My aunt + has been given that teapot by the duke THEME AND RHEME In English an item has thematic status by putting it first. The Theme is the element which serves as a point of departure of the message; it is that which locates and orients the clause within the context. The remainder of the message is called Rheme. the duke + has given my aunt the teapot My aunt + has been given that teapot by the duke that teapot + the duke has given to my aunt THEME RHEME

As to that teapot, + my aunt was given it by the duke Compare: THEME AND RHEME Themes are sometimes announced explicitly, by means of some expression, such as: as for…, with regard to… , about.... This has the effect of focusing the Theme. As to that teapot, + my aunt was given it by the duke Compare: As for the Pope Fransis himself, + he is known to be very keen on sport The Theme is picked up by an appropriate pronoun

Theme in declarative clauses: M.A.K. Halliday (1985), An Introduction to Functional Grammar What is the element that is typically chosen as Theme in an English clause? It depends on the choice of mood. Theme in declarative clauses: Unmarked: Theme conflates with the Subject NP: pronoun as Head:Subject She + went to the baker’s B) NP: common or proper noun as Head: Subject A wise old robin + lived in an oak Mary + had a little bicycle Nominalization: Subject What I want + is a proper cup of tea  

Theme in declarative clauses: M.A.K. Halliday (1985), An Introduction to Functional Grammar Theme in declarative clauses: marked: Theme does not conflate with the Subject. It is other than the subject Adverb phrase: Adjunct: Luckily + he spoke very good English Only once + he went to the UK B) Preposition Phrase: Adjunct: On Suturday night+ she lost her purse  

Theme in declarative clauses: M.A.K. Halliday (1985), An Introduction to Functional Grammar Theme in declarative clauses: marked: Theme does not conflate with the Subject. It is other than the subject C) NP:common or proper noun as Head: Complement A pudding + the King did make Silvie + you’re particularly fond of D) NP: pronoun as Head: Complement This + they should refuse E) Nominalization: Complement What they could not eat that night + the Queen next morning fried  

Theme in declarative clauses: M.A.K. Halliday (1985), An Introduction to Functional Grammar Theme in declarative clauses: marked: Theme does not conflate with the Subject. It is other than the subject F) Cleft sentences beginning with It [It + was Rush] [who scored the goal]. G) Pseudo cleft sentences beginning with What [What the duke gave to my aunt] + [was that teapot ]  

Theme in exclamative clauses: subcategory of declarative clauses M.A.K. Halliday (1985), An Introduction to Functional Grammar Theme in exclamative clauses: subcategory of declarative clauses unmarked: Theme does not conflate with the Subject. These typically have an exclamatory WH- element as Theme. How dreadful + she sounds What a self-opinionated egomaniac + that guy is THEME RHEME  

Theme in interrogative clauses: M.A.K. Halliday (1985), An Introduction to Functional Grammar Theme in interrogative clauses: unmarked: yes/no, POLARITY: Theme is the finite verbal operator, which is put first: Could you + eat a whole packet of biscuits Has he + got the car back by the way? Did you + sleep ok? THEME RHEME  

Theme in interrogative clauses: M.A.K. Halliday and Matthiessen (2004), An Introduction to Functional Grammar Theme in interrogative clauses: unmarked: WH- element first, : Theme is Wh- operator, no matter what other function it has in the mood structure of the clause (Subject, Adjunt, Complement): Who +wants a glass of red whine? Where + did you get that from? How many hours +did you want? Why +was he opposed to coming in? THEME RHEME The meaning is “I want you to tell me the person, thing , time, manner, etc.”  

Theme in interrogative clauses: M.A.K. Halliday and Matthiessen (2004), An Introduction to Functional Grammar Theme in interrogative clauses: unmarked: WH- element first, : Theme is Wh- operator, no matter what other function it has in the mood structure of the clause (Subject, Adjunt, Complement): Who +wants a glass of red whine? Where + did you get that from? How many hours +did you want? Why +was he opposed to coming in? THEME RHEME The meaning is “I want you to tell me the person, thing, time, manner, etc”  

Theme in interrogative clauses yes/no: marked: Good + is it? M.A.K. Halliday and Matthiessen (2004), An Introduction to Functional Grammar Theme in interrogative clauses yes/no: marked: Good + is it? “Death by water” + do you rememember that passage in the Waste Land?[Eliot]  

Theme in imperative clauses: unmarked: Predicator (verb) as THEME. M.A.K. Halliday and Matthiessen (2004), An Introduction to Functional Grammar Theme in imperative clauses: unmarked: Predicator (verb) as THEME. The basic message is either: “I want you to do something”[singular] or “I want (you and me) to do something [plural]. First tipe: Turn + it down (singular: you) Don’t do + that Second type: Let’s + all think about for a moment (plural: you and me) Don’t let’s + quarrel about it  

Theme in imperative clauses: marked: Subject as THEME. M.A.K. Halliday and Matthiessen (2004), An Introduction to Functional Grammar Theme in imperative clauses: marked: Subject as THEME. The basic message is either: “I want you to do something” or “I want (you and me) to do something. You + keep quiet (unmarked:keep quiet) Don’t you + argue with me  

MOOD of clause Typical unmarked Theme M.A.K. Halliday and Matthiessen (2004), An Introduction to Functional Grammar sum up of UNMARKED Theme. When other element comes first, it constitutes a ‘marked’ choice. MOOD of clause Typical unmarked Theme Declarative nominal group functioning as Subject Interrogative: yes/no first word (finite operator) of verbal group + NP as Subject Interrogative: Wh- NP, AdvP, PP functioning as interrogative (Wh-) element Imperative: you VP functioning as Predicator, plus preceeding don’t if negative Imperative: you and me let’s plus preceeding don’t if negative Exclamative: NP, or AdvP functioning as exclamative (Wh-) element  

Theme and Rheme, Given and New M.A.K. Halliday and Matthiessen (2004), An Introduction to Functional Grammar Theme and Rheme, Given and New In unmarked sentences there is a close semantic relation between the system of INFORMATION and the system of THEME. Theme falls within the Given and New falls within the Rheme Julia + phoned us Theme + Rheme Given New It was Julia + who phoned us Theme + Rheme New + Given  

The syntactic flexibility of the Italian language and its different thematic organization enables such constructions: Example: È arrivato il Re! È arrivato il Re! In English: *Has arrived the King Is ungrammatical.

The King is here! The King is here! The thematic organization of Italian may push the tranlsator to reject the congruent syntax of the following: Example: The King is here! The King is here! and opt for a presentative construction with subject shiftes to the right: Here is the King! Here is the King!