The thematic structure of homepages: An exploratory systemic-functional account

Semiotica ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (210) ◽  
pp. 105-127
Author(s):  
Leong Ping Alvin
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Social Semiotics ◽  
Thematic Structure ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Multimodal Texts ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Semiotic Approach ◽  
Point Of Departure

AbstractThe visual social semiotic approach, based on Halliday’s systemic functional linguistics (SFL), is widely used in studies on multimodal texts. As SFL is a framework focusing on the functions of language, several SFL categories are re-conceptualized in visual social semiotics to handle the analysis and interplay of extra-linguistic features; other categories, however, are excluded. A consequence is that any insights offered by these excluded categories in multimodal texts remain obscured. This paper focused on one such category, theme, as a generator of expectations. It analyzed the thematic structure of twenty homepages to show that the different SFL themes are applicable and evident in such multimodal texts. It underscores the importance of theme as a point of departure of any discourse, textual or otherwise, allowing us to form expectations about how the rest of the discourse may be acceptably developed.

scholarly journals As metafunções textual, ideacional e interpessoal em textos multimodais de livros didáticos de espanhol

2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Larisse Lázaro Santos Pinheiro ◽  
Janaina Aquino Ferraz
Keyword(s):  
Qualitative Research ◽  
Cluster Analysis ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Social Semiotics ◽  
Sociocultural Context ◽  
Multimodal Texts ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Multimodal Text ◽  
And Cluster Analysis

Este artigo analisa como os textos multimodais e as metafunções estão inseridas no LD de espanhol. A pesquisa é centrada nos pressupostos teóricos da Linguística Sistêmico-Funcional de Halliday (1978), base teórica dos estudos da Teoria da Semiótica Social/Multimodalidade (KRESS; van LEEUWEN, 2006) e Análise de Clusters (BALDRY; THIBAULT, 2006), que definem o texto multimodal como aquele que tem seus significados realizados por várias semioses. O artigo configura-se como uma pesquisa de natureza qualitativa em que se privilegia a (re)interpretação de dados. As análises permitem reflexão sobre a composição dos textos multimodais no LD, demonstrando as peculiaridades inerentes à sua composição e como a língua é entendida como parte do contexto sociocultural. Palavras-chave: Textos multimodais. Metafunções. Livro didático. Abstract This paper analyzes how the multimodal texts and metafunctions are inserted in the LD Spanish. The research is focused on the theoretical Systemic Functional Linguistics Halliday (1978), the basis of studies of the Theory of Social Semiotics / Multimodality (KRESS; van LEEUWEN, 2006) and Cluster Analysis (BALDRY; THIBAULT, 2006), define the multimodal text as one that has its meanings carried by several semiosis. The article is configured as a qualitative research that focuses on the (re) interpretation of data. The analyzes allow reflection on the composition of multimodal texts in LD, showing the peculiarities inherent to its composition, and how language is understood as part of sociocultural context. Keywords: Multimodal texts. Metafunctions. Textbook.

scholarly journals AN ANALYSIS OF COHESION OF EXPOSITION TEXTS: AN INDONESIAN CONTEXT

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 515
Author(s):  
Emi Emilia ◽  
Nurfitri Habibi ◽  
Lungguh Ariang Bangga
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Case Study Research ◽  
Written Language ◽  
High Achievers ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Lexical Cohesion ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Cohesive Devices ◽  
Eleventh Graders ◽  
Flow Of Information

