Systemic Functional Linguistics and Discourse Analysis HE Wei

Contents 1. Systemic Functional Linguistics 2. The initiator 3. The Transitivity System 4. An Analysis of the Song “My Life” 5. Questions for Discussion

1. Systemic Functional Linguistics 1.1 Language, Linguistics, Grammar and Syntax Language Definition: A language is interpreted as a system of meanings, accompanied by forms through which the meanings can be realized. (Halliday 1994: xiv)

Levels of language: semantics lexico-grammar phonology /graphology

Example: This Is Just to Say by William Carlos Williams I have eaten the plums that were in the icebox and which you were probably saving for breakfast Forgive me they were delicious so sweet and so cold

Example (for comparison): This is just to say I have eaten the plums that were in the ice-box, and which you were probably saving for breakfast. Forgive me. They were delicious, so sweet and so cold.

1.2 Linguistics Definition: Linguistics studies language itself as a system, its relationship with the user, society, context, etc; linguistics studies language in use.

Language and Context context of culture context of situation (discourse) language

1.3 Grammar Grammar is the study of language itself, including systemic grammar and functional grammar. Systemic grammar aims to reveal systems of varieties of meanings of the use of language. Functional grammar aims to reveal realization rules and potential and real structures of the use of language. See Figure 7 in 功能句法的界定 (4).doc 功能句法的界定 (4).doc

1.4 Syntax Broadly speaking, syntax means functional grammar, dealing with realization rules and potential and real structures of the use of language, which says that syntax is the study of the lexico-grammar level of language, including transitivity structure, mood structure, thematic structure, information structure, cohesive devices, clause, clause complex, group, group complex, etc. See Figure 9 in 功能句法的界定 (4).doc 功能句法的界定 (4).doc

1.5 Summary linguistics > grammar > syntax Two models within SFL: the most representative works of the Sydney Model and the Cardiff Model being mainly concerned with syntax in the broad sense Application of SFL: one main application field being discourse analysis

2. The Initiator M.A.K. Halliday, the Founder, see 学者照片 \DSC01252.JPG and 学者照片 \DSC01254.JPG 学者照片 \DSC01252.JPG 学者照片 \DSC01254.JPG Michael Alexander Kirkwood Halliday (M.A.K. Halliday): 1925, born in Leeds, England; 1940s, taking his BA at London University in Chinese language and literature; 1940s-50s, studying linguistics as a graduate student, first in China (Peking University and Lingnan University, Canton) and then at Cambridge, where he received his PhD in 1955;

, holding appointments at Cambridge and Edinburgh; , teaching at University College London; , teaching at the University of Illinois, Chicago Circle; or so, teaching at the University of Sydney; Up to now, lecturing around the world, mainly in UK, China, Hongkong, Japan and India.

Current research interests: the semantics and grammar of modern English; language development in early childhood; text linguistics and register variation; educational applications of linguistics; and artificial intelligence, in which he is associated with the “Penman” project at the Information Sciences Institute, University of Southern California

Famous scholars in China: Hu Zhuanglin, Huang Guowen, Zhu Yongsheng, Zhang Delu, Fang Yan, Yang Xinzhang,et al. See 学者照片 学者照片

3. The Transitivity System 3.1 Overall Introduction Reality is made up of processes. The transitivity system construes the world of experience into a manageable set of process types. 3.2 Seven Types of Process Material Process Definition: Material process is a process of “doing”; it expresses the notion that some entity “does” something. Example: I am writing a letter.

3.2.2 Mental Process Definition: Mental process is a process of feeling, thinking and perceiving. Example: John loves Mary Relational Process Definition: Relational process is a process of being. Example: Mary is beautiful.

3.2.4 Behavioural Process Definition: Behavioural process is a process of physiological and psychological behaviour, like breathing, coughing, smiling, dreaming and staring. Example: The old lady is breathing smoothly now Verbal Process Definition: Verbal process is a process of saying. Example: John says that he loves Mary.

3.2.6 Existential Process Definition: Existential process is a process of existing. Example: There are a few pictures on the wall Meteorological Process Definition: Meteorological process is a process about weather. Example: It’s raining.

4. A Transitivity Analysis of the Song “My Life” 4.1 The Song “My Life” 向天再借五百年 (4).doc; 向天再借五百年 ( 电视剧 《康熙王 - 韩磊.mp3 向天再借五百年 (4).doc 向天再借五百年 ( 电视剧 《康熙王 - 韩磊.mp3 4.2 Analysis (1) 沿着江山起起伏伏温柔的曲线 (Material Process) (2) 放马爱的中原爱的北国和江南 (Material Process) (3) 面对冰刀雪剑风雨多情的陪伴 (Mental Process) (4) 珍惜苍天赐给我的金色的华年 (Mental Process) (5) 做人一地肝胆 (Relational Processes) (6) 做人何惧艰险 (Relational Process, Mental Process) (7) 豪情不变年复一年 (Relational Process) (8) 做人有苦有甜 (Relational Processes) (9) 善恶分开两边 (Mental Process) (10) 都为梦中的明天 (Relational Process)

看铁蹄铮铮 (Mental Process, Relational Process) 踏遍万里河山 (Material Process) 我站在风口浪尖紧握住日月旋转 (Material Processes) 愿烟火人间安得太平美满 (Mental Process, Relational Process) 我真的还想再活五百年 (Mental Process, Material Process) Material Mental Relational

References for This Lecture Butler, C.S. Systemic Linguistic: Theory and Application. London: Batsford, Fawcett, R.P. Some Proposals for Systemic Syntax. Cardiff: Department of Behavioural and Communication Studies, Polytechnic of Wales, /1981. Firth, J.R. Papers in Linguistics. London: Oxford University Press, Halliday, M.A.K. Categories of the theory of grammar. Word, 1961, (17): Halliday, M.A.K. Some notes on ‘deep’ grammar. Journal of linguistics, 1966, (2): Halliday, M.A.K. Notes on transitivity and theme in English, Part 3. Journal of Linguistics, 1968, (4): Halliday, M.A.K. Language structure and language function. In J. Lyons (ed.), New Horizons in Linguistics. Harmondsworh: Penguin, 1970: Halliday, M.A.K. An Introduction to Functional Grammar. London: Arnold, Halliday, M.A.K. & C.M.I.M. Matthiessen. Construing Experience Through Meaning: A Language-based Approach to Cognition. London: Cassell, Hasan, R. Linguistics, Language and Verbal Art, Geelong, Vic: Deakin University Press, Martin, J.R. English Text: System and Structure. Amsterdam: Bejamins, Matthiessen, C.M.I.M. Lexicogrammatical Cartography: English Systems. Tokyo: International language Sciences Publishers, Muir, J. A Modern Approach to English Grammar: An Introduction to Systemic Grammar. London: Batsford, Scott, F.S. et al. English Grammar: A Linguistic Study of Its Classes and Structures. London: Heinemann, Sinclair, J.MCH, A Course in Spoken English: Grammar. London: Oxford University Press, 何伟， “ 功能句法的界定 ” ，《功能语言学年度评论》， 2008 。 胡壮麟， “ 系统功能语言学活动近况 “ ，见余渭深等编， 1998 ： 3-16 。 胡壮麟等，《系统功能语言学概论》，北京：北京大学出版社， 2005 。 黄国文， “ 功能主义者的大集合 ” ， 《国外语言学》， 1995 ，（ 4 ）。 田贵森、王冕， “ 功能语言学在中国的应用研究与发展 ” ，《北京科技大学学报》（社会科学版）， 2008 ，（ 2 ）。