Invitation to Systemic Functional Linguistics through the Cardiff Grammar: An extension and simplification of Halliday's Systemic Functional Grammar ... (EQUINOX TEXTBOOKS & SURVEYS IN LINGUISTICS)

This short book is two books in one. First, it is a genuinely introductory introduction to the main concepts of Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) for the 21st century. Drawing on recent research, it focuses on the structure of the clause in English, bringing out clearly (i) the 'multifunctional' nature of language, and (ii) the way in which structures are the result of 'choices between meanings'. It is an 'extension' of Halliday's SFG in several ways, including the introduction of new elements that are of growing importance in the language, and a 'simplification' of it in that it shows how the many 'strands of meaning' in a clause can be expressed in a single structure. But this is also a book for experienced linguists (who may include the teachers of the first group) who are interested in a scholarly work which (i) compares the two main current versions of Systemic Functional Grammar with respect to the structure of the English clause, and (ii) gives reasons for every decision to prefer one analysis to another. This 'book within a book' is achieved through a generous use of extended 'footnotes'. The Cardiff Grammar version of SFG is based as firmly in the core principles of SFG principles as the Sydney Grammar (the version in Halliday's Introduction to Functional Grammar). Halliday, however, describes the development in the Sydney Grammar since the 1970s as expansions into new areas beyond what he has aptly termed the 'lexicogrammar'. In contrast, the Cardiff Grammar's description of English lexicogrammar (and other languages) has made significant advances since the 1970s, under the influence of eight major factors. Versions of this book are being published concurrently in Chinese (by Peking University Press) and Spanish (University of Plata del Mar Press). Cover Contents Preface to the Third Edition Preface to the Second Edition (updated) Chapter 1 1.1 A book for two sorts of reader 1.2 A note to the ‘experienced linguist’: three ways to read this book 1.3 A controversial question 1.4 The current scene in SFL: The Sydney Grammar and the Cardiff Grammar 1.5 The common ground between the Sydney Grammar and the Cardiff Grammar 1.6 Eight factors that led to developments in the Cardiff Grammar 1970-2007 1.7 Developments in the Sydney Grammar since the 1970s compared with those in the Cardiff Grammar 1.8 A note on works that describe the Sydney Grammar and the Cardiff Grammar 1.9 Research methods and research personnel in the Cardiff Grammar 1.10 How to use this book as an introductory text 1.11 How to read this book Chapter 2 2.1 Saussure and Systemic Functional Grammar 2.2 Form and meaning 2.3 Language and text 2.4 Paradigmatic and syntagmatic relations 2.5 From Saussure to Systemic Functional Grammar 2.6 The answers to two questions about SFL Chapter 3 3.1 The clause in its context 3.2 Halliday’s multifunctional principle 3.3 The syntax of TRANSITIVITY in our example 3.4 The syntax of MOOD in our example 3.5 Strands of meaning and system networks 3.6 Integrating the structures for TRANSITIVITY and MOOD 3.7 The Manner of the Process 3.8 Summary Chapter 4 4.1 The need for reliable criteria 4.2 Preliminary Guidelines (with no tests) 4.3 A first analysis task 4.4 Three tips for drawing syntax diagrams 4.5 What were your criteria? 4.6 Towards a reliable method of analysis 4.7 The principles behind the Mood Test 4.8 The Preliminary Guidelines 4.9 ‘Information seekers’ and ‘polarity seekers’ 4.10 Summary so far Chapter 5 5.1 The text analyst’s problem 5.2 A minimal theory of syntax: four categories 5.3 A minimal theory of syntax: four relationships 5.4 Keeping things simple 5.5 Which elements of the clause can be filled by units? 