INTERPERSONAL MEANINGS OF MODALITY IN JACINDA ARDERN’S SPEECHES ON COVID-19

Received: 08 August 2020 Accepted: 01 December 2020 Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) is a theory which analyses the language function to understand the meanings and purposes of language in written text or speech. In this research, SFL is employed to discover the interpersonal meanings on Jacinda Ardern’s speeches on COVID-19, seen from the modality since it is one of the most important elements in SFL which shows the speaker’s attitudes. This research uses Jacinda Ardern’s speeches on 20 April 2020 and 15 July 2020. Halliday’s modal category is used as the theoretical framework; thus, the interpretation will derive from his theory. This research also employs discourse analysis as the approach in order to understand the relation between language elements and social context in meaningmaking. This study had different implementation of modal category from what Halliday had proposed which is triggered by the social situation during pandemic in New Zealand. This research discovers that the first speech only uses two types of modality which are probability and obligation, meanwhile the second speech uses all types of modality. The difference between the first and the second speech is due to the different circumstances. However, in general, the interpersonal meanings represented from the modality in the speeches are the commitment, empathy, dan quick respond of the speaker. Corresponding Author:


Young & Harrison (2004) state that Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL)
is "a functionally based theory, developed during the past 45 years, which examines the functions that language has evolved to serve in society. Such a view involves the examination of "real" language events to understand the purposes P a g e | 138 Evelina Ayu Kristianti LET: Linguistics, Literature and Language Teaching Journal Vol. 10 No. 2 2020 language serves in a variety of contexts, and to understand the way language itself functions" (p. 1). In this research, the researcher will use the interpersonal metafunction to analyze the speeches. However, the researcher will only focus on modality. Since language "functions to facilitate exchange, both of information and of goods and services", as said Thompson, Bowcher, Fontaine, and Schönthal (2019), we use language to give or demand information or actions. It can be in a form of written text or speech. Due to its functions, language is an important and powerful tool in politics. Political figures can show power, commitment, persuasion, or promotion to the audience. In terms of language, we can analyze it through interpersonal meaning. Chen & Shuo (2018) argue that "the meaning of modal system is also one of the important parts of interpersonal meaning, which is the judgment of the speaker on the success and validity of the proposition he speaks" (p.38). According to Thompson (2013), in interpersonal terms, modality is the expression of the speaker's attitude towards the probability or necessity of the proposition which realized by modal verbs. Halliday divided modality into two types which are modalization and modulation. Modalization is a type of modality showing probability and usuality. The example of modalization in Jacinda Ardern's speech is "we may be amongst a small number of countries where that is still able to happen". The modal "may" show probability.
Meanwhile modulation deals with modality that shows obligation and inclination.
For instance, "we must prepare now" in Jacinda Ardern's speech. The word "must" show obligation. Jacinda Ardern, as a political figure, has two speeches which are "Prime Minister's Remarks on COVID-19 Alert Level Decision" on April 20 and "Next Steps in COVID Response" on July 15. They are chosen to be the object of this study as she is the prime minister of New Zealand, who plays an important role in dealing and handling corona virus in her country. According to NZ Herald, New Zealand is the second safest country in the world during this pandemic, after Germany ("Covid 19 Coronavirus," 2020). This research aims to identify how the modality used in Jacinda Ardern's speeches on covid-19 and to figure out the interpersonal meaning represented in the speeches. The two speeches are made in two different situations, the first is when New Zealand successfully handled the P a g e | 139 Evelina Ayu Kristianti LET: Linguistics, Literature and Language Teaching Journal Vol. 10 No. 2 2020 transmission of coronavirus and the second is when the country reported new cases again. The researcher wants to know whether there will be some differences in her speeches or not.
There are several studies about the analysis of modality as the element of interpersonal meanings that had been done previously. The first study is conducted by Rui & Jingxia (2018). In their research, they aim to find out how the modality is used in micro-blogging English news discourse and what interpersonal meanings does the modality represent through the micro-blogging. They apply the same theory and approach as this study which are SFL and discourse analysis.
