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Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) Is

The document discusses the key concepts of Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG), including that it is semantic because it is concerned with meaning and functional because it is concerned with how language is used to produce texts. It defines a text as an instance of meaningful language in use that has a function and context. Every text takes place within a cultural and situational context that provides information about field, tenor, and mode. These parameters of context of situation affect language choices and reflect the three metafunctions of language - experiential, interpersonal and textual - which are realized through lexicogrammar. The document provides an example of reconstructing the context of situation for a text about potato inspection.

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95 views

Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) Is

The document discusses the key concepts of Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG), including that it is semantic because it is concerned with meaning and functional because it is concerned with how language is used to produce texts. It defines a text as an instance of meaningful language in use that has a function and context. Every text takes place within a cultural and situational context that provides information about field, tenor, and mode. These parameters of context of situation affect language choices and reflect the three metafunctions of language - experiential, interpersonal and textual - which are realized through lexicogrammar. The document provides an example of reconstructing the context of situation for a text about potato inspection.

Uploaded by

Patria
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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GRAMMAR #1 Prof.

Vanesa Fernandez LESSON #2


MON 3RD APRIL

1) REVIEW: LESSON #1

In groups answer the following questions:

a) Why is Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) SEMANTIC and FUNCTIONAL?


b) What’s a text? What’s the function of a text? What’s the context of a text? What’s the
structure of a text? What do you think text types/genres are?
c) Every text has a context: What are the cultural and situational contexts? What are the 3
aspects of the context of situation and what kind of information do they provide us with?
d) How does the context of the text relate to the following aspects of content levels of
language: semantics and lexicogrammar?

2) PRACTICE
a) Identify in your own words what the purpose of each text below is.
b) Circle all the Processes – the words which tell you that something is doing something, or
that something is/was. Make a list of the doing words for each text; likewise list all the
being/having words for each text. How does the choice of Processes used in each text reflect
the purpose of the text?

Text 1

A man thought he was a dog, so he went to a psychiatrist. After a while the doctor said he was
cured. The man met a friend on the street. The friend asked him, ‘How do you feel?’ ‘I’m fine’, the
man said, ‘Just feel my nose.’ (Goldsweig, 1970)

Text 2

Birds are the only animals with feathers. These structures make up the greater part of the wing
surface and also act as insulation, helping them remain warm. Birds are the most active of the
vertebrate animals and they consequently consume large quantities of food. (Source: Year 7 Science
student)

………………………………………………………………………………………………….
SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR (SFG) is SEMANTIC because it´s concerned
with meaning and FUNCTIONAL because it´s concerned with how the language is used to
produce texts.

A TEXT is an instance of meaningful language in use.

Every text has at least one function that is the intention that motivates its production.

Texts have their own internal structure, with different internal parts with smaller functions which
help achieve the overall function.
Texts can be classified into different text types (or genres), depending on their structure, context
and function)

EXTRALINGUISTIC LEVEL OF LANGUAGE

Every text takes place in a CONTEXT: elements that surround the text. Very text has a
CULTURAL and SITUATIONAL CONTEXT

• CONTEXT OF CULTURE: outer context. When we think of the differences in forms of


address, in ceremonies, in politeness and in significant activities between one culture and
another, we get some idea of the importance of context in shaping meaning. It´s
sometimes described as the sum of all the meanings it is possible to mean in that culture.

WITHIN the context of culture, SPEAKERS AND WRITERS USE LANGUAGE IN MANY
MORE SPECIFIC CONTEXTS OR SITUATIONS. Each of these is an inner context, which
functional linguistics calls the CONTEXT OF SITUATION.

• CONTEXT OF SITUATION (register) inner context accounted by 3 aspects:

1. FIELD: topic. What is to be talked about.

2. TENOR: relationship between producer and receiver (writer and reader, speaker, and listener)

3. MODE: channel of communication and kind of text that is being made. (Written or oral OR
Language for reflection or action)

LINGUISTIC LEVEL OF LANGUAGE

Content levels

Semantics:

These 3 parameters of the context of situation affect our language choices because they
REFLECT the three main FUNCTIONS/MEANINGS OF LANGUAGE:

1) EXPERIENTIAL/IDEATIONAL: how we represent the concrete and abstract world to talk about
what is happening, what will happen and what has happened. (It finds it correlation with FIELD)

2) INTERPERSONAL: how we interact with the language and represent subjectivity. (It finds it
correlation with Tenor)

3) TEXTUAL. It uses language to organize experiential and interpersonal meanings into a


coherent linear whole. (It finds it correlation with Mode)

These three meanings or metafunctions of language are realized in

Lexicogrammar: words and the way they are arranged.

SO…
Understanding Texts – Reconstructing the Context

When we (over)hear or read a text, we can reconstruct its CONTEXT OF


SITUATION.

For example: ... we supervise the planting and inspect the harvest. We also buy only
the pick of the crop. Our experienced buyers look for lack of blemish, minimum number
of eyes, pure white ‘meaty’ interiors with firm frying consistency.

• What is the topic of the above text? Field


• Who/what kind of person produced this text? For whom? Tenor
• Do you think the original was written or spoken? Mode

We can reconstruct this context of situation because there is a systematic relationship


between context and text.

The wordings of texts simultaneously encode three types of meaning: experiential,


interpersonal and textual.

EXPERIENTIAL MEANINGS are meanings about the phenomena – about things (living
and non-living, abstract and concrete), about goings on (what the things are or do) and
the circumstances surrounding these happenings and doings.

These meanings are realised in wordings through Participants, Processes and


Circumstances. Meanings of this kind are most centrally influenced by the field of
discourse. Field: growing quality potatoes for french fries.

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