Constraints Of Transitivity On Text Types

This Ph.D. dissertation investigates the constraints of transitivity on text types from the perspective of grammatical metaphor with trajector and landmark. It aims to offer an alternative account of the original point of view of transitivity within Systemic Functional Grammar (henceforth SFG) and to expand the intended one to the description of the constraints of transitivity on text types.Halliday's transitivity is a semantic system representing the ideational function in language, and it is composed of Participants, Process, and Circumstance. Up till now, the definition of transitivity is not yet fully available, and the application of statistical analysis on the distribution of Processes and Participants is lacking explanatory power. With these problems in mind, we have furthered the theory of transitivity. Through the constraints of transitivity on text types, the grammatical metaphor in the profiling of trajector and landmark is feasible to distinguish text types in terms of the delicacy and density of ideational meanings. The constraints of transitivity on text types can be demonstrated by the statistical analysis on the frequency of distribution with corresponding samples.Chapter 1 locates the objective of the present study as a contribution to research on ideational meaning, and shows that the degree of constraints on text types reflects the strength of transitivity, either strong or weak. In this chapter, the significance of the study of constraints of transitivity on text types is raised and corresponding questions are put forward. Circumstantial sense constructs the micro-situation. Chapter 2 is a review and an evaluation of transitivity in different phases in order to claim that the introduction of constraints of transitivity on text-types is a widening of the theory of transitivity. Chapter 3 aims to clarify the definition of transitivity. In this study, transitivity is defined as a grammatical resource for constraints on text types. Grammatical metaphor, trajector and landmark are partially involved in the constraints of transitivity on text types based on delicacy. Chapter 4 is to demonstrate the constraints of Circumstance and profiling on text types. Circumstantial sense is usually a representation of situation, because situation of context is inherently associated with circumstantial senses. Thus, situation may be used as one criterion for the constraint strength of transitivity. Chapter 5 is an exploration of the constraints of Participants and Process on text types through cultural classification. Selection is done by process determiner. Cultural classification is made via Participants into process modifier, and process qualifier. Chapter 6 is a statistical analysis of text-types, making an attempt to test the theories proposed in chapters 3, 4, and 5. Because the prototypical metaphor of transitivity involves the shift from Circumstance to Participants in the cline, trajector might be taken over by the Participants of process modifier, andlandmark might be replaced by the macro-circumstance. In this process of shifting, such elements as Process (realized by VP) or Circumstance (realized by PP) are usually turned into Participants (realized by NP). Therefore, text-types can be computed statistically via grammatical metaphor in the Profiling in the frequency of distribution, arising out of the ideational density and delicacy of corresponding text. Chapter 7 provides a summary of the dissertation and a forecast is made.Throughout the dissertation, attempts have been made to demonstrate the theoretical and practical significance of the constraints of transitivity on text types from the perspective of grammatical metaphor with trajector and landmark. Since there has been no systematic investigation of the constraints of transitivity on text types from the perspective of grammatical metaphor with trajector and landmark, such a study is essential. The study is expected to be helpful for Chinese students in learning how to read and write in English.