Abstract：Abstract: Stage narratives, which involve the synergy of many verbal and non-verbal narrative modes, fall within the field of multimodal discourse analysis. However, their use in English teaching and theoretical research has been under-investigated. Within the framework of systemic-functional approach to multimodal discourse analysis (SF-MDA), this study analyzes the use of stage language in an English recitation contest, aiming to explore how narrative modes are identified and how they function in stage narratives, as well as how intermodal relationships influence the meaning making of stage narratives. Results indicated that there were seven narrative modes commonly used on stage, organized as primary and secondary ones. They synergized with one another in complementary or non-complementary relationships. Understanding how narrative modes function and synergize on stage can inform students of the use of stage language more effectively so as to improve their comprehensive language proficiency, as well as enhance their competence in multiliteracies.
