Abstract:This study aims to explore the effects of absolute tense of indirect speech on news discourse. News owns its stylistic characteristics and we can find that the use of absolute tense of indirect speech is getting popularity in news nowadays.  In the light of Paul Kiparsky’s temporal parameters, temporal relations and Halliday’s projection theory, this thesis analyzes the effects mainly by grammatical analysis approach. Two effects are found in this thesis: (I) to make news keep effectiveness for a given period of time, (II) to add the reporters’ ideology into news, and these two effects are meanwhile illuminated through case analysis. A conclusion is found that the use of absolute tense of indirect speech plays a role in news characteristics.

Key Words: absolute tense; indirect speech; news discourse

CONTENTS

Abstract

中文摘要

1. Introduction-1

2. Two Pairs of Distinctions-1

  2.1 Direct Speech VS. Indirect Speech

  2.2 Relative Tense VS. Absolute Tense

3. The Characteristics of News-2

  3.1 The Timeliness

  3.2 The Objectiveness

4. Effects of Absolute Tense of Indirect Speech-4

  4.1 Effectiveness for a Given Period of Time 

    4.1.1 Paul Kiparsky’s Temporal Parameters and Relations

    4.1.2 The Application of the Temporal Parameters and Relations

    4.1.3 Case Analysis

  4.2 Expression of Reporter’s Ideology

    4.2.1 Halliday’s Projection Theory

    4.2.2 The Application of Halliday’s Projection Theory

    4.2.3 Case Analysis

5. Conclusion-10

Bibliography-10

Acknowledgements-12