Reconsidering “cause inside the clause” in scientific discourse – from a discourse semantic perspective in systemic functional linguistics

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (5) ◽  
pp. 525-550 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Hao
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Knowledge Building ◽  
Scientific Discourse ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Language Resources ◽  
Undergraduate Biology ◽  
Cause And Effect ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Expression Studies

Abstract The ability to construe and to interpret cause–effect relations is critical to the task of knowledge building in science. It is essential to understanding investigative processes and to interpreting claims. However, in the discourses of science the linguistic construal of cause and effect can be far removed from that of its everyday, commonsense expression. Studies in systemic functional linguistics have found that scientific causality is often realized inside a clause rather than between clauses (Halliday, M. A. K. 1998. Things and relations. In J. R. Martin and R. Veel [eds.], Reading science: Critical and functional perspectives on discourses of science, 185–235. London & New York: Routledge). This paper aims to further understand the challenge of making meanings of scientific causality from a linguistic perspective. I analyze the language of biology in five research articles, which are students’ key reading texts in a core undergraduate biology course at a leading Australian university. I argue that a discourse semantic understanding of “cause inside the clause” is critical for revealing the diverse language resources for constructing scientific causality.

Bridging boundaries across genre traditions

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-293
Author(s):  
Isaac Nuokyaa-Ire Mwinlaaru
Keyword(s):  
Identity Construction ◽  
Frequency Distribution ◽  
Academic Writing ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Applied Linguistics ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Lexical Bundles ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Research Article

Abstract This study explores the benefits of a synergy between ESP research on genre and theoretical dimensions of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). It models genre on SFL dimensions and employs this model to analyse 200 biodata written by Applied Linguistics scholars, 100 each from research articles and seminar posters. Data were analysed from contextual, logico-semantic and lexicogrammatical perspectives. The findings reveal five generic stages in biodata. The frequency distribution of these stages and the phases that realise them shows variation between research article bios and seminar bios. The most frequent logico-semantic (or rhetorical) relations identified among stages and phases are of the expansion type, namely addition and elaboration, Further, collocational frameworks are used in organising some generic phases into waves of meaning and in construing different identities. Finally, evaluative resources, in the form of lexical bundles, modification and circumstantial elements in the clause, are employed by writers to boost their professional achievements and promote themselves. These findings contribute to theoretical discussions on genre and the scholarship on the interface between identity construction and academic writing, and also motivate further research.

Nominalisations in scientific English

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 143-173 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Hao
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Scientific Discourse ◽  
Functional Linguistics

Abstract This paper examines nominalisation in scientific discourse in English, focusing on a distinction between what I will refer to as ‘live’ and ‘dead’ grammatical metaphors. Live metaphors refer to a nominal realisation of an ideational discourse semantic figure; dead metaphors are found in the same nominalisations as live metaphors, but they realise an entity rather than a figure. The distinction is made by drawing on a tristratal approach that is informed by Systemic Functional Linguistics and that considers nominalisation simultaneously from the perspectives of field, discourse semantics, and lexicogrammar. Although the paper focuses on nominalisation, it illustrates a broader line of argumentation that can be extended to the analysis of ideational discourse semantic meanings in general.

Theme in English and Spanish

2016 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 190-220 ◽  
Author(s):  
Estela Inés Moyano
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Language Typology ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Discourse Functions

This article offers a comparative view of a Systemic Functional (SF) account of Theme in English and Spanish declarative clauses. It considers the lexicogrammatical realization of Theme in both languages and shows how Themes across the clauses construe the method of development of a phase of discourse in the respective languages, unmarked Themes scaffolding textual continuity and marked Themes scaffolding transitions between discourse phases. The paper reviews the concept of Theme in Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) and analyzes texts in both languages, taking into account a trinocular perspective (Matthiessen & Halliday 2009): from above, considering textual discourse functions related to the lexicogrammatical function of Theme; from roundabout, considering other textual functions in the clause as New; and from below, paying attention to the role that different ranks may play in the realization of the function under focus. In addition, the paper argues for a re-interpretation of previous SFL accounts of Spanish Theme, on the assumptions of SFL language typology. Based on the analysis of fragments of Research Articles, the paper shows how English and Spanish texts perform similar strategies to maintain the method of development of a text, through the interaction between lexical strings and reference chains with the function of Theme (Fries 1981; Martin 1992). It is shown, however, that the lexicogrammatical realization of unmarked Theme differs between these languages.

