Rhetoric in Society Construing ’hope’ in gene modification discourse: A study of inscribed and invoked mental processes Inger Lassen, Department of Languages, Culture and Aesthetics, Aalborg

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ Background and context: The project ’Language, Society and Genomics’ The context of European skepticism 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ Some purposes of this presentation: To argue that the mental process ’hope’- in its many explicit and implicit realizations - covers a vast meaning potential, ranging on a cline between desiderative sensing processes like ’want’ to cognitive processes like ’think’. To suggest that – whether congruent or incongruent, explicit or implicit - the meaning potential of ’hope’ expands through the interaction of appraisal resources and fundamental speech functions. 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ Data and method: Ten interviews (eleven attitudes to the crops of the future) A Danish freelance journalist’s commission: ’Present a picture of the current attitudes to GMO and biotechnology in Denmark through interviews with approximately equal numbers of skeptics and supporters’ (Christiansen 2002: 8) 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ Theoretical approach: Systemic Functional Grammar (Halliday (1994), Halliday &Matthiessen 1999), Matthiessen (2004), Martin (1997), White (2001), Martin and Rose (2003), Martin and White (2005). Critical Discourse Analysis (Fairclough 1995, 1998, 2003). 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Construing ’hope’ 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Table 1: Giving or demanding, goods-&-services or information   Role in exchange Commodity exchanged (a) goods-&-services (b) information (i) giving ‘offer’ [proposal] ‘statement’ [proposition] (ii) demanding ‘command’ ‘question’ (Halliday (revised by Matthiessen 2004: 107) 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ SENSING PROCESSES: Perceptive (pre-project facts (’they heard that..’) Emotive (pre-project facts (’they were sad that…’) Cognitive (create worlds of ideas about information that may not be valid) (’I think’) Desiderative (create worlds of ideas, whose materialization depends on desire) (’I want’) 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Table 2. Realization of hope in ten interviews   ‘HOPE’ (in direct quotes)   ENGAGEMENT ATTRIBUTED UTTERANCES 3 examples ATTITUDE AFFECT JUDGMENT APPRECIATION 7 examples 5 examples MODALITY (67 examples in total) 10 examples 9 examples 43 examples 5 DISCLAIMERS 0 examples PROCLAIMERS 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University  

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ Realizations of ’hope’: Example 1: (congruent, explicit realization) ’I hope that with time, GM technology will be recognized and used by environmentalists’ (2002: 10) 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ Interaction of ’hope’, appraisal resources and speech functions: Example 2 (3): Modalized Judgment (capacity), probability, inscribed ’By means of genetic engineering we can do this [interfere with nature: author’s comment] in a better, faster, safer and more applied manner. I am convinced that future generations will make the conclusion that GM technology has contributed greatly to making the world a better place (2000: 13) (Judgment in italics; modality underlined). 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ Example 3 (8): Modulated Judgment, obligation (invoked negative Judgment of Greenpeace; inscribed positive Appreciation of GM-technology) ’When the population understands that the technology benefits the environment and sustainability – and at the same time is entirely safe – Greenpeace and the like will have to pack their bags. They will lose the battle’ (2000: 91). (Judgment in italics; modality underlined; appreciation in bold). 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ Example 4 (11): Modulated objective obligation: Positive invoked Judgment of ’following the same procedure’. ’It is an utter necessity that we all follow the same procedure of approval’ (2000: 30) (Modulation underlined; Judgment in italics) 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ Example 5 (16): Modulated obligation and invoked negative Judgment of experts ’saying that GM technology is safe’. ’The decisive element will be that the researchers do not make the mistake of saying that GM technology is ’completely safe’ because nothing is (2000: 83). (Modulation underlined; Judgment in italics) 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ Example 6 (24): Modulated obligation and invoked negative Affect and negative Judgment of scientific experiments. ’ I want experiments in which organic crops are compared with conventional and GM crops respectively’ (2000: 23) (Modulation underlined; Affect in bold; Judgment in italics). 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ Example 7: Inscribed positive Affect, positive Appreciation and positive Judgment combined with modal ’would be’(readiness/ ability/ inclination) ’It would be nice to get a GM variety with resistance against fungus and mould so I could reduce the frequency of the pesticide treatments from the present eight sprays’ (2000: 47). (Judgment in italics; Appreciation underlined; Affect in bold) 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ Example 8 (35): Engagement, proclaiming combined with invoked positive Judgment and modalization. ’How long will it be before genetically engineered plants are just as accepted and sought after in Denmark and Europe as GMO medicine is? [….] It is coming. I have no doubts whatsoever’ (2000: 89). (Judgment in italics; proclaiming part in bold; modalization underlined) 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ Conclusions: The notion of ’hope’ was an all-pervading feature in the interviews analysed GMO-proponents hoped for wide acceptance of GM-technology GMO-skeptics hoped for improved governance and control of risk relating to GM-technology (and feared untrolled technological advance) 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ Conclusions continued: The ten interviews only had three explicit realizations of ’hope’ Instead, ’hope’ was expressed through invoked appraisal resources (in particular Judgment) combined with the modality system of probability, obligation, inclination and potentiality and through metaphors of mood and modality. 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University

Inger Lassen, Aalborg University Construing ’hope’ References: Christiansen, J.L. (2002): 11 attitudes to the crops of the future. Coffin. C. (1997): Constructing and giving value to the past: an investigation into secondary school history. In Christie, F. and Martin. J.R. (eds.) Genre and Institutions. Social Processes in the Workplace and School, pp 196-230. London and New York. Continuum. Droga and Humphrey (2002): Getting started with Functional Grammar. Fairclough, N. (2003): Analysing Discourse. Textual analysis for Social Research. London: Routledge. Iedema, R., Feez, S. & White. P.R.R. (1994) Media Literacy, Disadvantaged Schools Program, NSW Department of School Education, Sydney. Halliday, M.A.K. (1998): Things and relations: Regrammaticising experience as technical knowledge. In: J.R. Martin & R. Veel (eds.) Reading Science: Critical and functional perspectives on discourses of science. Pp 185-235. London: Routledge. Halliday, M.A.K. (revised by Matthiessen, C.) (2004): An Introduction to Functional Grammar. London and New York: Arnold Halliday, M.A.K. (1994): An Introduction to Functional Grammar. London. Arnold Halliday, M.A.K. (in Matthiessen, revision) (2004) An Introduction to Functional Grammar. London. Arnold. Martin, J.R. (1997): Analysing genre: functional parameters. In Christie, F. and Martin, J.R. (eds.) Genre and institutions. Social Processes in the Workplace and School, pp. 3-39. London and New York: Continuum. Martin, J.R. and Rose, D. (2003): Working with Discourse. Meaning beyond the clause. London: Continuum Martin, J.R. and White, P.R.R. (2005): The Language of Evaluation. Appraisal in English. UK: Palgrave. Rothery, J. and Stenglin, M. (1997): Entertaining and Instructing: exploring experience through History. In Christie, F. and Martin, J.R. (eds.) Genre and Institutions. Social Processes in the Workplace and School, pp 231-263. London and New York. Continuum. Toulmin, S. (1995): Uses of Argument. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. White, P. 2001): Appraisal: An Overview. www.grammatics.com/appraisal/.....(Website) 20-11-2018 Inger Lassen, Aalborg University