An Alternative Approach: Teaching Speaking In Business English Under Functional Grammar

This paper is a report of an exploration of teaching speaking in Business English under functional grammar. Speaking is an essential skill in Business English. Spoken language is strikingly different from written language. Yet the prevalent pedagogy in speaking teaching is based on formal linguistics (traditional grammar). Traditional grammar is the grammar of written language;spoken language appeals to functional grammar. Functional grammar views the primary function of language as communicating meanings in particular contexts;examines what we do with language (the wording through meaning notion);identifies the differences between spoken text and written text (the process/product distinction);and explores features of spoken language. Language description is the basis for course design in ESP. Using functional grammar, the author made a detailed language analysis of a sample text (a telephone conversation between a client and supplier). The tripartite analysis pictured how ideational, interpersonal and textual meanings develop and combine through thematic and information structure, mood structure, transitivity, cohesion, metaphoric usage, and contextual configuration. Grounded in the analysis, it is suggested that learners should be engaged totally in the process of meaning production, and be left free totally in thinking, feeling and giving voice to personal thoughts. In the context of teaching speaking in Business English, the alternative approach is sound, and the traditional approach can be supplementary.