A Study Of The Phenomena Of Childlike Delight With The Approach Of Projection In Systemic Functional Grammar

Projection, as one of the hot topics in the field of systemic functional grammar(SFG), has the great descriptive capability on language. It is a kind of logico-semantic relationship by which a clause comes to function as a direct or indirect representation of the content of locutions, ideas and facts. In the section of literature review, we can see that the previous study on projection has two types. One focuses on the modification or personal understanding of the theory of projection; the other relates the theory to the application of the analysis of news reports, political lectures, marine incident and accident reports and academic papers. There is not much less study on the informal texts such as the speech in children literature. So it is worthwhile and necessary to make analysis of the informal texts in children’s literature. In many children’s works, the language is humorous and the characters are lively, which represent the quality of childlike delight. Childlike delight is actually an interdisciplinary subject. It originates from western drawing field, regarded as a drawing method. Therefore, it is innovative to analyze childlike delight with the approach of projection in SFG under the framework of Halliday’s three meta-functions. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory written by Roald Dahl in this thesis was chosen as analysis target.On the basis of Halliday’s theory of projection, this thesis will establish its own theoretical analytic framework, which includes the clause complex and group complex. On the rank of clause complex, projection is divided into hypotactic projection and paratactic projection and free indirect speech. On the rank of group complex, projection has two types: hypotactic verbal group complex and paratactic nominal group complex. On the rank of group, the fact projection and other eight embedded structures are included. The analysis will divide the story into three parts according to the plot and build three corpus respectively. By the quantitative analysis, the amount of projection and its distribution in these three parts is made clear. By the qualitative analysis, the typical samples to discuss phenomena of childlike delight under the three meta-functions are selected. From perspective of ideational function, it will explain the characters’ way of speaking and mental activities by talking about verbal processes and mental processes in samples of projection. From the perspective of interpersonal function, the characters’ motivation in speech is studied by representing the functions of projection, which includes the proposals and propositions. From the perspective of textual function, the language is studied by showing simple themes and multiple themes. These are shown to be one of the effective ways to reflect language characteristics.It is found that on the rank of clause complex, the majority of projection is the type of paratactic projection; on the rank of group complex, hypotactic verbal group complex is more than paratactic one; on the rank of group, fact projection is more than other embedded structures. On the basis of statements above, the phenomena of childlike delight are the characters’ authentic and of the innocent qualities, their speeches are full of individuality, and fantastic ideas or goods are fully shown in the story. So projection is really an effective method in revealing the secrets of the characters’ locutions and mental world.