed]

15.literally ( it ) takes the bread from the mouths of little children;

Circ: manner Actor Material Goal Circ: Place

16.


11

if you mean the evil drink Senser Mental:

CognitionPhenomenon

17.That ( it ) topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of

Actor

Material Range Circ: Place

righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair,

and shame and helplessness, and hopelessness,

18.then certainly I am against it.

Circ: Manner Token Id: circumstantial Value

But;[Conjunction – not analyzed]


Sayer Verbal Verbiage

20.you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine,

Senser

Mental: Cognition

Phenomenon

21.the ale that is consumed

Goal Material


Behaver Behavioral

Range

23.that ( it ) puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips,


12


Circ: Place Range Circ: Place

and the warm glow of contentment in their eyes; Range Circ: Place


Senser Mental: Cognition

Phenomenon

25.if you mean the stimulating drink

Senser

Mental: Cognition

Phenomenon

26.that (it) puts the spring in the old gentleman's step

Actor Material Range Circ: place

on a frosty, crispy morning; Circ: Time

27.if you mean the drink

Senser

Mental: Cognition

Phenomenon

28.which ( it ) enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and

Initiator Behaver RangeBehavioral

to forget, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies, and heartaches, Behavioral Circ: Time Range

and sorrows;


13


Senser

Mental: Cognition

Phenomenon



31.which are used to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our

Material Goal Recipient

blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm;

to build highways and hospitals and schools, Material

Goal


Circ: Manner Token Id: circumstantial Value

33.This is my stand.

Token Identifying: possessive Value

34.I will not retreat from it.

Behaver Behavioral Circ: matter

35.I will not compromise.

Behaver

Behavioral

Comment about the text regarding its TRANSITIVTY:


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Frequency of Model of Transitivity used in the Speech “Whiskey Speech” by

Noah

No Model of Transitivity Frequency of Usage

1 Material Process 12

2 Behavioral Process 6

3 Mental Process 10

4 Verbal Process 2

5 Relational Process

Attributive Process 1

Identifying Process 4

TOTAL 35

As we can see, the most frequent model of transitivity used in the speech is

Material Process then Mental Process.

The frequent use of mental process indicates that, in this speech, the speaker

was trying to convey his ideas and elaborate his views about the topic. In that

process, the speaker often used material process to describe what he wanted to say.

However, the dictions he chose were mostly connotative. Many of material

processes here were used as personifications: to illustrate ‘animate’ actions done by

inanimate things. Furthermore, to describe an idea or situation, he tends to use

material process with range instead of goal. That’s why this speech is pretty much

interesting to listen or read for the use of beautiful, meaningful words. However,

this speech also demands us to expand our way of thinking and imagination.


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3. ANALYSIS OF CLAUSE COMPLEX

My friends,[Minor clause – vocatives]

TAXISANALYSIS

SENTENCES / CLAUSES

A (i) α

(ii) ‘β

B (i) +α

(ii) ‘β α

(iii) ‘β

C (i) +1

(ii) x2

D (i) α

(ii) “β

E (i) α

(ii) =β

F (i) αα1

(ii) ‘2

(iii) β1

(iv) ‘2

(v) ‘3

(vi) ‘4

(vii) ‘5

(viii) ‘6

(ix) γ1

I had not intended

to discuss this controversial subject at this particular time.

However, I want you

to know

that I do not shun controversy.

On the contrary, I will take a stand on any issue at any time,

regardless of how fraught with controversy it might be.

You have asked me

how I feel about whiskey.

All right, here is

how I feel about whiskey.

If when you say

whiskey

you mean

the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster, that

defiles innocence,

dethrones reason,

destroys the home,

creates misery and poverty,

yea, literally takes the bread from the mouths of little

children; if you mean


16

(x) ‘2

(xi) β

G (i) αα1

(ii) ‘2

(iii) β1

(iv) ‘2

(v) ‘3

(vi) ‘4

(vii) =βα

(viii) xβ

(ix) =γ

(x) γ1

(xi) ‘2

(xii) δ1

(xiii) ‘2α

(xiv) =β

(xv) ɛ1

(xvi) ‘2α

(xvii) =β

(xviii) ‘β

(xix) ‘γ

(xx) ζ1

(xxi) ‘2α

(xxii) =β

the evil drink that topples the Christian man and woman from

the pinnacle of righteous, gracious living into the bottomless

pit of degradation, and despair, and shame and helplessness,

and hopelessness,

then certainly I am against it.

But, if when you say

whiskey

you mean

the oil of conversation,

the philosophic wine,

the ale

that is consumed

when good fellows get together,

that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips, and

the warm glow of contentment in their eyes;

if you mean

Christmas cheer;

if you mean

the stimulating drink

that puts the spring in the old gentleman's step on a frosty,

crispy morning;

if you mean

the drink

which enables a man

to magnify his joy, and his happiness, and

to forget, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies, and

heartaches, and sorrows;

if you mean

that drink,

the sale of which pours into our treasuries untold millions of

dollars,


17

(xxiii) γα

(xxiv) ‘β

(xxv) ‘γ

(xxvi) ‘β

H (i) 1

I (i) 1

J (i) 1

which are used

to provide tender care for our little crippled children, our

blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm;

to build highways and hospitals and schools,

then certainly I am for it.

