Analysis of Insurance Provisions from a Functional Perspective

论文摘要

最近几十年来系统功能语法在语言学界获得了迅速发展,并已被广泛运用于各种文学与非文学语篇的分析。随着经济的全球化和跨国合作的发展,英语越来越成为国际经济往来的媒介,但商务活动参与者不同的社会关系对语篇的语言特征和功能的影响,到目前为止尚未加以充分研究。该文从系统功能语法的角度来探究英语保险条款特定的语言表达方式,以及它们是如何来反映其特定的情景语境的。本文对八篇英语保险条款中的及物性系统,语态,情态系统及主位系统进行了详细分析,试图探讨英语保险条款的语言特征是如何受到语域理论的三个变项:话语范围,话语基调,话语方式的制约,并在如何在语言的组织形式上与其相对应的。从而进一步检验系统功能语言学在特殊语篇方析中的可操作性和应用性。 与此同时,本文利用批评话语分析的理论为基础,分析了保险人和被保险人之间的关系等一系列促使保险条款作者选择现有的英语保险条款特定的语言表达方式的情景语境因素。本文认为保险人与被保险人之间是一种不平等的权力关系。保险人处于权力的优势地位,而被保险人则处于劣势。保险人对被保险人实施权力是通过保险人对保险专业知识的独占来进行的。因此,对于英语保险条款这类语篇进行改革、重新构建可读性较强的语篇将有助于交际双方建立新的交际关系、改变被保险人的劣势地位。本文利用通俗化语言改写了以法律语言来写作的英语保险条款语篇,并使原保险条款的可读性增强。这一实例证实了在不牺牲英语保险条款表达的精确度的前提下,英语保险条款现行的写作语言(法律语言)可以由通俗化的语言替代。本文旨在通过对英语保险条款的分析提高保险条款读者和消费者的批评阅读意识,从而在根本上确保消费者的权益。

论文目录

• Chapter 1 Introduction
• 1.1 Reasons for choosing systemic-functional linguistics
• 1.2 A brief introduction to systemic-function grammar
• 1.3 Organization of this paper
• Chapter 2 Interpersonal Analysis of Insurance Provisions
• 2.1 Mood Analysis in insurance provisions
• 2.1.1 Mood in insurance provisions
• 2.1.2 Tense in insurance provisions
• 2.2 Modality analysis in insurance provisions
• 2.3 Addressing in insurance provisions
• Chapter 3 Ideational Analysis of Insurance Provisions
• 3.1 Transitivity Analysis Theories Reviewed
• 3.1.1 Material processes: processes of doing
• 3.1.2 Mental processes: processes of sensing
• 3.1.3 Relational processes: processes of being
• 3.1.4 Behavioral processes
• 3.1.5. Verbal processes: processes of saying
• 3.1.6 Existential processes
• 3.2 Transitivity analyses in insurance provisions
• 3.2.1 Methods of analysis
• 3.2.2 Research results of insurance provisions
• Chapter 4 Textual Analysis of Insurance Provisions
• 4.1 Theories of Textual analysis reviewed
• 4.1.1 Simple Theme
• 4.1.2 Theme in clause complex
• 4.1.3 Multiple Theme
• 4.2 Thematic analysis of insurance provisions
• 4.3 Thematic Progression
• 4.3.1 Theories concerning Thematic Progression
• 4.3.2 Thematic analysis of insurance provisions
• Chapter 5 Critical discourse analysis of insurance provisions
• 5.1 CAD Theories reviewed
• 5.1.1 Origin of the CDA theory
• 5.1.2 CDA' s major theoretical concerns
• 5.1.3 CDA in China
• 5.1.4 Desired effects of CDA' s application in insurance provisions
• 5.2 Passivization and Nominalization in insurance provisions
• 5.2.1 Passivization in insurance provisions
• 5.2.2 Nominalization in insurance provisions
• 5.3 Factors in inequality between the Insurer and the Insured
• 5.3.1 Convention and Professionalism in insurance provisions
• 5.3.2 Channel of communication of insurance provisions
• 5.4 Language's counteraction brought about by discourse revolution
• 5.4.1 Effects of plain language campaign on insurance provisions
• 5.4.2 Critical Language Awareness and Constructive Discourse Change
• Chapter 6 Conclusion
• Bibliography
• Appendixes
• Appendix 1: Notes on some unfamiliar words in the paper
• Appendix 2:air transportation cargo insurance clauses
• Appendix 3: public liability insurance clauses
• Appendix 4:overland transportation cargo insurance clauses （train, truck）
• Appendix 5 :property insurance clauses
• Appendix 6:contractor'all risks policy
• Appendix 7: motor car insurance clauses
• Appendix 8: products liability insurance clauses
• Appendix 9: ocean marine cargo clauses