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Basic Concepts Language: “a system of meanings” (when people

use language, they construct meaning)
Metafunctions
• Is a system of meaning which offers an
The way in which people use language is divided into
unlimited choice of creating meaning.
three broad categories.
• People use language to make meanings in
Experiential: Language is used to understand, organize and
specific situations, and the form of the language that
to express our perception of the world and our own consciousness.
It has to do with the way we talk about actions, feelings or
they use in discourse is influenced by the complex
actions, etc. These meanings are realized in wording through aspects of those situations.
process, participant, and circumstances and are more centrally
Grammar: becomes a study of how meanings are built
influenced by the field of discourse.
up, how language is put together and how it works.
Textual:
Studies how meanings are build up through the choice
Language is used to relate what is said to the rest of the of words and other grammatical resources.
text and other linguistic events. It is important in the creation of
coherence in spoken and written text. . This meaning is realized • Semantic: because it concerned with meaning.
through patterns of THEME AND COHESION and is most
centrally influenced by the mode of discourse. • Functional: because it concerned with how
language is used.
Interpersonal:
• Systemic: because language is a system of
Language is used to enable us to participate in
meanings.
communicative acts with other people, take on roles, and express
and understand attitudes, feelings and judgments by giving and
requesting information. Meanings are realized in wording
through “Mood & Modality” and are more centrally influenced by
the tenor of discourse.
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Class: terms like noun, adjectives, adverbs and verb are
names of word classes.
Discourse: a mode of organizing knowledge, ideas, or
experience that is rooted in language and its concrete
contexts.
Paradigm: is a system of choices made potentially
available to us by the language we are using.
Text: is any stretch of language, regardless of that is
spoken or written for the purpose of communication by
real people in actual circumstances.
Communication: is an interactive process through which
meaning is negotiated in real time. Writers attempt to
communicate with the reader and expect them to
respond emotionally or intellectually to the text.
3 Grammars:
Traditional grammar: aims to describe the grammar of
Standard English by comparing it with Latin.
Formal grammar: concerned to describe the structure of
individual sentences.
Functional grammar: not only are concerned with the
structures but also with how those structures creates
meanings. (Focused on the text and their context)
Different levels of analysis:
Phonology (sounds of language)
Lexis (familiar term vocabulary)
Semantics (system of meaning in a language)
Grammar structures (internal structures of word)