De La Salle University

Manila

Department of English and Applied Linguistics

College of Education

INTERPERSONAL FUNCTION ANALYSIS OF

CARLOS P. ROMULO

“I AM A FILIPINO”

Submitted by:

Nelson C. del Mundo (11390387)

Submitted to:

Dr. Reme Z. Miciano

Professor, Seminar on Research and Stylistics
 Interpersonal Function Analysis of Carlos P. Romulo

“I am a Filipino”

Introduction:

I am a Filipino – inheritor of a glorious past, hostage to the uncertain future. As

such I must prove equal to a two-fold task- the task of meeting my responsibility to the

past, and the task of performing my obligation to the future. I sprung from a hardy race –

child of many generations removed of ancient Malayan pioneers. Across the centuries,

the memory comes rushing back to me: of brown-skinned men putting out to sea in

ships that were as frail as their hearts were stout. Over the sea I see them come, borne

upon the billowing wave and the whistling wind, carried upon the mighty swell of hope-

hope in the free abundance of new land that was to be their home and their children’s

forever.

'I Am a Filipino' is one of the most famous literary works by Carlos P. Romulo. He

wrote it in August 1941 and was later published in The Philippines Herald. Carlos P.

Romulo was a Filipino politician, diplomat, journalist, and author.

The study attempts to investigate the writer-reader relationship through

interpersonal function of the language in the article.

Theoretical Framework:

Systemic functional grammar (SFG) is a form of grammatical description

originated by Michael Halliday.[1] It is part of a social semiotic approach to language

called systemic functional linguistics. In these two terms, systemic refers to the view of

language as "a network of systems, or interrelated sets of options for making meaning"

(Halliday 1994 p. 15); [2] functional refers to Halliday's view that language is as it is

because of what it has evolved to do. Thus, what he refers to as the multidimensional

architecture of language "reflects the multidimensional nature of human experience and

interpersonal relations.”

The three concepts of textual, interpersonal and ideational are essential elements for

systemic analysis of texts. This can be summarized as:

 Textual: type/token ratios, vocabulary use, register

 Interpersonal: speech-function, exchange structure, involvement and

detachment, personal reference, use of pronouns, "interactive items" showing

the position of the speaker (just, whatever, basically, slightly), discourse

markers (words that moderate/monitor the interaction, e.g., well, might, good,

so, anyway)

 Ideational: propositional content; modality through (in English) modal

auxiliaries, e.g.,

(Taken from: http://language.la.psu.edu/aplng597a/halliday_intro.html)

The researcher will focus on the interpersonal function.

The interpersonal function embodies all uses of language to express social and

personal relations (Hu, 1988, Wang 2010 as cited by Yin). Among the areas of the
grammar, personal pronouns, modality and mood are closely associated with the

interpersonal function (Halliday, 1978 as cited by Yin).

Prototypical Personal Pronouns Diagram:

Pronoun Person/plurality Gender

Standard

I First person singular

We First person plural

You Second person singular / second person plural

He Third person masculine singular Masculine

She Third person feminine singular Feminine

It Third person neuter singular Neuter
Third person plural / third person gender-neutral
They singular

www.wikipedia.com

Thus, personal pronouns are defensible indicators of interpersonal interactivity

and may be considered both textual and interpersonal discursive features, are the

means language providers for constituting the roles of speaker and addressee in face to

face interaction.

The writer’s self-identification in the writer-reader relationship as cited by Yin,

2012 may be revealed by the personal pronouns; whether he identifies himself with, or

distances himself from, the reader. In the study, among the 31 main clauses in “I am a

Filipino” all the main clause used active voice. As doer in the active voice, the subject

has a relevant position in the clause. This makes the personal pronoun in the

subjective form the focus of the study.

 Modality is concerned with the speaker's assessment of, or attitude towards, the

potentiality of a state of affairs. Modality therefore relates to different worlds.

Assessments of potentiality, as in You must be right, relate to the world of knowledge

and reasoning. This type of modality is known asepistemic modality. Modal attitudes

apply to the world of things and social interaction. This type of modality is known as  root

modality. Root modality comprises three subtypes: deontic modality, intrinsic modality

and disposition modality. Deontic modality is concerned with the speaker's directive

attitude towards an action to be carried out, as in the obligation You must go

now. Intrinsic modality is concerned with potentialities arising from intrinsic qualities of a

thing or circumstances, as in “The meeting can be cancelled”, i.e. 'it is possible for the

meeting to be cancelled.' Disposition modality is concerned with a thing's or a person's

intrinsic potential of being actualized; in particular abilities. Thus, when you have the

ability to play the guitar you will potentially do so. Notions of modality are expressed by

cognition verbs such as I think, modal adverbs such as possibly, and modal verbs such

as must. Modal verbs have a special status among modal expressions: they ground a

situation in potential reality." (Günter Radden and René Dirven, Cognitive English Grammar. John

