An Exploratory Study of the Interpersonal Meanings of President Xi’s New Year Speech Based on Appraisal Theory

The research examines President Xi’s 2021 New Year speech with research questions centering around its abundant interpersonal meanings. Through qualitative content analysis, the research finds that it is typical for Chinese president to frequently use judgment and appreciation resources in reviewing the past year. Even in the face of the pandemic and natural disasters, the overall emotions of the speech remain positive, which corresponds to the forward-looking feature of New Year speech. Significance of the study abounds and future research can investigate how COVID-19 impacts the ideologies conveyed through political leaders’ speeches through a comparative lens and how to produce more understandings that can help dismantle stereotypes and discrimination hidden in reports about COVID-19 by using Appraisal Theory critically, systematically, and comprehensively.