ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the way how adjectives and adverbs are used to evaluate, to adopt stances and to construct textual personae by using the tools of appraisal analysis. In linguistic terms, a dissenting or individual concurring opinion is essentially dialogic, addressing readers of various kinds and seeking to persuade them of the truth, legitimacy or logicality of certain views or arguments, and of the untruth, illegitimacy or illogicality of others. Martin's framework for appraisal analysis was developed within the framework of systemic functional linguistics as a toolkit for discourse analysis. It offers a scheme for classifying particular lexical items in terms of the interpersonal tenor of the text. A more systematic examination of the patterns that emerge in dissenting and concurring opinions is necessary so that the professional values which help to shape the discourses of arbitration can emerge more clearly. Appraisal encompasses three main aspects of attitude: affect, judgement and appreciation.