Benjamins, 2007)

Mood shows what role the speaker selects in the speech situation and what role

he assigns to the addressee (Hu, 1988, as cited in Wang, 2010, p. 255 and mentioned

by Yin 2012). There are three moods in English: declarative, interrogative, and

imperative (Halliday, 1994 p. 74, as cited by Yin, 2012). For example, the clause "The

best goodbyes are short." is declarative; “What are you doing?” is interrogative and “Get

some water for me!” is imperative. Text as Halliday argues, has essential features that
is interactive (1976, p.39 cited in Yin 2012). Thus the interpersonal function of language

in speech applies in the written text.

Conceptual Framework of Data:

SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR

IDEATIONAL INTERPERSONAL TEXTUAL

Diagram 1: Conceptual Framework of Data

PERSONAL PRONOUN
Subjective Form
As shown in Diagram 1, the researcher will investigate the wide use of personal
MODALITY
pronouns, modal auxiliaries and mood in Carlos P. Romulo’s “I am a Filipino”. The
Modal Auxiliaries
analysis unit will be clause, a syntactic construction containing a subject and predicate
MOOD
and forming part of a sentence Declarative
or constituting a whole simple sentence.
Interrogative
(www.dictionary.reference.com). Imperative
Analysis of Data:

Personal Pronouns:

The researcher identified personal pronouns used in the article. Thirty five main

clauses were used for investigation.

Personal Pronouns used as subject in 35 clauses:

Table 1. Frequency of Pronouns used as subject in the clauses

Personal Pronouns Frequency

I 26
You 0
He 1
She 0
It 5
We 0
You 0
They 3
Total 35

Table 1 shows the predominance of personal pronouns as subject, specifically I.

It is also noticeable that the second person you are not found in any clauses. The

singular third person he is used referring to Manuel L. Quezon in paragraph 6 just to

give emphasis to his power as the President of the Philippines. He is used only once in

the entire article indicating that the matter in the speech requires public attention. The

third person they is used in paragraph 3 “This is the land they sought and found.”,

paragraph 11 “they saw the contours of this land”, paragraph 12 “they go to labor in the

fields” with which I think establishes connections with the three paragraphs by
mentioning the word land and fields and looked parallel to each other referring to the

same meaning.

The prominent use of I in the 26 clauses create parallel connections to the entire

article, in clause 1, 7, 14, 15, 25, and 34 “I am” shows prevalent parallelism for each

pattern appears twice or more in the article including “I shall” that appears in clause 24,

28, 31, 33, and 35. The repeated occurrence of “I am” and “I shall” in the salient subject

position highlights the writer’s intention distancing him using “I” to show his authority as

the speaker.

2. Modal Auxiliaries

Like personal pronouns, the general system of modality reflects what Halliday

(1994) calls the “interpersonal” metafunction of language, which is one of three

metafunctions he sees as co-existing in linguistic usage.

Modality is intended to reflect the interpersonal function, in which language

mediates between people.

Table 2. Frequency of Modal Auxiliaries used in the clauses

Modal can ma could migh Will would shal shoul must Others

Auxiliaries y t l d
Frequency 1 1 0 0 0 0 10 0 2 0

Paragraph 1 I am a Filipino emphasizes:

(1) As such I must prove equal to a twofold task, the task of meeting my

responsibility to the past, and the task of performing my obligation to the future.

Paragraph 8 I am a Filipino emphasizes:

 (2) But I also know that the East must awake from its centuried sleep…

The two sentences above expressed the speaker’s eagerness in establishing

connections to the audience by giving emphasis to act and do something, having firm

intention to do something in the future.

Aside from must, shall is the most predominant in the speech which appeared in

at least five paragraphs.

(3) Paragraph 7 – it shall grow and flower and bear fruit again

(4) Paragraph 10 – I shall not rest until my land and my people shall have been

blessed by these…

(5) Paragraph 11 – What pledge shall I give

(6) Paragraph 11 – I shall give the pledge…

(7) Paragraph 11 – it shall be compounded of the joyous cries…

(8) Paragraph 12 – I shall weave the mighty fabric of my pledge.

