语言学主位述位.pptVIP

Organiazing the message: the textual metafunction - Theme 6.1 Introduction There are three main ways in which textual meanings are constructed in a text: repetition, conjunction and thematization. Repetition clearly includes repetition of the same word or a synonym(lexical repetition and meaning repetition). The function of repetition is typically to show that parts of a text (not necessarily adjacent to each other) are related in some way. By repeating a wording or a meaning speakers signal that they are keeping to the same topic. Conjunction mainly shows how texts are related, such as because. Conjunctive Adjuncts, such as therefore, and certain unspecific nouns, such as the reason, can also preform the same kind of funciton. Thematization is mainly related to the structing of the clause itself - the order in which elements appear in the clause. 6.2 Theme Theme: the first constituent of the clause Rheme: all the rest of the clause Theme can be defined as the point of departure of the message or that which locates and orients the clause within its context (Halliday and Matthiessen, 2004: 64) The different choice of Theme has contributed to making a different meaning. 6.3 Identifying Theme6.3.1 Theme in a declarative clauses 1. Theme and Subject are the same (they are said to be conflated), which also be regarded as the unmarked Theme choice. e.g. You probably havent heard of the SOU before. Theme/Subject Rheme 2. The nominal group acting as Subject includes a long Post-modifier. e.g. The language that Eskimo people speak aroune the top of th eworld, in places as far apart as Siberia, Alaska and Greenland, differ quite a lot in details of vocaulary. Theme/Subject Rheme 3. The Subject may also be a nominal group complex, where, for example, two co-ordinated nominal groups function together as Subject. e.g. A keen interest in the environment, familiarity with the working of Government and/o