They found out that from the perspective of modality type, modality value, and modality orientation, it can be concluded that in order to remain objective, the reporters do not make personal implication, they tend to use modality with median value to show the reporters' view and attitudes toward possibility, and the representation of explicit subjective orientation is often used to bring the public's opinion.
The second study is conducted by Pionery & Isti'anah (2017) that discusses the modality analysis in Meliana Trump's speeches. The research aims to find out the importance of the use of modality in speeches. In the study, they compare two speeches by Melania Trump and Ivanka Trump to see whether there will be some differences or not. It is discovered that the use of certain types of modality shows that both speakers have the same ideologies. There are two ideologies which are commitment and self-promotion. The first ideology can be seen from the use of inclination. Meanwhile the second is shows from the other types of modality. They also state that the use of potentiality-ability and usuality shows Donald Trump's capability and habit.
The third study is conducted by Olaniyan & Adeniji (2015). The research analyzes the discourse functions of modality in statement of objectives in artsbased research article abstracts. The data were taken from three hundred abstracts of research articles. Four categories of modal auxiliaries such as possibility, necessity, prediction and permission modals are found in the research. Possibility modals are used to state analytical scope and research goal in the abstracts; The three previous studies discuss the same thing as this research which is modality. They might be focusing on different aspects of modality such as the discourse function of modality in research article abstracts (Olaniyan & Adeniji, 2015), ideologies revealed from the modality in speeches (Pionery & Isti'anah, 2017), and also interpersonal meanings represented from the modality in microblogging (Rui & Jingxia, 2018 Halliday has proposed and that modality should not be interpreted by just following the existing theory without seeing the context. Through this study, the researcher attempts to enrich SFL studies by answering the following questions: 1. How are modality used in Jacinda Ardern's speeches on covid-19? 2. What interpersonal meaning are represented in the speeches?

METHOD
The data analyzed in this study were Jacinda Ardern's speeches on Covid-19 entitled, "Prime Minister's Remarks on COVID-19 Alert Level Decision" on April 20, 2020 and "Next Steps in COVID Response" on July 15, 2020. The data were taken from the official website of New Zealand Government named "Beehive" https://www.beehive.govt.nz/. In this research, a qualitative method is employed. Litosseliti (2010) states that qualitative research is "concerned with structures and patterns, and how something is" (p. 52). The qualitative method is used to describe the interpersonal meanings conveyed by Jacinda Ardern in the speeches. The theory used in this research is Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). Halliday & Matthiessen (2014) state that "in a statement the modality is an expression of the speaker's opinion" (p.177). In order to relate the implementation LET: Linguistics, Literature and Language Teaching Journal Vol. 10 No. 2 2020 of modality with the social situation during pandemic in New Zealand, the researcher employed discourse analysis as the approach.
To obtain all the data, the analysis started by finding out the types of modality appear in the speeches and categorized the modality based on Halliday's theory which are modalization and modulation. The types of modality were analysed further by sorting the modal degree based on the context and social situation. Discourse analysis was applied here so that the researcher can see how social situation during pandemic in New Zealand influenced the implementation of Halliday's modal degree. After figuring out how the modality are used in the speeches and how social situation takes a vital role in presenting different implementation of modal degree, this research analysed the interpersonal meanings in Jacinda Ardern's speeches represented from the modality.

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS
The table below shows the summary of modality used in the speeches. In Jacinda Ardern's speech entitled "Prime Minister's Remarks on COVID-19 Alert Level Decision" on April 20, 2020, there are 30 clauses containing modality. Jacinda Ardern only used two types of modality which are probability and obligation. The probability is 76,7% and the obligation is 23,3%. Modals that show probability are modal operators "may", "will", "can", and mood adjunct of modality "likely". Meanwhile modals that show obligation are "cannot", "have to", "must", "need to", and "can". In the second speech entitled "Next Steps in COVID Response" on July 15, 2020, there are 51 clauses containing modality.