This is my stand.

I will not retreat from it.

I will not compromise.

Comment about the text regarding its CLAUSE COMPLEX:

Three words to describe the complexity of the clauses: so much

complicated. There are very simple sentences which are constituted by one simple

clause only, but there are also very long sentences that have many clauses within

clauses. I encountered many problems in dividing the clauses and categorizing them

into the correct logico-semantic relations.

Actually, the speech is pretty easy to understand and detailed. In linking the

two main points (e.g.: “if you say whiskey you mean…” and “…certainly I am

against it”), the speaker gave a very detailed information and explanation (e.g.: “a

devil’s brew …, “literally takes the bread from… “). This kind of utterances, when

being spoken, is sensible and easy to understand. However, it is very difficult to

analyze, just like what I have said in the previous paragraph.


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4. ANALYSIS OF THEME AND RHEME

1. My friends, I had not intended to discuss this controversial subject

Vocative Topical

RhemeInterpersonal Topical

Theme

at this particular time.

2.However, I want you to know that I do not shun

Conjunction Topical Structure TopicalRhemeTextual Topical Theme

Theme Rheme controversy.

3.On the contrary, I will take a stand on any issue at any time,

Conjunction TopicalTextual Topical

Theme Rheme


Structural Topical

RhemeTextual TopicalTheme

5.You have asked me how I feel about whiskey.

Topical Topical

RhemeTopical Topical

ThemeTheme

Rheme


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6.All right, here is how I feel about whiskey.

Continuative

Topical Topical

RhemeTextual Topical Topical

ThemeTheme Rheme

7. If when you say whiskey

Continuative Conjunctive

Topical

Textual Topical

Theme Rheme

8.you mean the devil's brew, the poison scourge, the bloody monster,

TopicalTopical

RhemeTheme

9. that ( it ) defiles innocence,

Structural Topical

Rheme

Textual Topical

Theme

10.( it ) dethrones reason,

TopicalTopical

RhemeTheme

11.( it ) destroys the home,

TopicalTopical

RhemeTheme

12.( it ) creates misery and poverty,

TopicalTopical

Rheme


20

Theme

13.yea, literally ( it ) takes the bread from the mouths of little children;

Cont.

Conj. Topical

RhemeTextual Topical

Theme

14.if you mean the evil drink

Conjunctive Topical

Rheme

Textual Topical

Theme

15.that ( it ) topples the Christian man and woman from the pinnacle of

Str. Topical


Theme

righteous, gracious living into the bottomless pit of degradation, and despair,

and shame and helplessness, and hopelessness,

16. then certainly I am against it.

Str. Conjunctive Topical


Theme

17.But; if when you say whiskey

Conj. Continuativ Conjunctive Topical


21

eTextual Topical

ThemeRheme

18.you mean the oil of conversation, the philosophic wine,

TopicalTopical

RhemeTheme

19.the ale that is consumed

TopicalTopical

Structural

RhemeTextual

Theme


Conjunctive Topical

Rheme

Textual Topical

Theme

21.that puts a song in their hearts and laughter on their lips, and the

Structure Topical

Rheme

Textual Topical

Theme

warm glow of contentment in their eyes;


Conjunction Topical

Rheme

Textual Topical

Theme

if you mean the stimulating drink Conjunction Topical Rheme


22

Textual Topical

Theme

23.that puts the spring in the old gentleman's step on a frosty,

Structure Topical

Rheme

Textual Topical

Theme

crispy morning;

24.if you mean the drink

Conjunction Topical

Rheme

Textual Topical

Theme

25.which ( it ) enables a man to magnify his joy, and his happiness, Str. Topical Topical

Rheme

Textual

Topical Topical

ThemeTheme

Rheme

26.and ( a man ) to forget, if only for a little while, life's great tragedies,

Conjunction Topical

Rheme

Textual Topical

Theme

and heartaches, and sorrows;



23

Conjunction Topical

Rheme

Textual Topical

Theme


Topical Str.

Rheme

Topical Textual

Theme

29.which ( they ) are used

Str. Topical

Rheme

Textual Topical

Theme

30.( they ) to provide tender care for our little crippled children,

TopicalTopical

RhemeTheme

our blind, our deaf, our dumb, our pitiful aged and infirm;

31.( they ) to build highways and hospitals and schools,

TopicalTopical

RhemeTheme


Str. Conjunctive Topical


Theme

33.This is my stand.

TopicalTopical

RhemeTheme


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34.I will not retreat from it.

TopicalTopical

RhemeTheme35.I will not compromise.

TopicalTopical

RhemeTheme

Comment about the text regarding its THEME and RHEME:

If we judge from the technical usage of Theme and Rheme, you may find

this speech is kind of ‘monotonous’ because the speaker mainly talk about himself

and his views: frequent use of I as the theme and it is mostly placed at the

beginning of the clause. It makes all clauses are very coherent though. However, if

we pay more attention at the diction and the way the speaker ‘illustrate’ his ideas,

we’ll find it interesting.

Documents

Analysis of Mood Elements, Transitivity, and Clause Complex