An inspiring advocate for Systemic-Functional Linguistics

2016 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Susan Hunston
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Over 40 Years

The work of Geoff Thompson, who until his death was an editor of Functions of Language, has had an international reach for over 40 years. He has contributed to advances in Systemic-Functional Linguistics, in particular extending theories of interaction and evaluation in discourse. His Introducing Functional Grammar is an indispensable guide to the field.

Using systemic functional linguistics (SFL) to explore topic shifts in the spontaneous interaction of schizophrenia: Cohesion and thematic structures

2020 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Merav Badash
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Publishing Company ◽  
English Text ◽  
Background Information ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Spontaneous Interaction ◽  
Clinical Description ◽  
Disorganized Speech

AbstractThis study investigates the linguistic patterning that created shifts in the topic of spontaneous interactions of speakers with schizophrenia. The psychiatric category of disorganized speech in schizophrenia may be manifested in language across (derailment) or within (incoherence) clauses through unexpected topic shifts. Topic switching was examined for cohesion (Halliday, M. A. K. & Hasan, Ruqaiya. 1976. Cohesion in English. London: Longman; Martin, J. R. 1992. English text. Philadelphia, Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company; Martin, J. R., Rose, David. 2007. Working with discourse: Meaning beyond the clause. London: Continuum) and thematic structures (Daneš, Frantisek. 1974. Functional sentence perspective and the organization of the text. In Frantisek Daneš (ed.), On subject and theme. Amsterdam: John Benjamins; Martin, J. R. 1992. English text. Philadelphia, Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company; Martin, J. R., Rose, David. 2007. Working with discourse: Meaning beyond the clause. London: Continuum; Halliday, M. A. K. & Matthiessen, Christian. 2013. An introduction to functional grammar, 4th revised edn. London: Routledge), within the framework of systemic functional linguistics (SFL). Three patients diagnosed with schizophrenia conversed individually with a psychiatrist who elicited information on various topics, e.g. background information, hobbies, etc. Interviews were videotaped, and recorded. Recordings were transcribed by the researcher and divided into clauses, which were analyzed and coded for consistency of field, cohesion and thematic structures. Findings revealed that speakers did not make use of linguistic features simultaneously to initiate topics. Topic shifting was marked by moving fields with atypical reference, intertwining of participant chains, and lexical items appearing out of context. Speakers created discontinuous participant chains across Themes and departed from main thematic sequences of linear progression and Theme iteration. The specific linguistic findings correspond to and the clinical description of schizophrenia.

Construction of the transitivity system of Myanmar

2021 ◽  
Vol 0 (0) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lai Yee Win
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Systemic Functional Grammar ◽  
New Model ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
International Language ◽  
Analysis Methods ◽  
The World ◽  
Clear Description

Abstract A number of studies on transitivity systems of languages have been conducted in the field of Systemic Functional Linguistics. Different linguists have described the transitivity systems of English, French, German, Japanese, Tagalog, Chinese, Vietnamese, Telugu, and Pitjantjatjara, adopting an upward approach which is not effective enough for discourse analysis. So far, there has been no description of the transitivity system of Myanmar in literature. The purpose of this paper is to put forward a clear description of the transitivity system of Myanmar that functions as one of the clause analysis methods from the experiential perspective. To construct a workable transitivity system of Myanmar, the present study follows He’s (forthcoming) (He, Wei. forthcoming. Categorization of experience of the world and construction of transitivity system of Chinese) new description of the Chinese transitivity system containing 32 types of processes that represent our experience of the world. Unlike previous studies, He (forthcoming) proposes autonomous and influential processes of action, mental and relational clauses with no description of ergativity hypothesized by Halliday (1985) (Halliday, Michael Alexander Kirkwood. 1985. An introduction to functional grammar. London: Arnold) and Matthiessen (1995) (Matthiessen, C. M. I. M. 1995. Lexicogrammatical cartography: English systems. Tokyo: International Language Sciences Publishers). This new model is more comprehensive and effective than previous ones because it adopts a downward approach which can smoothly be applied to discourse analysis. In this paper, the transitivity analysis of Myanmar clauses is performed in accordance with the theories put forward by He (forthcoming) and the semantic configurations of 32 processes in Myanmar transitivity system are illustrated with authentic examples. Findings show that the proposed transitivity system of Myanmar can analyze clauses effectively, and it is compatible with the discourse analysis of Myanmar. These findings will make an important contribution to further study of the systemic functional grammar of Myanmar.

scholarly journals HETEROGLOSSIA: ANOTHER SFG-BASED APPROACH TO TREATMENT OF WORD ORDER AS A MEANS FOR EXPRESSING MODALITY IN VIETNAMESE

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Van Hiep
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Systemic Functional Grammar ◽  
Functional Linguistics

The paper first introduces heteroglossia – a development of Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) in Hallidayan Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) school before suggesting possible uses of heteroglossia in present-day studies of language, with particular focus on the role of word order in sentences of Vietnamese, a typical isolating language. The change of word order is considered a means for expressing modality, as shown in several interesting examples in Vietnamese, which proves that SFG and heteroglossia as its variant is an effective approach for exploring the role of word order in Vietnamese.

Verbal Group Complexes Application In Palang Tamak Text Systemic Functional Linguistics Perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
I Ketut Suardana ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Moral Values ◽  
Theory Approach ◽  
Narrative Texts ◽  
Moral Value ◽  
Real Condition ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Verbal Process ◽  
The World ◽  
Verbal Group

Pan Balang Tamak text is one of Balinese narrative texts developing in Balinese communities. This text contains very deep moral value that is very useful for communities to achieve happiness in the world. The moral values embed in the clauses constructing the text in metaphorical meaning. Many clauses constructing the text contain verbal group complexes in which describe kinds of actions done by the participants. This paper analyzes the application of verbal group complexes in Pan Balang Tamak text written by Suptra (2014). The theory used to analyze the verbal group complexes is the theory of group complex from Systemic Functional Linguistics from Halliday (2014). The paper used qualitative research, namely by the theory approach, the technique used is based on syntagmatic and paradigmatic based on field, tenor, mode. The result of the research suggested that both verbal group complexes in paratactic and in hypotactic were found in the text. Paratactic can be found in the way of the communities respect their bad behavior and the real condition happening to all animal living in the forest. The hypotactic were found the clauses which contain the effort to trap Pan Balang Tamak and the advantages obtained by Pan Balang Tamak from the efforts which be trap Pan Balang Tamak. Projection verb can be found in verbal process in which mean proposal, namely, the willing to trap Pan Balang Tamak

L2 Theme development in Discursive and Experimental undergraduate student writing

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiao Chen ◽  
Sheena Gardner
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Student ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Writing Development ◽  
Experimental Writing ◽  
Student Writing ◽  
Report Writing ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Successful Student ◽  
Lexical Density

Abstract To complement earlier studies of writing development in the BAWE corpus of successful student writing (Nesi & Gardner 2012; Staples et al. 2016), we examine the Systemic Functional Linguistics notion of Theme as used by L2 writers across first- and third-year and in two distinctive discourse types: persuasive/argumentative Discursive writing of assignments in the soft disciplines and Experimental report writing of assignments in the hard sciences. Theme analysis reveals more substantial differences across the two discourse types than between first- and third-year L2 undergraduate writing. Textual Themes are consistently more frequent than interpersonal Themes, and some variance is found within subcategories of each. Significant differences in lexical density occur across third-year discourse types and between first- and third-year Experimental writing where a predominance of N+N topical Themes is also found. These findings are important as previous research has tended to focus on L1 Discursive writing.

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