Modality in Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Joko Widodo’s Presidential Inauguration Speeches

Abstract

This study examined the modality in Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Joko Widodo’s Presidential Inauguration speeches in October 2009 and 2019. This study shows the similarities and differential modality values in the speeches. By employing modality, people are unengaged to express ideas that do not seem to be facts with various degrees of certainty. This research included the purposes of applying modality in the speeches. The research was conducted using qualitative descriptive methods, specifically through documentation observation. The results showed that there were three types of modality in both of the Presidential speeches out of the four types of modality stated by Holiday. There were no differences found in the values of the speeches. These values were the indication of how Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono and Joko Widodo’s intended to manage their programs in the second period of their leaderships as Indonesian president in 2009-2014 and 2019-2024.