Jacinda Ardern used all types of modality. The probability is 80,4%, usuality is 2%, inclination is 9,8%, and obligation is 7,8%. Modals that show probability are modal operators "will", "can", "would", "could", and mood adjuncts of modality "believe", "possible", and "likely". Modals which show inclination are "will" and "would". The obligation type is shown through "must" and "need to". Lastly, the usuality type is realized in mood adjunct of modality "regularly". In both speeches, the most dominant type of modality is probability.

Modality in Both Speeches
The first speech analyzed in this study is entitled "Prime Minister's Remarks on COVID-19 Alert Level Decision" on April 20, 2020. The speech is about Jacinda Ardern's decision to move from Alert Level 4 lockdown to Alert Level 3 for two weeks before making further decisions. She acknowledged the frontline and also all of the citizens because they have contributed a lot in lowering the transmission rate in New Zealand. She stated that there was no widespread undetected community transmission in New Zealand at that time. However, even though New Zealand's effort to break the chain of transmission succeeded, she still emphasized that they are not allowed to let their guard down since the virus has not been eliminated yet and there is still a possibility that the virus can attack their country again. She declared some principles for Level 3 which require the citizen to stay at home if they are sick or they have no urgent matters, to work and learn from home, to stay within their region, to have minimum interaction, and to P a g e | 143 Evelina Ayu Kristianti LET: Linguistics, Literature and Language Teaching Journal Vol. 10 No. 2 2020 maintain their hygiene. In the end of her speech, she also gave encouragement to the citizen that they are one step closer to be free from coronavirus.
In the second speech entitled "Next Steps in COVID Response" on July 15, 2020, New Zealand was in an opposite situation from the speech in April 20.
After 75  speaker and it also depends on the social context, it should not be interpreted by simply following an existing pattern or theory without paying attention to the social context, as there is no absolute interpretation in modality. This is supported by Brewer (1987) who also argued that "modality is a semantic system by means of which a speaker indicates the nature and degree of his modal commitment is equivalent to saying that that commitment -although it may vary in extent or strength -cannot, by definition, be absolute" (p.44).
The first modality type discussed here is probability. High modals showing probability are dominant in this speech, followed by median probability. The examples of modality type in the first speech can be seen below: (1) "We will only be successful if everyone is willing to play their part in finding it wherever it is." (2) "Schools and early learning centres can be accessed this week for cleaning, maintenance and any other preparations" In (1), the modal "will" is median. Median degree of probability shows that the speaker is confident of their ideas, but there is still a room for other possibilities. In this part, Jacinda Ardern suggests the citizen staying at home or getting a test when they are sick. She also emphasizes that there is no stigma for COVID-19. In this case, Jacinda Ardern uses "will" in conditional clause to give a highlight that the goal they want to achieve is to find or track the virus so they can stop the transmission quickly and to encourage the citizen to seek help as quickly The modal "can" in (2) has high degree even though it is usually considered as low degree by Halliday, however, it depends on the context and the certainty of the speaker. Sadia & Ghani (2018, p.145) adds that "modal "can" mostly shows strong possibility". In this case, the speech is done when New Zealand successfully handled the spreading of coronavirus in the country. Jacinda Ardern is confident with her decisions as she also stated that their transmission rate was 0.48, which was much lower than average. Therefore, activities in public places such as schools and learning centers are highly possible.
In the second speech, the probability type is also dominant. Different from the first speech, the median degree is more dominant than the high degree. The examples of modals showing probability are: (3) "…. That has not and will not change." (4) "… You can expect us to move very quickly and very firmly to contain it" In (3), the modal "will not" is usually considered as median degree.
