A Systemic Functional Study of the English Police Caution——An Analysis of the “Miranda Warnings”

Based on the interpersonal function in Halliday’s systemic functional grammar,"Miranda Warnings",the typical English Police Caution,is analyzed from the aspects of Mood system,Modality system and Appraisal system,with the aim of exploring its interpersonal meanings.Results show that:first,the declarative mood and interrogative mood used in the police caution protect the legitimate rights of the interrogated;second,the widely use of Low value modal verbs demonstrates a more humane and democratic legislation principle;and third,the absence of Affect resources and the frequent application of Capacity resources narrow the interpersonal distance between policeman and the interrogated,reflecting the transformation in policeman’s interrogation practices.