Linguistic Choice Across Genres: Variation In Spoken And Written English (current Issues In Linguistic Theory)

This book, based on revised papers originally delivered at the VII International Systemic Functional Workshop in Valencia in 1995, explores some of the choices open to speakers and writers for the expression of meaning in different socio-cultural contexts. Many of the papers draw their inspiration from models of language developed by Michael Halliday and in particular recent theories of variation in relation to texts and genres explored by Halliday and his followers. There is an emphasis on the interdependence and interaction of linguistic choices across sentence boundaries and speaking turns, and also a consistent focus across many papers on the importance of lexicogrammar in the construction of texts. Several papers examine the differences between native-speaker and non-native-speaker choices in speech and writing. The volume also contributes to our understanding of differences and similarities between spoken and written varieties of English and of the central significance of interpersonal functions in the communication of messages. By drawing on naturally-occurring data collected on a range of genres as diverse as philosophy articles, scientific research papers, emergency telephone calls, and casual conversation, contributors both refine descriptions of the relations between text and context and offer numerous new insights and analyses. CILT 158 LINGUISTIC CHOICE ACROSS GENRES VARIATION IN SPOKEN AND WRITTEN ENGLISH 2 Editorial page 3 Title page 4 Copyright page 5 Table of contents 6 FOREWORD 8 INTRODUCTION 10 MEANING AS WORK INDIVIDUALS, SOCIETY AND THE PRODUCTION OF REPRESENTATIONAL RESOURCES 12 Abstract 12 Thoughts in the context of the relation of languages, semiosis, and the English curriculum 12 Beach House Holiday Units 30 Please do not put garbage in council bins 30 Swimming club rules 32 I WRITTEN GENRES 36 RESONANCE IN TEXT 38 Abstract 38 1. Introduction 38 2. The tone of a text 39 3. Resonance in text 42 CHAIRMAN'S MESSAGE 45 4. Resonance and a componential approach 51 5. Conclusion 53 REFERENCES 54 CONDITIONAL EXPRESSIONS MEANINGS AND REALIZATIONS IN TWO GENRES 56 Abstract 56 1. Introduction 56 2. Conditionals in economics forecasts 57 3. Mind & Language: the register of philosophical argumentation 60 4. Modality and conditions 61 5. Realizations 63 6. Extended hypothetical 67 7. Conclusion 70 SOURCE TEXTS 71 ECONOMICS DATA (PINDI) 71 REFERENCES 72 PRAGMATIC, STYLISTIC AND GRAMMATICAL LIMITATIONS ON CHOICE A STUDY OF CAUSE-EFFECT SIGNALLING IN ENGLISH 74 Abstract 74 1. Introduction 74 1.1 Aims and signals 74 1.2 Combining clause relations and inner-clause semantics 75 2. Implicit and subtle connections 76 2.1 Implicit signalling 76 2.2 Prepositional indicators 78 2.3 Time indicators 78 3. Comparing inter-sentential and inter-clausal connections 80 3.1 Variety and sentence length as limitations on choice 80 3.2 Specific signalling and non-contiguous elements 81 3.3 Modals and variety 82 4. Providing grammatical freedom 83 4.1 Competing anaphors and new themes 83 4.2 Referent clarity 84 4.3 Using the matrix clause 85 4.4 Untriggered and triggered associated nominais 85 5. Rank-shifting methods and subordination 86 5.1 Non-thematic nominals 86 5.2 Thematic complex nominals 87 5.3 Verbless clauses 88 5.4 Subordination 89 6. Lexical connection of the causer 90 6.1 Newly-introduced nominals 90 6.2 Basic lexical connection 91 6.3 Associative lexical connection 92 7. Summary and conclusions 94 REFERENCES 94 FUNCTIONAL VARIATIONS IN THE NG PREMODIFIERS IN WRITTEN ENGLISH 96 Abstract 96 1. Introduction 96 2. The contrastive pair 97 3. The functional choice 99 4. The English hierarchical relations 100 5. The meaning of epithet ordering 103 6. Use in discourse 104 7. Conclusion 105 REFERENCES 106 INFORMATION PROGRESSION STRATEGIES IN ADMINISTRATIVE FORMS A CROSS-LINGUISTIC STUDY 108 Abstract 108 1. Introduction 108 2. Analysis methodology 110 3. Results and discussion 111 3.1 Thematic progression patterns across languages 111 A/ THE RHEMIC TP PATTERN 111 B/THE THEMIC TP PATTERN 113 C/ THE DERIVED TP PATTERN 113 3.2 The distribution of TP patterns across languages 114 3.3 Thematic progression patterns and contextual factors 115 3.4 Thematic progression patterns and rhetorical structure 120 4. Summary and conclusion 122 SOURCE TEXTS AND REFERENCE MANUALS 123 REFERENCES 124 INTERPERSONAL CHOICES IN ACADEMIC WORK 126 Abstract 126 1. Introduction 126 2. Consensus/Confrontation in academia: Alignment and Bashing 128 2.1 Alignment 129 2.2 Bashing 131 2.3 Juxtaposing strategies -fights and battles emerge 132 2.3.1 Linguistic fights 133 2.3.2 Battles for occupying intellectual territory 134 2.3.3 Battles for securing territory 136 3. Exemplifying systemic-fuctional analysis: capturing the Bashing strategies 138 4. Conclusion 143 REFERENCES 144 THE CONSEQUENCES OF CHOICE DISCURSIVE POSITIONING IN AN ART