Transitivity And Text Construction:from A Systemic Functional Perspective

In Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG). language is viewed as a three-stratified system, comprising semantics, lexicogrammar and phonology/graphology, the relationship among which is designated as one of realization-semantics is realized by lexicogrammar, which is in turn realized by phonology/graphology. Therefore it is assumed in this study that text, which is regarded as a semantic unit, is realized by lexicogrammatical resources, such as Transitivity, Mood, Theme-rheme, etc.; however, to date, there is no satisfactory and systemic study on how a text as a semantic unit is realized by those lexicogrammatical resources. This thesis thus aims to investigate the relationship between lexicogrammatical resources, particularly the Transitivity system, and text construction with this realizational principle.The primary aim of this study is to describe and theorize the process of text construction. According to pertinent viewpoints in SFG. it is suggested that text is the product and carrier of the encoded ideational, interpersonal and textual meanings; and text construction requires language performer to select linguistic choices from the system of meaning potentials which are to be instantiated by lexicogrammatical resources in that text. Text construction is thus to be defined as a dynamic process of semantic construction, including the simultaneous realization of ideational, interpersonal and textual meanings in a given context, in which lexicogrammatical resources play an essential role. Based on the description and theorization, it then delves into exploring the function of the Transitivity system in the creation of text as a semantic unit from a discourse semantic perspective.Even though the Transitivity system is categorized as one of the resources for the realization of ideational meaning, it is hypothesized that the Transitivity system can also has the potential to realize interpersonal and the textual meanings. In other words, Transitivity has its part to play in realizing all three strands of meanings. To begin with, it is generally agreed that Transitivity is the major resource for ideational meaning which is concerned about the construal of human experience. As for the interpersonal strand of meaning, there are interactions between the Transitivity and the Mood system, and the Transitivity patterns can also be activated to express, or is associated with, different attitudes and evaluation, which makes it potential to realize the interpersonal meaning. Besides, on the textual strand of meaning, it has long been recognized that the Transitivity system is closely interrelated to the thematic structure which mainly realizes textual meaning. Another defining feature for a series of linguistic codes being a text is cohesion which can be established by tracking the participants involved in a text. The conclusion drawn is that Transitivity has the potential to instantiate the textual meaning as well.The subsequent analysis demonstrates that the Transitivity system does play a positive role in text construction as a dynamic process of meaning realization. Apart from realizing the ideational meaning, the Transitivity system also has interpersonal and textual effects. In order to make the description and theorization more apparent, a figure illustrating the relationship between the Transitivity system and text construction is formulated.