FUNCTIONAL FUNCTIONAL GRAMMARGRAMMAR

Functional Grammar: Functional Grammar: An OverviewAn Overview

FunctionalismFunctionalism Scale and Category GrammarScale and Category Grammar Systemic GrammarSystemic Grammar Functional GrammarFunctional Grammar

Origin: FunctionalismOrigin: Functionalism

Vilem Mathesius (1882-1945)Vilem Mathesius (1882-1945) Article: ‘On the potentiality of the Article: ‘On the potentiality of the

phenomena of language’ (1911)phenomena of language’ (1911) Non historical approach to the study Non historical approach to the study

of languageof language Russian linguist: Roman Osipovich Russian linguist: Roman Osipovich

Jakobson (1896-1938) Jakobson (1896-1938) Prague School linguistPrague School linguist

More recently: More recently: Michael Alexander Kirkwood Halliday: Michael Alexander Kirkwood Halliday:

the most influential figurethe most influential figure

The Prague School: The Prague School: View on LanguageView on Language

‘‘the phonological, grammatical and the phonological, grammatical and semantic structures of a language semantic structures of a language are determined by the functions they are determined by the functions they have to perform in the societies in have to perform in the societies in which they operate’which they operate’ (Lyons, (Lyons, 1981:224)1981:224)

J.R. Firth (1890-1960) Bronislaw J.R. Firth (1890-1960) Bronislaw Malinowski (1884-1942) : Their Malinowski (1884-1942) : Their

ContributionContribution Much inspired by Bronislaw Much inspired by Bronislaw

MalinowskiMalinowski Malinowski argues: ‘language is not a Malinowski argues: ‘language is not a

self-contained system – the extreme self-contained system – the extreme structuralist view – but is entirely structuralist view – but is entirely dependent on the society in which it is dependent on the society in which it is used’used’

To him, language is dependent on To him, language is dependent on society in two ways:society in two ways:

Language evolves in response to the Language evolves in response to the specific specific demands of the societydemands of the society in in which it is usedwhich it is used

Its use is entirely Its use is entirely context-dependentcontext-dependent: : ‘utterance and situation are bound ‘utterance and situation are bound up inextricably with each other and up inextricably with each other and the context of situation is the context of situation is indispensable for the understanding indispensable for the understanding of the words’of the words’

He argues that meaning must be He argues that meaning must be studied with reference to an analysis studied with reference to an analysis of functions of language in any given of functions of language in any given cultureculture

Three major functions: Three major functions: Pragmatic FunctionPragmatic Function Magical FunctionMagical Function Narrative FunctionNarrative Function

PHATIC COMMUNION ! PHATIC COMMUNION !

FIRTHFIRTH

J.R. Firth: uses Saussurean notion of J.R. Firth: uses Saussurean notion of system: system:

Enumerated set of choices in a Enumerated set of choices in a specific contextspecific context

Any item will have two types of Any item will have two types of contexts:contexts:

Context of other possible choices in the Context of other possible choices in the systemsystem

Context in which the system itself occursContext in which the system itself occurs

Michael Kirkwood HallidayMichael Kirkwood Halliday““A functional approach to language means, first A functional approach to language means, first

of all, of all, investigating how language is usedinvestigating how language is used: : trying to find out trying to find out what are the purposes what are the purposes that that language serves for us, and language serves for us, and how we are able how we are able to achieve these purposesto achieve these purposes through speaking through speaking and listening, reading and writing. But it also and listening, reading and writing. But it also means means more more than this. It means seeking to than this. It means seeking to explain the nature of language in functional explain the nature of language in functional terms: seeing whether terms: seeing whether languagelanguage itself has itself has been been shaped by shaped by useuse, and if so, in what ways ? , and if so, in what ways ? how the form of language has been how the form of language has been determined by the function it has evolved to determined by the function it has evolved to serve” serve” (Halliday, Explorations in the Functions of (Halliday, Explorations in the Functions of Language, 1973, p. 7)Language, 1973, p. 7)

Halliday’s Theory of Halliday’s Theory of LanguageLanguage

Two basic observationsTwo basic observations

1.1.Language is part of the Language is part of the social semioticsocial semiotic

The whole The whole cultureculture is is meaningfulmeaningful..