(9) Paragraph 12 – I shall make the pattern of my pledge

(10) Paragraph 13 – I shall not rest until freedom shall have been added…

Paragraph 7, 10, 11, 12, and 13 contained the modal shall, though shall is use

frequently in promises and voluntary actions, it is likely to appear in speeches because

prominent people always make such promise to the people but then also similar to high-

valued must it also indicates future action.

The modal shall is used positively all throughout Carlos P. Romulo’s I am a

Filipino which establish the reader-writer-listener relationship in two ways. First, the

predominance of the median-valued shall with the high valued must, shows the writer’s
relatively high regard to the idea or plan he is making and the promise he compels to

involve the reader in carrying out the action.

3. Mood, similar to modal auxiliaries and personal pronouns, give connections to the

relationship of reader and writer. Primary speech functions of offer, command,

statement, and question are assumed in communicative language. Declarative clauses

are related closely to statement, interrogative with question, and imperative with

command (Halliday, 1994, pp. 69-74). Since the listener is to give a response, the

speaker should carefully select the language appropriateness thus employing

declarative, interrogative, and imperative clauses to express speech intentions. The

three moods are investigated in the thirty one main clauses in the article.

Among the 35 main clauses, 34 are in declarative form and only 1 is in

interrogative form. In the researcher analysis of the article, the declarative mood state

the writer’s opinion, describe things and events while interrogative raise questions and

solicits information by asking. The absence of imperative justified the writer’s power by

convincing the listener or the reader without making requests or employing a command

that he can perform task.

The features in the mood establish writer-reader-listener relationship with the

following:

1. In the 34 main clauses in declarative form the writer serve as an information-

giver by describing the Filipino people with him as an example. The writer

opinions and observation is revealed in the entire article by talking to the

audience in a very subtle and conversational manner.

2. In paragraph 11, clause 26 is the only sentence that appear to be interrogative or

in question form when he uttered:

“What pledge shall I give that I may prove worthy of my inheritance?”

With this he is trying to ask himself about what he can pledge after all the

sacrifices made by other Filipinos who spare their lives for our freedom and

triumph, the battle cries that have resounded in every field of combat and the

voices of people singing the Philippine National Anthem. This interrogative

statement in one way or another does not affect the validity of the statement

made, the firmness of the writers belief was answered in his preceding statement

thus doubt and question from the reader was omitted.

3. The writer demonstrates his status of being a diplomat, statesman, journalist and

author which is very clear in his statements in “I am a Filipino” by using

predominantly declarative mood presenting himself as information-giver. The

presence of one interrogative statement only highlights the succeeding statement

made and gives emphasis to it.

Conclusion:

The research investigates on how the interpersonal function is realized through

the use of personal pronouns, modal auxiliaries and mood in Carlos P. Romulo’s

article “I am a Filipino”. The research findings show that the writer expresses the

intention of distancing him from the reader by using the singular first person I to

stress his official duty as the Secretary General of the United Nation. Modal

auxiliaries help the writer to make the article inspiring and help indicate his powerful

status in the relationship. The declarative mood reinforces the writer’s certainty,
status and authority as diplomat. In this manner he establishes connections with the

reader using these devices. Interrogative mood that appears in clause 26-27 does

not affect in one way or the certainty of the article.

 References

Yin K. (2012). Interpersonal Function Analysis of Obama’s “The Partnership We Need”

De La Salle University Manila

Jeffries L. & McIntyre D. (2010) Stylistics, Cambridge University Press, New York

Crystal D. (1969) Refining Stylistics Discourse Categories, Department of Linguistics,

University of Wales Bangor

Mugair K.S. (April 2013) A Stylistic Analysis of I have A Dream, International Journal

Of English and Education Volume 2 Issue 2

www.englishpage.com Shall

www.ask.com Must Modal

http://layamaria.soulcast.com/93319/Carlos-P.-Romulos-I-AM-A

FILIPINO#sthash.gk00igX7.dpuf
 APPENDIX

I AM A FILIPINO
(Carlos P. Romulo (former Secretary-General of the United Nations))

I am a Filipino - inheritor of a glorious past, hostage to the uncertain future. As such I

must prove equal to a two-fold task- the task of meeting my responsibility to the past,

and the task of performing my obligation to the future. I sprung from a hardy race - child

of many generations removed of ancient Malayan pioneers. Across the centuries, the

memory comes rushing back to me: of brown-skinned men putting out to sea in ships

that were as frail as their hearts were stout. Over the sea I see them come, borne upon

the billowing wave and the whistling wind, carried upon the mighty swell of hope- hope

in the free abundance of new land that was to be their home and their children's forever.

