| Recent years have seen growing interest in the area of genre-based studies. Within the framework of systemic functional linguistics, this thesis conducts an integrative genre analysis of English dissertation abstracts. It is intended to reveal both the macro generic structure and the micro lexicogrammatical pattemings of this academic genre, with the hope to help student writers develop genre-specific awareness and facilitate abstract teaching.20 dissertation abstracts are selected in the subject of language and linguistics from PQDD (ProQuest Digital Dissertations) abstract database. The analytical framework adopted is an integrative two-way "genre and lexicogrammar" model, with Hasan's model of Generic Structure Potential (GSP) operating at the level of discourse structure and investigations of three metafunctions from Hallidayan theory demonstrating linguistic details at the lexicogrammatical level.The thesis reveals that there are 8 generic structural elements in the GSP of dissertation abstracts, with Purpose of Study, Research Design and Result being obligatory. A further discussion on sequencing and recursion of these elements leads to a possible GSP formula capable of depicting the whole data. By investigating the ideational, interpersonal and textual functions of DA language, the thesis further reveals some lexicogrammatical patterns of this genre: relational and material processes are main tools to construe experiential meanings; declarative clauses are employed to give information, low value modal operators and a great number of modal lexis function to express interpersonal meanings; and unmarked experiential themes predominate, and their methods of progression are rather complex and varied. The results of this thesis confirm the feasibility and the great potential of combining Hasan's GSP with Halliday's metafunction theory to analyze academic genre texts. |
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