INSTITUTION 146 Abstract 146 1. Introduction: the MCA as an institution 146 2. Typical texts in the MCA 147 3. Typical problems in the MCA texts 149 3.1 Mode issues: density and thematic signalling 149 3.2 Field issues: technical 'obfuscation' 153 4. Accessibility as a source of tension: the consequences of change 156 REFERENCES 161 LEXICALAND GRAMMATICAL CHOICES IN INNOVATIVE LANGUAGE USE IN COMPUTER SCIENCE 164 Abstract 164 1. Introduction 164 2. Linguistic innovation in science 165 3. Emerging genres in computer science 168 4. Distinctive features of the language of computer science 168 4.1 New rhetorical styles and interactive qualities 169 4.2 New terminology 174 5. Conclusion 177 SOURCE TEXTS 178 REFERENCES 179 SCIENTIFIC DISCOURSE AS INTERACTION SCIENTIFIC ARTICLES VS. POPULARIZATIONS 182 Abstract 182 1. Summary of Brown & Levinson's postulates 182 2. Politeness theory and scientific discourse 184 3. Scollon & Scollon's politeness systems: an alternative terminology to B & L 186 4. Data analysis 187 4.1 Positive politeness strategies - The displaying of involvement 188 4.2 Independence strategies - The displaying of deference 191 5. Conclusions 197 SOURCE TEXTS 199 REFERENCES 199 RHETORICAL RELATIONS AND SUBORDINATION IN L2 WRITING 200 Abstract 200 1. Introduction 200 2. Aspects of making sense 202 2.1 Rhetorical relations 202 2.2 Linguistic coding: connectives and subordination 204 2.3 L2-writing and RST 205 3. Aspects of making text 206 3.1 Integration or isolation 206 3.2 Coordination or subordination 208 3.3 Connectives 209 3.4 A note on punctuation 210 4. Observations from the database 211 4.1 Absence of integration and explication 211 4.2 Weak integration through coordination 213 4.3 Weak integration through punctuation 214 4.4 Explication without integration 216 4.5 "Over-integration" 218 5. Conclusion 219 REFERENCES 221 II SPOKEN GENRES 224 QUALITY CHOICE AND QUALITY CONTROL 226 Abstract 226 1. Choice, consequences and constraints 226 2. Lexical and structural choice 234 3. The lexicogrammar of Quality 235 4. Conclusion 245 REFERENCES 246 MODALITY IN THE THERAPEUTIC DIALOGUE 248 Abstract 248 1. Introduction 248 2. An extended modality system 249 3. The transcategoriality of modality: a piling up of effects 252 3.1 Grammaticized modality 253 3.1.1 Mood 253 3.1.2 Aspect 253 3.1.3 Modal auxiliaries 253 3.2 Lexis 254 3.2.1 Evidentials 254 3.2.2 Adverbials 254 3.2.3 Hedges 255 3.2.4 Lexical items 255 3.2.5 Parentheticals 255 3.2.6 Validation markers 256 3.2.7 Interjections 256 3.3 Interclausal modophorics 256 3.3.1 Propositional attitudinals 256 3.3.2 Topicalisers 256 3.3.3 Connectors 256 4. A higher-level reorganization 257 4.1 The classic categories: epistemic, deontic, bouletic, alethic 257 4.2 From modals to generalized modality 257 4.3 The flexibility of usage, captured in theory 258 4.4 Implications 259 5. The relevance of extended modality for clinical studies 260 6. Analysis 264 6.1 Opening statement 264 6.2 Additional cumulative deployment of open modophorics in session 265 6.3 Mixed usage of open modalization and closed (or neutral) forms 266 6.3.1 Open modalizer tones down a closed or ambivalent segment 267 6.3.2 Mixed closed and open modalizers 267 7. Conclusion 268 REFERENCES 269 THE CONVERSATIONAL DYNAMICS OF INTERACTIONAL DISPUTE IN CONFLICTIVE CALLS FOR EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE A SINGLE CASE STUDY 274 Abstract 274 1. Introduction 275 2. The role of choice within a systemic description of conversation 276 3. The data 279 4. The system of analysis 279 4.1 From the structural slots to the functional structural slots 279 4.2 From the synoptic to the dynamic constituents of the exchange structure 282 4.3 Formulating the systems of choice in emergency interaction 284 5. Discussion 286 5.1 The generic constituents of the Interrogative Sequence (IS) 287 5.2 First segment: setting the ground rules in emergency interaction 289 5.3 The precursors of dispute: interactional asynchrony and departure from the normative expectations 290 5.4 The confirmation of the interactional dispute 292 6. Conclusion 293 REFERENCES 295 FRIENDS OR STRANGERS ONLY THEIR PHASES SHOW FOR SURE 300 Abstract 300 REFERENCES 308 LARS PORSENA AND MY BONK MANAGER A SYSTEMIC-FUNCTIONAL STUDY IN THE SEMOGENESIS OF THE LANGUAGE OF SWEARING 310 Abstract 310 1. Swearing: use, mention and nomenclature 310 2. The semiotic of swearing 312 3. The metafunctional perspective on swearing 314 4. Mode and tenor 318 5. The lexico-grammar of swearing 320 6. The text and swearing 321 REFERENCES 323 INTONATION CHOICES IN THE ENGLISH OF NON-NATIVE SPEAKERS AN EXPLORATORY STUDY 326 Abstract 326 1. The English intonation of non-native speakers: existing evidence 328 2. Methodological issues 329 3. The descriptive and analytical framework for the study: 'Discourse Intonation 331 4. Methods and data 333 5. Results 334 6. Discussion and conclusions 338 REFERENCES 340 INDEXES 344 INDEX OF SUBJECTS 346 INDEX OF NAMES 352