The paper reports on the results of a study aiming to investigate the cohesion of exposition texts written by eleventh graders of a school in Bandung, West Java, Indonesia. The study used a qualitative case study research design, especially text analysis, involving 32 students. In the interest of space, the paper will present the data obtained from six texts written by 6 students, representing low, mid, and high achievers. The texts were analyzed using systemic functional linguistics (SFL), especially in terms of schematic structure and linguistic features, especially those contributing to the cohesion of the texts, such as Theme progression and cohesive devices. The results show that all texts show students’ grasp and understanding of the schematic structure of an exposition, including thesis, argument, and restatement of the thesis. All texts also successfully use the zig-zag and the Theme reiteration patterns, which indicate the students’ emerging capacity to create a text with cohesion at the clause level. However, only texts written by high achievers employ the multiple Theme pattern, indicating the students’ emerging capacity to create a text with better sense of connectedness, unity, and flow of information at the global level. High achiever texts also employ discourse features which allow the reader to predict how the text will unfold and guide them to a line of understanding of a text as a whole. Moreover, in terms of cohesive devices, all texts use some simple cohesive devices—reference, lexical cohesion, and conjunction. It should be mentioned that all texts are rudimentary with some inappropriate word choices and grammatical problems. This suggests that the students still needed more guidance and time to do research on the topic in focus, to go through the process of writing as professional do, to allow them to create a better text with more elaboration and characteristics of written language with consistency and accuracy. It is recommended that further research on different perspectives and foci of analysis of different text types using systemic functional linguistics, with more representative samples, and studies on the teaching of writing be conducted.

Discourse-organizational patterns in English and Spanish

2014 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 87-117
Author(s):  
María de los Ángeles Gómez González ◽  
Ana Patricia García Varela
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Thematic Structure ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
News Reports ◽  
Thematic Progression ◽  
Organizational Patterns

Cast within the framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics, this paper sheds new light on the ‘thematic management’ of discourse and its interaction with ‘rhetorical management’ in particular, by exploring how the interplay between thematic structure and thematic progression is instantiated in a specific genre, news reports, in English and Spanish. The study shows that, even though there exist a number of differences that are language-determined, genre constraints seem to exert a greater influence because, generally speaking, English and Spanish news reports show greater similarities than differences.

scholarly journals Printed t-shirts in the linguistic landscape

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 122-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Caldwell
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Meaning Making ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Linguistic Landscape ◽  
Social Semiotics ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Current Trends ◽  
Unique Mode ◽  
Landscape Research ◽  
A Site

Abstract While the printed t-shirt remains a prominent form of communication in our contemporary linguistic landscape, little research to date has examined the semiotics of this unique mode of communication. In response to the interdisciplinary ‘invitation’ from Shohamy and Ben-Rafael (2015), this paper draws on principles and methods from social semiotics (van Leeuwen, 2005) and Systemic Functional Linguistics (Halliday, 1989) to explore the meaning-making potential of English words on printed t-shirts. The paper begins by applying Halliday’s concept of mode to the printed t-shirt and then presents a linguistically motivated taxonomy of words on printed t-shirts. In addition to foregrounding the printed t-shirt as a site for future exploration, this paper aims to present a close textual discourse analysis – an examination of the ‘perceived space’ (Malinowski, 2015) – to complement, inform and engage with current trends and methods in linguistic landscape research and pedagogy.

scholarly journals A linguagem dos blogs: um gênero textual emergente

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. 94-105
Author(s):  
Edna Cristina S. Santos
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Genre Analysis ◽  
The Internet ◽  
Multimodal Texts ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
The World ◽  
Different Types

Adolescents all over the world have communicated with one another through the Internet by means of personal sites called Blogs, in which they say what they think and feel about life, and interact electronically with people from different places. This is a new mode of literacy which is leading adolescents to writing spontaneously about diverse topics. They use multimodal texts in which they integrate different types of semiosis. In this paper, we will examine the language of this new genre according to critical discourse analysis (Fairclough, 1992), genre analysis (Bakhtin, 1992) and systemic functional linguistics (Halliday, 1985).

scholarly journals The Status of Theme in Research Article Abstracts in Seven Dentistry Subdisciplines: A Text-Based Study of Intradisciplinary Variations and Similarities in Thematic Choices and Thematic Progression Patterns

2021 ◽  
pp. 28-45
Author(s):  
Hesham Suleiman Alyousef
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Maxillofacial Surgery ◽  
P Value ◽  
Oral And Maxillofacial Surgery ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Operative Dentistry ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Research Article ◽  
Thematic Progression ◽  
The Status