However, in this context, it expresses highest degree. Jacinda Ardern, in this part said, "The first thing to note is that the Government's strategy for responding to the COVID-19 pandemic remains elimination. That has not and will not change" ("Next Steps in COVID Response," 2020). By using modal "will not", Jacinda Ardern strongly emphasized that the "elimination" strategy which has been used by New Zealand to deal with coronavirus since the beginning will not change no matter what. Jacinda wanted to convey the government's persistence and confidence in overcoming this virus by applying this strategy.
In (4), the modal "can" also express different degree from what Halliday had proposed. In this part, we have to know the full sentence in order to understand the context. Jacinda Ardern said, "Our "Stamp it Out" approach is scenario specific meaning that our actions will depend on the severity of the situation and of course, when we see the first COVID-19 case beyond the border, you can expect us to move very quickly and very firmly to contain it while we gather information on the situation we are facing" ("Next Steps in COVID Response," 2020). The use of modal "can" is not merely just to show the possibility of the citizens to set particular expectations to the government. It also shows Jacinda Ardern's optimism and belief that the government is able to handle the situation very quickly and precisely.
The second modality type discussed in both speeches is obligation. In the first speech, the high degree obligation is dominant. The examples of modals showing obligation are below: (5) "… we cannot forget that every number is someone's father, someone's mum, a relative and a friend and someone we have all been united in an effort to protect and to save" In (5), the modal "cannot" is high since it indicates prohibition to do something. In this case, Jacinda Ardern did not allow the citizens to forget those who have passed away because of COVID-19 even though the number is small since the mortality rate in New Zealand is low. She showed respect to those who lost their loved ones and also showed her condolences. In this part, her utterance signifies that she wants to shows empathy and shortens the distance between her and the citizens as she said that they are a union.
In (6), the modal "can" is median. In this context, Jacinda Ardern gave command to the citizen to work from home. The factor which makes modal "can" does not express low degree is the social situation during the pandemic where people are obligated to stay at home and even though they have to work, they have to do it from home. It is obligatory since coronavirus is highly contagious in public spaces where people have a lot of interactions and activities. Furthermore, the clause work from home if you can is part of the principles she made for Alert Level 3. However, although it is obligatory, it does not necessarily make the modal "can" expresses the highest degree because the conditional clause indicates that there is an exception to those who cannot work from home such as frontline health workers or those who have urgent matters that cannot be done at home, they are allowed to go outside, of course, with one condition that they have to comply with the health regulations established for the pandemic. Therefore, the modal "can" shows that it is obligatory, but it still has a room for other situations and excuses.
In the second speech, there is no median obligation. There are only four modals showing obligation with high degree. The examples of modality showing obligation can be seen below: (7) "We must prepare now …" (8) "… we must have a plan …" In (7), the modal "must" expresses the highest degree of modality. The full sentence of this part is "We must prepare now for that eventuality and have a plan at the ready in the event that it does" ("Next Steps in COVID Response," 2020).
The word "it" refers to the utterance that came before it which is "Experts tell us that even with the best precautions possible, the chances of the virus passing from a surface, or contact with someone who is a carrier are high" ("Next Steps in COVID Response," 2020). The modal "must", which always stands for obligation or command shows the firm determination of Jacinda Ardern to prepare for the worst scenario. It also signifies Jacinda Ardern's intention to arouse public's awareness of the dangers of coronavirus.
Just like in (7), the modal "must" in (8) stands for obligation and expresses the highest degree of modality. The context, in this part can be seen from the full sentence which is "No one wants to go backwards but the reality is our fight against the virus is not over and we must have a plan at the ready to protect our current position if it comes back" ("Next Steps in COVID Response," 2020).
Here, the modal "must" shows that as the leader of her country, Jacinda Ardern wanted to give a reminder which can be interpreted as a warning at the same time, that the enemy is still out there. Moreover, this speech is made when the situation in New Zealand was not as good as the situation in the first speech even though they were not in their worst situation as the early cases emerged in New Zealand. Therefore, they have to protect their current position in Alert Level 1 and make sure that coronavirus will not spread widely within their border again.