This is the land they sought and found. Every inch of shore that their eyes first set upon,

every hill and mountain that beckoned to them with a green and purple invitation, every

mile of rolling plain that their view encompassed, every river and lake that promise a

plentiful living and the fruitfulness of commerce, is a hollowed spot to me.

By the strength of their hearts and hands, by every right of law, human and divine, this

land and all the appurtenances thereof - the black and fertile soil, the seas and lakes

and rivers teeming with fish, the forests with their inexhaustible wealth in wild life and

timber, the mountains with their bowels swollen with minerals - the whole of this rich and

happy land has been, for centuries without number, the land of my fathers. This land I

received in trust from them and in trust will pass it to my children, and so on until the

world no more.
I am a Filipino. In my blood runs the immortal seed of heroes - seed that flowered down

the centuries in deeds of courage and defiance. In my veins yet pulses the same hot

blood that sent Lapulapu to battle against the alien foe that drove Diego Silang and

Dagohoy into rebellion against the foreign oppressor.

That seed is immortal. It is the self-same seed that flowered in the heart of Jose Rizal

that morning in Bagumbayan when a volley of shots put an end to all that was mortal of

him and made his spirit deathless forever; the same that flowered in the hearts of

Bonifacio in Balintawak, of Gergorio del Pilar at Tirad Pass, of Antonio Luna at

Calumpit; that bloomed in flowers of frustration in the sad heart of Emilio Aguinaldo at

Palanan, and yet burst fourth royally again in the proud heart of Manuel L. Quezon

when he stood at last on the threshold of ancient Malacanang Palace, in the symbolic

act of possession and racial vindication.

The seed I bear within me is an immortal seed. It is the mark of my manhood, the

symbol of dignity as a human being. Like the seeds that were once buried in the tomb of

Tutankhamen many thousand years ago, it shall grow and flower and bear fruit again. It

is the insigne of my race, and my generation is but a stage in the unending search of my

people for freedom and happiness.

I am a Filipino, child of the marriage of the East and the West. The East, with its languor

and mysticism, its passivity and endurance, was my mother, and my sire was the West

that came thundering across the seas with the Cross and Sword and the Machine. I am

of the East, an eager participant in its struggles for liberation from the imperialist yoke.
But I also know that the East must awake from its centuried sleep, shape of the lethargy

that has bound his limbs, and start moving where destiny awaits.

For, I, too, am of the West, and the vigorous peoples of the West have destroyed

forever the peace and quiet that once were ours. I can no longer live, being apart from

those world now trembles to the roar of bomb and cannon shot. For no man and no

nation is an island, but a part of the main, there is no longer any East and West - only

individuals and nations making those momentous choices that are hinges upon which

history resolves.

At the vanguard of progress in this part of the world I stand - a forlorn figure in the eyes

of some, but not one defeated and lost. For through the thick, interlacing branches of

habit and custom above me I have seen the light of the sun, and I know that it is good. I

have seen the light of justice and equality and freedom and my heart has been lifted by

the vision of democracy, and I shall not rest until my land and my people shall have

been blessed by these, beyond the power of any man or nation to subvert or destroy.

I am a Filipino, and this is my inheritance. What pledge shall I give that I may prove

worthy of my inheritance? I shall give the pledge that has come ringing down the

corridors of the centuries, and it shall be compounded of the joyous cries of my Malayan

forebears when they first saw the contours of this land loom before their eyes, of the

battle cries that have resounded in every field of combat from Mactan to Tirad pass, of

the voices of my people when they sing:

Land of the Morning,Child of the sun returning, Ne'er shall invadersTrample thy sacred

shore.
Out of the lush green of these seven thousand isles, out of the heartstrings of sixteen

million people all vibrating to one song, I shall weave the mighty fabric of my pledge.

Out of the songs of the farmers at sunrise when they go to labor in the fields; out of the

sweat of the hard-bitten pioneers in Mal-ig and Koronadal; out of the silent endurance of

stevedores at the piers and the ominous grumbling of peasants Pampanga; out of the

first cries of babies newly born and the lullabies that mothers sing; out of the crashing of

gears and the whine of turbines in the factories; out of the crunch of ploughs upturning

the earth; out of the limitless patience of teachers in the classrooms and doctors in the

clinics; out of the tramp of soldiers marching, I shall make the pattern of my pledge:

"I am a Filipino born of freedom and I shall not rest until freedom shall have been

added unto my inheritance - for myself and my children's children - forever.

http://layamaria.soulcast.com/93319/Carlos-P.-Romulos-I-AM-A-FILIPINO#sthash.gk00igX7.dpuf