Language Access Centre

"The textual metafunction creates discourse"

"Of the various structures which, when mapped on to each other, make up a clause, we will consider first the one which gives the clause its character as a message. This is known as thematic structure.
We may assume that in all languages the clause has the character of a message: it has some form of organization giving it the status of a communicative event. But there are different ways in which this may be achieved. In English, as in many other languages, the clause is organized as a message by having a special status assigned to one part of it. One element in the clause is enunciated as the theme; this then combines with the remainder so that the two parts together constitute a message." (Halliday, p 37)
• creates discourse
• clause as message
• the linguistic expression of the other two metafunctions (ideational, interpersonal)
• theme vs. rheme
Subject – grammatical function
Actor – doer of the action
Theme – ‘what the sentence is about’

1. The chef is preparing dinner in the kitchen.
2. Dinner is being prepared in the kitchen.
3. In the kitchen the chef is preparing dinner.
4. In the kitchen dinner is being prepared by the chef.
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Definitions of Theme
• the starting point of the clause message
• realized in English by first position in a clause
• must contain a participant, process or circumstance
• includes any element preceding the first participant, process or circumstance
Theme. Textual clause function: the point of departure of the clause as message. It sets up the local context for each clause. This local context often relates to the method of development of the text: the Theme is selected in such a way that it indicates how the clause relates to this method and contributes to the identification of the current step in the development. The term theme has an entirely different meaning in formal grammars (as does the term thematic roles), which has nothing to do with the long tradition of work on theme in Prague School linguistics and other functional traditions. => IFG Chapter 3. => LexCart Section 6.2. (From Christian Matthiessen: Glossary of systemic-functional terms. http://minerva.ling.mq.edu.au/)
Topic. The subject matter of a clause; what it is about – often as one member of the pair topic + comment. Topic corresponds roughly to the experiential part of Theme, Topical theme, in Halliday's analysis of English, but it typically excludes textual and interpersonal Themes. (Sometimes the notion of given or known is also included in topic, but never in Halliday's Theme.) Cf. IFG p. 39. (From Christian Matthiessen: Glossary of systemic-functional terms. http://minerva.ling.mq.edu.au/)
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Theme in declarative sentences
Unmarked (Theme = Subject):
a. The two Indians stood waiting.
b. Nick and his father went into the stern of the boat.
c. The Indian who was rowing them was working very hard.
d. But I will have some photographs taken.
e. Oh, you’re a great man.
f. No, I think it’s pretty easy.
g. There was no need of that.
h. Of course it’s an accident.
Marked (Theme ¹Subject):
a. Across the bay they found the other boat.
b. In February 1979 he was awarded the George Cross posthumously.
c. And when you get down there you find he hasn’t actually got any.
d. Inside him was rising an urge to do something, take some action.
e. That I don’t know.
f. What she had felt he never knew.
g. Most troubling of all to some social scientists is the message men get that being a good father means learning how to mother.
Theme in interrogative sentences
1. Polarity (yes/no) questions: unmarked Theme = finite + Subject
a. Are you interested in syntax?
b. Would you like a cup of tea?
c. Oh, so is that your plan?
d. But don't any of the artist-folk fancy children?
e. By the way, were you serious about moving to Milton Keynes?
1. Wh-questions: unmarked Theme = Wh-word
a. What are you doing here?
b. Where are we going?
c. Then, in the name of goodness, why does she bother?
d. If it's true that contented cows give more milk, why shouldn't happy ball players produce more base hits?
Theme in imperative sentences
a. Wake me up before the coffee break.
b. Don’t disturb me while I’m taking a nap.
c. Let’s have a look at this recipe.
d. Oh please stop it.
Theme Rheme
point of departure of clause as message; local context of clause as piece of text. Non-Theme – where the presentation moves after the point of departure; what is presented in the local context set up by Theme.
initial position in the clause position following initial position
(table from Martin et al)
What elements go into the Theme?
1. The first experiential element in the clause (participant/process/circumstance)
2. Any element preceding the first experiential element in the clause (modal/connective adjuncts, conjunctions, finite, vocative,
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Thematic equative
a. What he meant by this was that he was no longer an apprentice.
b. What they did was go into the stern of the boat.
c. The reason he asked you where you were going is because he hoped you would be visiting other areas.
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Theme in clause complexes

When Philippa reached number 41 she stopped
Theme Rheme
structural topical Rheme Theme Rheme
Theme
1. As soon as she had pressed the doorbell – it let out a musical jingle – Philippa sensed that the house was empty.
2. Resisting the temptation to peer through the letter-box, she decided to try next door.
3. At least they would know whether Ducton still lived at 41 or where he had gone.
Week 7 (14+16. March): "More on thematic analysis": Multiple Theme; Predicated Theme; Theme and given/new; Theme in texts (article by P. Fries)
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Theme–Rheme analysis of some sentences (Underlined: downranked themes):
Newspaper article (from The Daily Telegraph, Feb 10, 1999)
Theme Rheme
Parts of Northern Britain were brought to a standstill by heavy snow and ice yesterday with roads closed and dangerous driving conditions.
Scotland was worst hit.
Two hundred schools were closed in Aberdeenshire, where roadswere impassable,
and more than seven inches of snow was recorded at Aberdeen airport.
An injured climber survived 18 hours in sub-zero temperatures clinging to an ice-covered ledge after falling 400ft in Glencoe.
Lawrence Reeve, 40, a computer operator from Chessington, Surrey, was recovering in hospital yesterday after suffering severe facial injuries, a punctured lung and frostbite.
The lone walker was making his way along a ridge when he fell into Glen Cam, striking a boulder which saved him from a further drop of 300ft.
From A.A. Milne: Winnie-the-Pooh:
Theme Rheme
Once upon a time, a very long time ago now, about last Friday Winnie-the-Pooh lived in a forest all by himself under the name of Sanders.
One day when he was out walking he came to an open place in the middle of the forest
and in the middle of this place was a very large oak tree
and from the top of the tree there came a large buzzing noise.
Winnie-the-Pooh sat down at the foot of the tree,
put his head between his paws
and began to think.
First of all he said to himself
"That buzzing noise means something.
You don’t get a buzzing noise like that, just buzzing and buzzing, without its meaning something.
If there’s a buzzing noise, somebody’s making a buzzing noise
and the only reason for making a buzzing noise that I know of is because you’re a bee."
Then he thought for another long time
and said
"And the only reason for being a bee that I know of is making honey."
And then he got up,
and said
"And the only reason for making honey is so as I can eat it."
So he began to climb the tree.



http://folk.uio.no/hhasselg/systemic/Textual.htm