Systemic Functional Linguistics as a Framework for Qualitative Online Studies Dr Irene Pollach University of Aarhus, Denmark irpo@asb.dk

Outline Systemic functional linguistics What is that? And what can it be used for? Meta-functions of language Offline Online

Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) Halliday (1978, 1994) Proposed for studies of linear written text and oral communication Not tied to a particular research design Theoretical framework for qual, quant, or mixed-method Received next to no attention in online research Can be applied to online communication

3 Meta-Functions of Language Categorization of language resources into three functions: Ideational: "Text is always about something" (mental world) Interpersonal: "Text is always to and from somebody" (social world) Textual: "Text always exhibits structure and organization" (physical world)

3 Meta-Functions of Language Interdependent of each other Exhibited by all meaning-carrying units in a text Text Visual elements Structural elements Context

Context "Text always occurs in a context" "the situational, nonlinguistic surroundings of a text" 3 meta-functions not sufficient to understand text Context needed to understand meaning Characterized by: Field: Social activity taking place ( content) Tenor: Role structure in a particular situation ( to/from somebody) Mode: the communication channel

SFL & Online Research How have Web media expanded the 3 meta-functions of language resources?

1 :: Ideational Function Language represents content of a text Processes & participant: events, relations, participant roles Circumstances: place, manner, purpose, reason Time: before-now, now, or after-now Concept taxonomies: content words and how they cluster and are arranged hierarchically

1 :: Ideational :: Online Content that was not / could not be produced offline New genres, text types Corporate website: Opportunity for self-presentation Manifestation of corporate identity to internal and external stakeholders No gatekeeper, unrestricted publishing New process types, new participants, new circumstances

2 :: Interpersonal Function Language as a medium of exchange b/w people Conveying positional meaning: express attitudes towards the content Conveying relational meaning: construct identity assign roles to self and others, enact relations Important concepts: evaluations, formality, intimacy/distance, status and power, roles

2 :: Interpersonal :: Online Relational meaning created in new ways: Construct identity: Profiles: self-presentation, explicit self Links: what you want to be associated with 'Buddies': who you want to be associated with Assign roles to self and others Not necessarily separation b/w writers and readers New roles, new relationships Positional meaning created in new ways: Rating, commenting, blogging

2 :: Interpersonal :: Online Blog Personal journal style Entries displayed in reverse chronological sequence, makes diachronic dimension explicit Clearly defined author, whose content is more important than comments Content posted, option to comment Blogger's profile Cues about interests through links

3 :: Textual Function Language structures messages Texts need to be organized to realize the other 2 functions Puts emphasis on parts of a text Creates cohesion within a text Links text with its context 2 categories of textual resources: Themes: what sentence is about and how that progresses through the entire text Cohesion: make one coherent whole of text

3 :: Textual :: Online Organization of the text within a page Embedment of individual pages within the whole site New means of meaning making navigation features (e.g. links to text before) organization features (not always decided by author) links to context (e.g. profile, terms of use) visual consistency, color symbolism

3 :: Textual :: C2C site

3 :: Textual :: C2C site

3 :: Textual :: C2C site

Summary Ideational: moved to the Web relatively unscathed New processes, participants, circumstances Structural elements create participants Interpersonal: Biggest expansion Explicit self Implicit meaning, e.g. through association Structural elements assign roles Textual: More meaning in structural elements May limit ways of expression Solicits expression

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Systemic Functional Linguistics as a Framework for Qualitative Online Studies Dr Irene Pollach University of Aarhus, Denmark irpo@asb.dk