The third modality found is inclination. However, this modality type can only be found in the second speech with four modals express median degree and one modal expresses high degree. The examples of inclination found in the speech are displayed below: (9) "Our actions will depend on the severity of the situation" (10) "… we would move immediately …" In the first example, the modal "will" is high. The context here is when Jacinda Ardern said "Our 'Stamp it Out' approach is scenario specific meaning that our actions will depend on the severity of the situation" ("Next Steps in COVID Response," 2020). The reason that the modal expresses high degree rather than median degree is because it is the specific meaning of the approach that has been used by the government to handle coronavirus in their country. Jacinda Ardern mentioned the 'Stamp it Out' approach which in the speech, she explained that it means the country will have a lockdown, depending on the situation.
In (10), the modal "would" is median. Apart from the fact that it matches the modal degree proposed by Halliday, the factor which causes the modal to express median degree is because Jacinda Ardern used it to describe her future plans. The full sentence is, "So in the event of new community cases we would move immediately to implement our "Stamp it Out" approach again" ("Next Steps in COVID Response," 2020). Here, the modal "would" help Jacinda Ardern to deliver the preventive measures she had designed which is to have a lockdown if new cases emerge in the future. She also stated that she is determined to protect their current position and to prevent any economic impact in the future. Different from the first example, the modal "would" here does not necessarily express high degree because the action in the second speech will only be done if there are new P a g e | 150 Evelina Ayu Kristianti LET: Linguistics, Literature and Language Teaching Journal Vol. 10 No. 2 2020 community cases that endanger their current position. Meanwhile the modal "will" indicate that 'Stamp it Out' is the action that has been and will always be done by the government.
Lastly, the modality found is usuality. There is only one modal showing usuality which expresses high degree and it can only be found in the second speech. The modal that shows usuality is adverb "regularly". According to the The adverb serving as mood adjunct of modality which shows usuality and probability can also express variety of modal degree. In this case, the adverb "regularly" can be found in the clause "wash your hands regularly and thoroughly". It means that they have to wash their hands constantly in a habitual basis which can also be interpreted that they have to always wash their hands. We can see that Jacinda Ardern was trying to urge the citizens to obey the rules in which the obligation to maintain their hygiene by washing their hands is included.
However, the modality is not counted as obligation because it does not stand as an LET: Linguistics, Literature and Language Teaching Journal Vol. 10 No. 2 2020 order or command. It only modifies the verb "wash" and indicates the frequency of the action.

Commitment and Confidence
High probability that takes 40% of the total clauses containing modality is the most dominant type in the first speech. Most of the modals such as "will", "believe" and "can" show optimism, commitment, and confidence of the speaker.
The commitment she made is to do whatever it takes to prioritize public's health LET: Linguistics, Literature and Language Teaching Journal Vol. 10 No. 2 2020 by planning and doing preventive actions to lower the transmission rate so that they can move to lower Alert Level. Jacinda Ardern was also optimistic because all the frontline workers, the ministers, and also the citizens had a great cooperation. She stated that the government have ensured that the frontline workers are regularly tested and wear appropriate PPE. Furthermore, she also stated that the government have made significant improvements to support the country in overcoming the pandemic.

The Government's Quick Respond
Median probability which takes 43,3% of the total dominates the second speech. Most of the median probability is the same as the ones in the first speech.
In the first speech, they mainly express the government's plan on future agenda if the cases decrease. For instance, in the first speech, some public places are starting to open for maintenance and businesses will be allowed to open. The median probability also helps Jacinda Ardern to give encouragement to the society, for example, when she said that they will only be successful if everyone wants to take part in tracing and tracking the virus. In this part, it can be interpreted that she includes herself in the society as she shortens the distance between her and the society. Meanwhile in the second speech, the median probability mainly used to show the future plan made by the government to protect their current position in Alert Level 1 even though a new case has emerged.

