The Analysis Of Thematic Structure And Thematic Progression Pattern In English Lyrics With Different Subjects

As one of the most important theories in discourse analysis, the theme theory andthematic progression patterns have aroused much attention of scholars both at homeand abroad. French scholar Henri Weil firstly proposes that one sentence can bedivided into two parts. Mathesius, one of the Prague School representatives, putsforward the notion from perspective of functional sentence. Later, Halliday developsthe theme theory. He categories the themes into three types: simple theme, multipletheme and clausal theme, and makes a detail study about themes in different clauses.Thematic progression pattern has a very close relationship with theme theory. Danesproposes three basic patterns: linear progression pattern, constant thematicprogression pattern and derived thematic progression pattern. Many scholars havedone related researches. In China, Huang Guowen adds another three patterns: crossprogression pattern, comparison progression pattern and alternating thematicprogression pattern. Generally, with the theme theory and thematic progressionpatterns, scholars have been analyzing discourse in different genres, such as:advertisements, public speech, academic papers and novels etc. However, lessresearch has been done on English lyrics, and people mainly focus on rhyme,rhetorical devices of lyrics.Lyrics are a combination of spoken and written discourse, and therefore have itsown specialty. Based on Halliday’s theme theory and Huang Guowen’s thematicprogression patterns, this paper collects50pieces of English lyrics with subject oflove and friendship and makes a detail analysis. The conclusions are the followings:(1) Simple theme is the most frequently used in both lyric types. Multiple themeis the second frequently used in love lyrics while clausal theme is the secondfrequently used in friendship lyrics.(2) Parallel thematic progression is the most frequently used in both lyric types.The two type lyrics share the same tendency in choosing thematicprogression patterns. (3) Compared with other genres, the thematic progression patterns in Englishlyrics are less complicated.(4) Subject affects the choice of thematic structure and thematic progressionpatterns in English lyrics.(5) There are thematic transformations in two type lyrics.These major findings show that English lyrics with different subjects have theirown features in discourse organization. Though this paper has some limitations, it hasa great significance in lyrics analysis. For one hand, it enlarges the analysis materialsin theme theory and thematic progression pattern. On the other hand, it will helpEnglish learners improve the understanding of English lyrics and the lyrics authors’train of thoughts.