Formal (+traditional)

Functional

primary concern How is (should) this

sentence be
structured?

How are the meanings

of this text realised?

unit of analysis

sentence

whole texts

language level
of concern

syntax

semantics

language

= a set of rules for

sentence construction
= something we know

= a resource for
meaning making
= something we do

The Context-Text
Connection
All meaning is situated
in a context of situation
in a context of culture
Context of culture determines what we can mean
through
being
who we are
doing what we do
saying what we say

Context of situation can be specified through use of

the register variable: field, tenor, mode
Field refers to what is going on ideational
meaning
Tenor refers to the social relationship between
those taking part interpersonal meaning
Mode refers to how language is being used
textual meaning

...we supervise the planting and inspect the

harvest. And we buy only the pick of the crop.
Our experience buyers look for lack of
blemish, minimum number of eyes, pure
white meaty interiors with firm frying
consistency.
What is the topic of the text? (field)
Who/what kind of person produced this text? For
whom? (tenor)
Do you think the original was written or spoken?
(mode)

Ideational meanings are meanings about

phenomena about things, about goings on, and
the circumstances surrounding these happenings
and doings.
Meanings of this kind are most centrally influenced
by the field of discourse.
Wordings: Participant, Process, Circumstance
We buy only the pick of the crop.
Polar bears are expert hunters.

Interpersonal meanings are meanings which

express a speakers attitudes and judgments.
These are meanings for acting upon and with
others. Meanings of this kind are most centrally
influenced by tenor of discourse.
Wordings: MOOD and modality
a. We inspect the growing plants every

week.
b. Putra, get those plants inspected right
now!
c. Mr Adi, I find your position untenable.
d. Brock is a lazy, incompetent fool.

Modality
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Fortunately, Adi is an inspector.

Unfortunately, Adi is an inspector.
The crop might be inspected.
The crop should be inspected.
The crop must be inspected.

TEXTUAL MEANINGS
They express the relation of language to
its environment, including both the
verbal environment what has been said
or written before (co-text) and the nonverbal, situational environment (context).
Textual meanings are most centrally
influenced by mode of discourse.

This is yer phone bill and you hafta go

to the Post Office to pay it uh, by next
Monday - thats what this box tells ya
or theyll cut yer phone off!

All phone bills must be paid by the date

shown or service will be discontinued.