Constructed out of a series of systems of Constructed out of a series of systems of signssigns

Language is one of those systemsLanguage is one of those systems

Reflects aspects of situations Reflects aspects of situations

cont…cont…

2. People talk to each other2. People talk to each other

As a social system, language is subject As a social system, language is subject to two types of variation: to two types of variation:

Variation according to userVariation according to user

Variation according to useVariation according to use

(register variation)(register variation)

Speech situation or contextSpeech situation or context

relevant aspects: field, tenor, moderelevant aspects: field, tenor, mode

Field of discourse: what is going onField of discourse: what is going on

Tenor of discourse: who is taking part Tenor of discourse: who is taking part in the social actionin the social action

Mode of discourse: the role that the Mode of discourse: the role that the text or language itself plays text or language itself plays

Major Functions of Major Functions of LanguageLanguage

Ideational Function: Ideational Function: reflecting on reflecting on thingsthings

Interpersonal function: Interpersonal function: acting on acting on thingsthings

Textual function: Textual function: language user’s language user’s text-forming potentialtext-forming potential

Register CodeRegister Code

Concept of text variety Concept of text variety that allows that allows us to make sensible predictions us to make sensible predictions about the kind of language which will about the kind of language which will occur in a given situation, that is , occur in a given situation, that is , associated with a particular field, associated with a particular field, tenor, and mode.tenor, and mode.

Code acts as a filter through which Code acts as a filter through which the culture is transmitted to a child the culture is transmitted to a child

Macro/Micro FunctionsMacro/Micro Functions

Macrofunctions: ideational, Macrofunctions: ideational, interpersonal, textualinterpersonal, textual

Microfunction: asking for things, Microfunction: asking for things, making commandsmaking commands

Scale and Category Scale and Category GrammarGrammar

Halliday: 1950s-1960sHalliday: 1950s-1960s Developed on the insights derived by Developed on the insights derived by

J.R Firth (1890-1960)J.R Firth (1890-1960)

viewed meaning as the function viewed meaning as the function of of a linguistic item in its a linguistic item in its context of context of useuse

axes: paradigmatic, syntagmaticaxes: paradigmatic, syntagmatic

In Scale and Category Grammar In Scale and Category Grammar language is analysed as an language is analysed as an interrelationship between three (or interrelationship between three (or four) scales and four categoriesfour) scales and four categories

The original scale included:The original scale included: RankRank: system of levels or ranks, : system of levels or ranks,

going from the ‘highest’ rank of going from the ‘highest’ rank of sentence, through clause, phrase, (or sentence, through clause, phrase, (or group) and word down to morpheme group) and word down to morpheme “hierarchical relations”“hierarchical relations”

ExponenceExponence: relationship between a : relationship between a level of linguistic analysis and an level of linguistic analysis and an actual example , or exponent of this actual example , or exponent of this level (an example, an actual level (an example, an actual realisation)realisation)

DelicacyDelicacy: determining the degree of : determining the degree of detail in a grammatical analysisdetail in a grammatical analysis

DepthDepth: measuring the degree of : measuring the degree of complexity of the analysiscomplexity of the analysis

CategoryCategory: a class of items with the : a class of items with the same function; one of the same function; one of the characteristics of such a classcharacteristics of such a class

ClassClass: classification of sentences: : classification of sentences: simple, compound, complexsimple, compound, complex

SystemSystem: choices in any particular : choices in any particular area, person systemarea, person system

UnitUnit: five units: sentence, clause, : five units: sentence, clause, group, word, and morphemegroup, word, and morpheme

StructureStructure: free or bound : free or bound relationship within a unitrelationship within a unit

Systemic Functional Systemic Functional GrammarGrammar Attempts to combine purely structural Attempts to combine purely structural

information with overtly social factors in information with overtly social factors in a single integrated descriptiona single integrated description

The basic idea is that any act of The basic idea is that any act of communication realises a set of choices: communication realises a set of choices: thus e.g. the utterance thus e.g. the utterance She went out She went out among others, the choice of a among others, the choice of a declarative structure. Each choice is at a declarative structure. Each choice is at a certain level in a hierarachy of ranks: the certain level in a hierarachy of ranks: the choice of declarative is at clause level. choice of declarative is at clause level.

(cont)(cont)

It is also related to other choices on a scale of It is also related to other choices on a scale of delicacy (detail of grammatical description): delicacy (detail of grammatical description): the choice of interrogative instead of the choice of interrogative instead of declarative would entail a further choice declarative would entail a further choice between polar interrogative and wh-between polar interrogative and wh-interrogative.interrogative.

Each individual set of choices forms a system, Each individual set of choices forms a system, declarative and interrogative form or are part declarative and interrogative form or are part of another.of another.

A grammar will accordingly describe the A grammar will accordingly describe the systems of a language, the relations between systems of a language, the relations between them, and the ways in which they are realized, them, and the ways in which they are realized, to a level of detail at which all remaining to a level of detail at which all remaining choices are between open set of lexical units.choices are between open set of lexical units.