5.6 Replacing the metaphor of ‘words as beads on a string’ 5.7 Summary: theory and practice in the clause Chapter 6 6.1 A unique type of Main Verb 6.2 The concepts of ‘referent’ and ‘Participant’ 6.3 Analysis task 6.4 Qualities as Complements 6.5 Qualities (and things) as the expression of ‘affective’ meaning 6.6 Contractions 6.7 Aside: the case of ‘apostrophe s’ as a ‘genitive’ 6.8 Summary Chapter 7 7.1 Overview 7.2 How to use the system network 7.3 Generating a ‘selection expression’ of semantic features 7.4 Applying the realization rules 7.5 Generating the structure of a clause 7.6 Summary: some limitations of this little grammar Chapter 8 8.1 Auxiliary Verbs (X) 8.2 The Auxiliary Verb that expresses the meaning ‘retrospective’ 8.3 The Auxiliary Verb that expresses the meaning ‘period marked’ 8.4 The Auxiliary Verb that expresses the meaning ‘passive’ 8.5 The SUBJECT THEME system: the first source of the ‘passive’ Auxiliary 8.6 The centrality in the grammar of SUBJECT THEME 8.7 A covert Agent (or other PR): the second source of the ‘passive’ Auxiliary 8.8 ‘Unmarked Newness’: the third source of the ‘passive’ Auxiliary 8.9 Summary Chapter 9 9.1 The types of Operator met so far 9.2 The problem of a clause with no Operator 9.3 Introducing a form of do as a default Operator 9.4 Negation: a second reason for having an Operator 9.5 The ‘Contrastive Newness’ of ‘polarity correction’: a third reason for having an Operator 9.6 Preliminary Guidelines with an improved Mood Test 9.7 A summary of MOOD so far Chapter 10 10.1 Four questions 10.2 How to identify a Participant Role 10.3 Answers to the first three questions 10.4 A summary of TRANSITIVITY 10.5 Types of Complement 10.6 Some major patterns in TRANSITIVITY 10.7 Summary Chapter 11 11.1 The pattern of the next few chapters 11.2 MOOD meanings concerning ‘information’ 11.3 MOOD meanings that are ‘proposals for action’ 11.4 The meanings and forms of MOOD: a summary Chapter 12 12.1 An overview of Adjuncts 12.2 An overview of the functions served by Adjuncts 12.3 Interlude: the last two major strands of meaning and two minor ones 12.4 An overview of the places filled by Adjuncts 12.5 A third type of Newness 12.6 The meanings of the four types of ‘prominence’ 12.7 Summary Chapter 13 13.1 The five additional concepts 13.2 A Process that uses a Main Verb Extension (MEx) 13.3 A Process that uses a following preposition 13.4 A Process that uses a MEx and a following preposition 13.5 A third type of ‘covert’ Participant Role 13.6 A Complement as a Marked PR Theme 13.7 Summary Chapter 14 14.1 Overview 14.2 The Infinitive Element (I) 14.3 The Auxiliary Extension (XEx) 14.4 The Vocative (V) 14.5 Summary Chapter 15 15.1 How complete are these Guidelines? 15.2 Tips for drawing syntax diagrams: a reminder 15.3 The Full Guidelines - brief version 15.4 The Full Guidelines - with tests and examples 15.5 Summary Chapter 16 16.1 The task 16.2 Solutions 16.3 Comments on experiential meaning in the analyses 16.4 Comments on other strands of meaning in the analyses Chapter 17 17.1 Summary: the simple clause in English 17.2 The first further dimension: representing the units within the clause 17.3 The second further dimension: representing the semantics 17.4 Towards a full analysis of meaning and form 17.5 Summary: the interdependence of meaning and form 17.6 And next? Appendix 1: A summary of English syntax for the text analyst Appendix 2: An overall comparison between the Cardiff and Sydney Grammars References Index "This short book is intended for two groups of readers, and so is two books in one. First, it is a genuinely introductory introduction to Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) for the 21st century. Drawing on recent research, it focusses on the structure of the clause in English, bringing out clearly the 'multifunctional' nature of language, and the way in which structures are the result of 'choices between meanings'. It is both an 'extension' of Halliday's SFG (as in his Introduction to Functional Grammar), e.g. in describing elements of growing importance in the grammar of English, and a 'simplification' of it, e.g. in showing how the various 'strands of meaning' in a clause come to be expressed in a single structure."--Jacket