Exploring Paz Marquez-Benitez’ Dead Stars: A Linguistic Journey Through Transitivity Analysis

This study analyzed the first modern short story written in English in the Philippines, Dead Stars by Paz Marquez-Benitez through Systemic Functional Linguistics using Transitivity analysis. This study aims to understand how language is used to represent actions, participants, and their contexts, serving as a powerful tool for uncovering meaning and patterns of communication. The study made use of the qualitative research design integrating a detailed and comprehensive knowledge of the short story. From the analysis, material processes appear to be the most dominant processes; actor emerges as the most dominant type of participant; and manner appears frequently in circumstantial elements. Further, the study uncovers deeper meanings and ideological stances shedding light on how language is used to establish the to convey the story's themes, character relationships, and personal dilemmas—ultimately enhancing our appreciation of both language and literature.