Systemic Grammar: basic Systemic Grammar: basic notionsnotions

Deeply concerned with the purposes Deeply concerned with the purposes of language useof language use

MetafunctionsMetafunctions Text analysisText analysis Coherence, cohesionCoherence, cohesion

Functional Grammar 1985Functional Grammar 1985 ‘‘interpretation of grammatical patterns interpretation of grammatical patterns

in terms of configurations of functions’in terms of configurations of functions’ Particularly relevant in the analysis of Particularly relevant in the analysis of

texttext Text: ‘everything that is said or written’Text: ‘everything that is said or written’

“ “ natural grammar”natural grammar”

S.C Dik’s modelS.C Dik’s model

Halliday’s view: language has two major Halliday’s view: language has two major functions, metafunctions: ideational functions, metafunctions: ideational “content” function“content” function

Interpersonal functionInterpersonal function

Functional Grammar 1985Functional Grammar 1985 An account of clause structure in which An account of clause structure in which

functions are distinguished separately on functions are distinguished separately on three level: three level: Bill left yesterdayBill left yesterday

Bill has the syntactic function of subject and Bill has the syntactic function of subject and the semantic function of the semantic function of agent;agent; it might also it might also have the pragmatic function of theme. have the pragmatic function of theme. Semantic functions are associated with Semantic functions are associated with predicates in the lexicon (agent with predicates in the lexicon (agent with leaveleave) ) and the nucleus of a clause (represented by and the nucleus of a clause (represented by Bill leftBill left) may also be extended by satellites ) may also be extended by satellites ((yesterdayyesterday); syntactic functions are then ); syntactic functions are then assigned to its elements; then pragmatic assigned to its elements; then pragmatic functions. functions.

Basic Tenets of Basic Tenets of Functional GrammarFunctional Grammar

‘‘a theory of meaning as choice’a theory of meaning as choice’ Clause analysisClause analysis Theme:' the element which serves as Theme:' the element which serves as

the point of departure of the the point of departure of the message, it is with which the clause message, it is with which the clause is concerned’is concerned’

Rheme: the rest of the message is Rheme: the rest of the message is referred to referred to

ThemeTheme RhemeRhemeThomas Thomas gave Sophie that Easter egggave Sophie that Easter egg

That Easter eggThat Easter egg was given to Sophie by Thomaswas given to Sophie by Thomas

Sophie Sophie was given that Easter egg by was given that Easter egg by ThomasThomas

At EasterAt Easter Tomas went to see Sophie and KatieTomas went to see Sophie and Katie

Very soonVery soon they were eating Easter eggsthey were eating Easter eggs

Ideational Interpersonal Textual

Overarching Functions of Language

Clauses of Representation

Clauses ofExchange

Clauses of Message

Mood: Mood: relationship between the relationship between the grammatical subject of the clause grammatical subject of the clause and the finite element of the verbal and the finite element of the verbal groupgroup

Residue:Residue: remainder of the clause remainder of the clause

any indicative clause (which has a any indicative clause (which has a subject and a finite verb) will have a subject and a finite verb) will have a mood structuremood structure

Subject and finite make up the Subject and finite make up the proposition of the clauseproposition of the clause

The part that can be affirmed, The part that can be affirmed, denied, questioned, and negotiated denied, questioned, and negotiated by speakersby speakers

Locating the subject of a declarative Locating the subject of a declarative clause:clause: TagTag

That teapot was given to your auntThat teapot was given to your aunt

The finite element further enhances The finite element further enhances the proposition as something to the proposition as something to negotiate by (1) giving it a negotiate by (1) giving it a primary primary tensetense and (2) a and (2) a modalitymodality

Operators: temporal/modalOperators: temporal/modal

The duke has given that teapot awayThe duke has given that teapot away Has the duke given that teapot awayHas the duke given that teapot away Who gave you that teapotWho gave you that teapot Why were you given that teapotWhy were you given that teapot

The The Imperative Imperative Subject often missing Subject often missing Go awayGo away Ellipsis Ellipsis

Clause Residue elementsClause Residue elements

Predicator: Predicator: only one only one eating her curds eating her curds and whey (Little Miss Muffet sat on a and whey (Little Miss Muffet sat on a tuffet)tuffet)

Complements: Complements: one or two, ‘anything one or two, ‘anything that could have functioned as the that could have functioned as the subject in the clause, but which does subject in the clause, but which does not’not’

Adjuncts: Adjuncts: upto 7, those elements upto 7, those elements which do not have the potential of which do not have the potential of being used as subjectsbeing used as subjects

Halliday lists three types Halliday lists three types of processof process

Material process: Material process: process of doingprocess of doing, , actor, goalactor, goal

Clause Transitive: Clause Transitive: when both are presentwhen both are present Clause Intransitive: Clause Intransitive: when only actorwhen only actor

Material Process

Actor Goal

Agent Patient

Mental ProcessMental Process

feeling, thinkingfeeling, thinking

SenserSenser

PhenomenonPhenomenon

Mental Process

Sensor Phenomenon

Experiencer Experienced

Stative Dynamic

Relational ProcessRelational Process

processes of beingprocesses of being

six typessix types

Intensive‘x is a’

Circumstantial‘x is at a’

Possessive‘x has a’

Relational Process Copula

Mental Process

Sensor Phenomenon

Experiencer Experienced

Stative Dynamic

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