scholarly journals Unconventional Opposition in Discourse: From the Perspective of Systemic Functional Linguistics

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 47
Author(s):  
Wenxiu Song
Keyword(s):  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Text Structure ◽  
Parallel Structure ◽  
Language Resources ◽  
Current Field ◽  
Specific Context ◽  
Structure Information ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Textual Meaning ◽  
Discourse Topic

Writers construct two entities or events as opposites in specific context by using language resources realizing semantic opposition, such as antonyms, parallel structure and conjunction for adversity. The construction of such temporary opposites (unconventional opposition) facilitates the presentation of writer’s stance and strengthens the interaction between the writer and readers. From Systemic Functional Linguistics, this study analyzes the ideational, interpersonal and textual meaning of unconventional opposition in discourse. It is found that the insertion of the opposite participants and process types in the current field contributes to demonstrate the ideational meaning of the discourse topic more fully, thus facilitating readers’ understanding; in the respect of interpersonal meaning, the opposite meaning triggered by negation can exclude the readers’ possible expectations while that triggered by attitudinal resources helps to negotiate appraisal meanings with readers, that is, affect, judgment of social behavior or appreciation of product; in the sense of textual meaning, unconventional opposition assigns a reader-friendly text structure, information flow and cohesion mechanism.

scholarly journals La fuerza en la construcción del marco teórico en artículos científicos: un análisis desde la lingüística sistémico-funcional

2020 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
pp. 75-91
Author(s):  
Norma Patricia Barletta ◽  
Diana Chamorro ◽  
Jorge Mizuno
Keyword(s):  
Academic Writing ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Applied Linguistics ◽  
Theoretical Framework ◽  
Spanish Language ◽  
Research Articles ◽  
Theoretical Frameworks ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Authorial Voice

Opposite to what is traditionally stated, the theoretical framework often constitutes an independent section in research articles. Therein writers establish the theoretical tradition that supports their research and make an account of the theoretical and research developments in their discipline, specifically, in their topic of research, thus establishing a dialogue with other voices. This article examines how writers organize their theoretical framework by means of verbal clauses using the resources of the graduation subsystem proposed by the systemic functional linguistics to express force —which will help them to construct their authorial voice. This study analyzed the verbal clauses and the graduation resources of the theoretical frameworks in 20 research articles in Spanish language published in Colombian journals from the area of applied linguistics. Findings show the variety of resources deployed by writers in their verbal clauses to strengthen their commitment to their tenets, especially in prominent places of their theoretical framework, such as the macroTheme, hyperThemes, macroNew and hyperNew. Awareness of these theoretical framework features may be relevant for teaching academic writing.

scholarly journals Transitivity Processes in Thunberg’s Viral Speech: A Systemic Functional Linguistics Study

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 607-614
Author(s):  
Hesti Raisa Rahardi ◽  
Eva Tuckyta Sari Sujatna ◽  
Heriyanto -
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
New York City ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Functional Linguistics ◽  
Relational Processes ◽  
Language Structure ◽  
The World ◽  
Verbal Processes ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
United Nation

This study analyses the relationship between clause structures and social construction of the meaning found in verbal speeches. Drawing on Halliday's transitivity system particularly the processes element rooted in Systemic Functional Linguistics, the present study attempts to investigate the distribution of transitivity processes found in viral speech of Greta Thunberg at 2019 United Nation Climate Summit held in New York City. Moreover, through descriptive qualitative analysis, the study aims to reveal the function expressed by the processes found in the speech. To this end, it is found that only five out of six process types namely material, mental, relational, verbal, and behavioral processes found in the speech. Moreover, Thunberg used relational processes, mental processes, and material processes more than verbal processes and behavioral processes. The five processes further serve different functions in the speech. Yet, all of the processes occurred in the speech are generally used to deliver Thunberg’s critics over the world leader’s slow response in handling the climate issue. Besides, the processes also used to convince the audience and people in general to start doing something for the climate. The implication of this research is expected to give the information on how language structure is used by the environmental activist in her agenda to persuade people. 

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