Systemic Functional Linguistics

Systemic-Functional Linguistics (SFL) is a theory of language centred around the notion of language function. While SFL accounts for the syntactic structure of language, it places the function of language as central (what language does, and how it does it), in preference to more structural approaches, which place the elements of language and their combinations as central. SFL starts at social context, and looks at how language both acts upon, and is constrained by, this social context. A central notion is 'stratification', such that language is analysed in terms of four strata:

Context,
Semantics,
Lexico-Grammar and
Phonology-Graphology

Stratification in SFL

Context

Context concerns the

1) Field (what is going on),

2)Tenor (the social roles and relationships between the participants), and the

3) Mode (aspects of the channel of communication, e.g., monologic/dialogic, spoken/written, +/- visual-contact, etc.).

Semantics

Systemic semantics includes what is usually called 'pragmatics'. Semantics is divided into three components:

•Ideational Semantics (the propositional content);

•Interpersonal Semantics (concerned with speech-function, exchange structure, expression of attitude, etc.);

•Textual Semantics (how the text is structured as a message, e.g., theme-structure, given/new, rhetorical structure etc.

Lexico-Grammar

The term lexicogrammar (literally, lexicon plus grammar) was introduced by linguist M.A.K. Halliday. Lexicogrammar is a term used in systemic functional linguistics (SFL) to emphasize the interdependence of--and continuity between vocabulary (lexis) as well as

syntax (grammar).

Phonology - Graphology

Phono - Graphology of the language emphasizes chain and choice relations of patterns of sounds with hierarchical networks of choices in meaning. The approach also accepts other different systems appropriate to different components of both language and its theory.