BBI3416 Functional Grammar Functional Grammar takes on a Hallidayan

approach in learning the operations of grammar. It examines the relationships between

grammatical forms and meaning. In the process of using the language, sentence

structure is seen to operate at three levels of meaning: the experiential, the interpersonal and the textual.

The analysis would give rise to a better understanding of the constituents of a sentence and ultimately how they are strung together to convey the desired meaning.

At the end of the course, students should improve on their grasp of grammatical accuracy which is essential for clear and effective expression in context.

SYNOPSIS

This course involves understanding the principles of the functional grammar approach in the analysis of language in use; explaining linguistic choice in context;  

applying the system to the description of text, both spoken and written; conceptualising word classes, the composition of the clause, and information structure; and arriving at and interpreting meaning in the context of expression.

Course Objectives By the end of the course, students are able to: 1. understand Halliday’s “system of meanings”

for the analysis of language in use, 2. use grammatical tools to account for

coherence in authentic texts, and relate the approach to trends and developments in the study of communicative events.

3. relate the approach to trends and developments in the study of communicative events.

Course ScheduleWEEK/ TOPIC 1. Basic Concepts related to Functional Grammar 2 Examining the noun group 3 Examining the noun group 4 Doing and Happening 5 The transitivity of mental and verbal processes 6 The transitivity of relational and existential processes

7. Representing time 8 Speech Acts and Mood 9 Expressing Judgements and Attitudes 10 Organising Messages 11 Expressing Multiple Messages 12- 14 Revision

TEXTS Lock, G. Functional English Grammar . Cambridge:

Cambridge: University Press. Thompson,G (2004) Functional GrammarMassachusetts: Thompson and HeinleElbaum, S. and Denman, B. (2006) Grammar in Context.

Massachusetts: Thompson and Heinle Contact: Mr Tan Pustaka Princip Flat Ikan, Sri Serdang  

COURSE EVALUATION 1. Tests 1 and Mid Sem 30

% 2. Assignments 35

% 3. Final Examination 35

%

Format of the Quiz 1, Mid semester test and Final examination

Quiz 1 will have objective questions (first 3 topics)  

The mid semester test and final exam will have objective questions and short subjective answers.

Topics covered for examination   The Mid-semester Examination: The first

four topics according to the learning schedule given.

The Final Examination : Topics 5 -All the topics

Introduction to Functional Grammar

Assumptions You are able to recognise the basics of

grammar, e.g the parts of speech, the sequence of arrangement of constituents of a sentence.

You are able to recognise basic sentence patterns

Basic Sentence Patterns Subject Verb Subject Verb Object Subject Verb Complement Subject Verb Direct Object Indirect Object

In Functional Grammar, the essential

word groups are: 1. Noun Group 2. Adjective Group 3. Adverb Group 4. Verb Group 5. Prepositional Phrase

BASIC CONCEPTS IN FUNCTIONAL ANALYSIS

        Rank Rank refers to the different levels of

organisation in the description of grammar.

We could talk about our analysis at word level or we could talk about it at sentence level.

        Units Units are the word groups that can be

strung together to give meaning.

        Clauses A clausal structure contains a verb form. It

may be a complete sentence or it may be a group of words that serve as a modifier.

Example:  He goes to the movie. ( one clause)

(Clause 1) (Clause 2) Ali bought a pen and Hassan bought a

book. ( two clauses )

A clause may be a finite clause or a nonfinite clause

A finite clause contains a finite verb such as

     He goes to the antique shop in Malacca.      She went to Port Dickson with her friends.

A nonfinite clause may contain a verb form which is not affected by tense agreement or number as in: ( the underlined words)

Having transport problems , Kong Beng decided to stay in the hostel at Sekolah Sri Kota.

NOUN GROUPS A Noun or the noun group is another

grammatical feature that needs explication as it is a group that occupies an essential slot in most of our utterances.

He goes to the gym.

Structure of a Noun Group   In understanding how nouns function, we could

examine the constituents in the group. The group may be just one word or several words. The focus in the noun group is the head and a premodifier may precede while a postmodifier may follow the head.

 

Example premodifier head postmodifier The headmaster of Sekolah Sri

Gombak

Count Nouns Many, few, a few, Mass Nouns much, a little, little Mass noun and count noun several, fewer, fewest some, a lot of , less, least

Describers A describer reveals the quality of the noun

or an attitude towards the noun used. Examples A slender girl An ugly duckling

VERB GROUPS A verb group is an expanded verb. An example

is the following sentence:  She should have written the letter. Structure of a Verb Group  The head of the verb group is written. It represents

the experiential meaning of the process. Such verbs are known as lexical verbs. The elements that precede the head are auxiliary verbs or auxiliaries. They are sometimes regarded as premodifiers.

In a verb group, four types of auxiliaries can precede a head verb. The head verb is the lexical verb.

He would have been seen by the guide. He is going to school. She has been promoted

modal auxiliaries will, would, may perfect auxiliaries have, has, had continuous/ progressive auxiliaries is, am, are passive auxiliaries is, am, are

Action Processes In functional grammar, the term for the

configurations of participants associated with different processes is known as transitivity (Lock, 1996: 73).

Action Processes Circumstance Without apprehension and doubt,

Participant (Actor) the hobbit

Action stole

Participant (Goal) the vegetables.

 

Phrasal Verbs  Phrasal verbs are verbs that are followed

by a preposition, technically called a particle.

 Actor My mother

Process/Phrasal verb switched off

Goal the fan.

Actor Mary

Process swam

Circumstantial Adjunct in the sea.

PHASE

A phase is a structure with two verb groups where the second is dependent on the first. The first verb is often finite (but may be nonfinite) and the second verb is always nonfinite.

In such verb groups, the first verb adds some information about the action represented by the second verb, but does not in itself represent a complete process (Lock, 1996: 98).

Actor The party of nine

Process reached

Range the centre of the mine.

Middle voiceAffected Ice Process meltsCircumstantial Adjunct at room temperature.

Active voice Causer Heat Process melts Affected ice.

The hobbits (Actor) will continue to fight (phase)

the goblins ( Goal).

Passive voice Affected Ice

Process is melted

Causer (by heat).

 

Extended Phase StructureActor Endurance

Process kept

Goal the soldiers

Process going

Circumstantial Adjunct during the war.