Lesson Three Context of Situation

Scripts, etc. Scripts Frames Mental Models

Scripts, etc. The plane carrying much needed food crashed. The pilot was unhurt but captured by… (context)

Scripts, etc. Mary got some beer out of the car. The beer was warm. Mary got some picnic things out of the car.

Context of Situation FIELD TENOR MODE

FIELD Who is doing what to whom, when, where how and why. The nature of the social action. What is happening. Who is doing what to whom, when, where how and why.

TENOR Participant roles Personal relationships Eg. informer, questioner Personal relationships Eg. mother/daughter; teacher/pupil; doctor/patient

MODE How the language is organised. Channel – spoken, written, phoned, faxed, … What the language is doing. eg. Persuading, teaching, …

Example: shampoo ad Phase 1: Field: providing medical information Tenor: formal, indicative Mode: ‘written to be spoken’ (TV)

Example: shampoo ad 2 Phase 2: Field: promoting the product Tenor: informal, imperative Mode: colloquial, spoken mode

Example: shampoo ad 3 Phase 3: Field: a satisfied customer expressing delight with his friends – no dandruff. Tenor: informal, expressive, friendly relationships between peers Mode: conversational dialogue

Functions of Language Ideational function Interpersonal function Textual function

Ideational function Language functions to encode and transmit information between members of society. It uses transitivity structures: John kicked Bill. (material process) Bill thought “You….”! (mental process) They are no longer friends (relational process)

Interpersonal function Language functions to establish and maintain relations between members of society. Bill: Hey, you kicked me! John: I’m sorry, really, but it was your fault. Bill: What do you mean, it was my fault!!!

Textual Function Language functions to organise messages. Theme/rheme Given/New Bill: John, I hate you. John: Look, don’t be angry.

Register Affect Status Contact

Register 2 Happy Birthday to an OLD friend!

Register 3 To Mr. Reginald Smith The management wish to extend their sincere good wishes on the occasion of your birthday.

Register 4 Oh, it’s your birthday, is it? Well, many happy returns, mate.

Register 5 Roses are red Violets are blue Here are my birthday wishes to you. Happy birthday, darling. xxxxxxxx

Register 6 And funeral condolences…?

Context! in translation “He ate my bacon sandwich!” connotation/denotation “Mi ha mangiato il panino!”