An interpersonal framework of international ecological discourse

Abstract This paper explores an interpersonal framework for international ecological discourse analysis using systemic functional linguistics. It shows that the sub-categories of the functional interpersonal framework need to be extended in terms of delicacy along the ecological cline to construe the ecological features in the context under investigation. The extension can be achieved through an integration of the following ecological parameters into a functional framework: a system of international ecological factors, a system of international ecological environment, and the international ecosophy “多元和谐, 交互共生” (duoyuan hexie, jiaohu gongsheng, ‘diversity and harmony, interaction and co-existence’). This integration builds an “ecological” interpersonal framework for international ecological discourse analysis, which is composed of an “ecological” Mood system, an “ecological” Modality system, and an “ecological” Appraisal system. The construction of an ecological interpersonal framework is accompanied by specific case analysis.