A research article (RA) abstract provides an overview or summary of the whole research. It is one of the most important sections in an RA since it is the first section researchers read to decide if the article is relevant to their research or not. Researchers need to know the intradisciplinary (within the same discipline) variations and similarities in the choice of Theme and thematic progression (TP) patterns in RA abstracts in their discipline. Several studies have investigated variations and similarities in the use of Theme across disciplines. To the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of studies investigating intradisciplinary variations in the use of Theme in RA abstracts of dentistry subdisciplines. As epistemological differences exist between the various dentistry subdisciplines, it is pertinent to examine if there are intradisciplinary variations in the construction of Theme in the subfields of dentistry. The present study aims to investigate if there are any intradisciplinary variations and similarities in the use of Theme and TP patterns across seven dentistry subdisciplines: oral sciences, periodontics, endodontics, operative dentistry, prosthodontics, oral and maxillofacial surgery, and orthodontics. The study is framed by Halliday’s systemic functional linguistics’ approach to language and Daneš’s model for TP patterns. The findings revealed intradisciplinary significant differences between the subfields of dentistry in terms of the use of Theme types at p < .05 (p-value=0.0294), while there were no significant differences in the use of TP patterns and thematic markedness. Various interesting linguistic features characterizing the subdisciplines were found, although no significant interdisciplinary differences were found between dentistry RA abstracts and the findings reported in the literature of other disciplines. Finally, implications for novice dental researchers attempting to write an RA abstract are presented.

scholarly journals Social semiotics of Mẻn Brayut text: systemic functional linguistics perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 108-116
Author(s):  
Ketut Suardana ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Social Context ◽  
Data Collection ◽  
Qualitative Method ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Social Semiotics ◽  
Written Text ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
God's Love

Mẻn Brayut text is one of Balinese texts develops in Balinese communities. The text is represented in spoken and written text held by Balinese communities. Even more, the text is supported with the statue of Mẻn Brayut found in number of temples in Bali. However, the message conveyed through the text has not been understood yet by most Balinese people. This phenomenon makes the text be interpreted differently. This is because the text has social semiotic conveyed through nonverbal language. Therefore, this research focused on social context embedded in the text of Mẻn Brayut to solve the differences interpretation. The theory used to explore used to analyze the problems is Systemic Functional Linguistics proposed by Halliday. The data were taken from written text (Suwija, 2019). The research used qualitative method since the theory is used as guidance of data collection. The data were collected based on field, tenor, and mode. The result of the result showed that the text described seriousness and sincerity of mother develops the children without having profit orientation, but she emphasizes in profound love. More abstractly, text of Mẻn Brayut represented in statue accompanied by many children placed in number of temples in Bali is interpreted as the propound God’s love for all human.

scholarly journals “Maestro: el Gran Aliado”: A Critical Discourse Analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 83-92
Author(s):  
Carolina Campoy-Aguirre
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
Linguistic Features ◽  
Functional Linguistics

This article examined an opinion column titled Maestro: el Gran Aliado (teachers: The great ally) from a Critical Discourse Analysis perspective. The relevance of the analysis of this piece lies on the fact that our current minister of education wrote it shortly before accepting this position. The study sets out to explore the linguistic features used in this opinion column and uncover the opaque intentions behind it. The analysis is conducted through the use of systemic functional linguistics. The findings imply that the discourse used in this opinion column had a different intention than the transparent purpose stated by the name given to it.

Imagining the Textbook

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 31-54 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eleftherios Klerides
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
History Textbooks ◽  
Theoretical Point ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
The Future ◽  
Textbook Research ◽  
Postmodern Thought ◽  
Point Of Departure

This article examines textbooks, especially history textbooks, seeking to contribute to an emerging body of scholarship that endeavors to understand the nature, specific properties, and characteristics of this medium. Using systemic functional linguistics and a context-based perspective of language as its theoretical point of departure, it argues for a dual imagining of the textbook as discourse and genre. In imagining the textbook, the article calls for a rethinking of comparative textbook research in the future, based on a novel cluster of conceptual priorities deriving from postmodern thought.

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.

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