Journal Article

Mood, Pronouns and Modality in Selected Self-Help Books

Hassan, Afnan Mohammed Ali, Taky Eldin, Shaker Rizk, Younis, Nagwa Ibrahim A

2025

Overview

This research investigates the usage and distribution of mood types (declarative, interrogative, and imperative) and pronouns, as well as the role of modals in expert- and non-expert-authored self-help books. Grounded in Halliday's (1994) interpersonal metafunction, the study explores how these linguistic choices shape the author-reader relationship, reflecting differing levels of authority, engagement, and persuasion strategies. The study employs a quantitative approach, utilizing data analysis tools like Excel and Python to process and analyze the compiled data. Advanced formulas are used to identify trends and measure patterns in mood types, pronoun usage, and modals across a dataset of 265 body chapters (1,683,545 word tokens). The research aims to answer the following questions: What is the dominant mood type in expert- and non-expert-authored self-help books? How do pronouns (first-person, second-person, and third-person) influence the tone and engagement strategies in these books? What are the frequencies and occurrences of declarative, interrogative, and imperative moods in both categories? Additionally, how are modals used to express ability, possibility, and necessity in these texts? The findings show that expert-authored books rely heavily on declarative moods, emphasizing structured, informational content that reinforces a formal, authoritative stance. In contrast, non-expert-authored books incorporate more second-person pronouns and imperatives, fostering a motivational and conversational tone that encourages direct reader engagement. Moreover, modals like \"can\" and \"will\" are frequently used in expert-authored books to convey empowerment and certainty, while non-expert books make more use of softer modals like \"might\" and \"could,\" reflecting a more empathetic and flexible approach. By applying Halliday's interpersonal metafunction, this study demonstrates how mood, pronouns, and modals function as key linguistic tools in shaping the interaction between authors and readers, ultimately influencing the tone, persuasion strategies, and communicative purpose of self-help literature. The findings highlight the distinct ways in which expert and non-expert authors construct engagement, build credibility, and guide their readers toward self-improvement.

• Publisher: جامعة السويس - كلية الآداب
• Subject: الأدب الإرشادي / البنية الخطابية / التحليل التفاعلي / تطوير الذات