Empathy, Optimism, and Gratitude
Both speeches only have two low probability and they reveal different interpersonal meanings. In the first speech, the low probability indicates empathy, gratitude and optimism of the speaker. Jacinda Ardern used 'may' in low degree to acknowledge the frontline workers and citizens as they have succeeded to handle the spread of coronavirus in their country. However, she did not want to forget that behind their success, there are people who lost their loved ones.
Therefore, she urged the citizens to not forget them and keep doing the best they can do to protect and save more lives. Furthermore, she also used 'less likely' to show that the chance of her country to go back to lockdown in the future is low. On the other hand, the low probability in the second speech shows the seriousness of the virus and the importance of looking at other places outside the border and learning from them so that they can have better solutions to prevent further outbreaks.

Struggle and Prevention Act
The degree of obligation also differs in both speeches. In the first speech, high obligation is 20% of the total, meanwhile in the second speech it is only 7,8% as there are only four modals showing obligation. The difference between the first speech and the second speech is quite significant. This could be triggered by the fact that in the first speech, New Zealand was still in Alert Level 4, even though there are no new cases at that time. However, they were still struggling to get to the lower level. Thus, in order to achieve it, Jacinda Ardern made several principles or rules to be obeyed by the citizens and they are realized in obligation type of modality. On the contrary, even though New Zealand was attacked again by the emergence of a new case, their position was considered safe as they managed to get to the Alert Level 1. Therefore, Jacinda Ardern did not always urge or order the citizens to protect their position in an obligatory type.
Lastly, the usuality and inclination type which are the lowest and the less popular modality type used in the speech. It can only be found in the second speech. This indicates that Jacinda Ardern wanted to encourage the people to join forces to protect their current position in Alert Level 1 and prevent the new case detected from spreading to create an outbreak. It also shows the initiative of the speaker to take actions and quick respond in that situation. The absence of usuality and inclination in the first speech can be triggered by their situation which forced them to focus on prevention realized in obligation modality rather than in usuality and inclination type.

CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
The analysis shows that the first speech only uses two modality types which are probability and obligation. Probability takes 76,7% of the total. High degree probability is dominant in the first speech because if we pay attention to LET: Linguistics, Literature and Language Teaching Journal Vol. 10 No. 2 2020 the situation, they had successfully stopped the local transmission and were ready to move into lower Alert Level. Therefore, Jacinda Ardern often used high degree probability since their situation allowed them to open public facilities and have social activities outside. It can be said that at that time, they were confident that they can be free from coronavirus. However, the 23,3% obligation found in the first speech also indicates that they still have to be careful and avoid potential risks that can lead to new outbreak. Meanwhile in the second speech, all types of modality are used. Probability takes 80,4% of the total which is dominated by high degree probability followed by 9,8% inclination, 7,8% obligation, and 2% usuality. Those modality types used in the second speech indicates that New Zealand takes the pandemic seriously. They were in Alert Level 1 and had been free from any transmissions for 75 days, but it only took a new case detected to make Jacinda Ardern planned several agendas and principles to prevent a new outbreak.
The use of modality in both speeches expresses different interpersonal meanings. High probability in the first speech shows the commitment and the confidence of the speaker. Median probability in the second speech shows the government's quick respond and plans to handle the virus. Low probability in the first speech expresses empathy and gratitude meanwhile in the second speech, it shows the seriousness of the situation during pandemic. The usuality and inclination in the second speech reveal the struggle and the initiative of the speaker to protect her country. In general, modality used in both speeches represent Jacinda Ardern's commitment and strong determination to handle and if possible, to eliminate the virus from her country. It can also be seen through this research that social context can influence the interpretation and the implementation of modal category since modality cannot be defined just by seeing the degree in an existing theory without relating it to the social situation or context. It can reveal variety of meanings, regardless of the pattern established by the existing theory.
Further research is recommended to explore and discover new implementation of modal category in other circumstances and social context. The