AN ANALYSIS OF EXPERIENTIAL MEANING OF THE STORY “QUÀ…TỨC LÀ NGƯỜI” BY THACH LAM

Abstract

This paper is concerned with exploring experiential meaning realized through transitivity resources in the story “Quà…tức là người” by Thạch Lam. The theoretical framework adopted in the study is systemic functional grammar (SFG). The findings show that in composing the story, the writer has employed a high frequency of relational, material, mental processes and a low number of existential, behavioural and verbal processes. Remarkably, relational clauses were deployed to describe the taste and flavor of street foods and the way Hanoians enjoy such foods. The author implies that the choice as well as the way of enjoying food, to some extent, can tell people’s personality. This explains why the story was named “Quà…tức là người”. In addition, a high number of circumstances are found in the story with the high frequency of circumstances of manner, among which the circumstance of manner is mostly used in relational clauses to specify the taste and flavor of street foods.