Taking stock of accumulated knowledge in projection studies from Systemic Functional Linguistics: a research synthesis

Shukun Chen,Winfred Wenhui XUAN

doi:10.1186/s40554-019-0070-7

Abstract

This paper synthesized 66 studies both in English and Chinese concerning projection in Systemic Functional Linguistics with a meta-analysis and synthesis approach. Our data show that projection in Systemic Functional Linguistics (hereafter SFL) is a burgeoning field with expanding focused areas from different settings after several decades of development. Five major domains of research have been identified, namely, theoretical discussions, language description, language education, translation studies, and professional communication. Studies in these areas demonstrate that the notion of projection is of great theoretical significance. It is also a useful analytical tool in investigating both written and spoken discourse. However, it is found that interpersonal projection remains an elusive concept, and projection below the clause rank has just begun to gain attention. Projection in professional communication, translation studies and multimodality is under-investigated.

Highlights

Projection is a concept used in Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL hereafter) to refer to quoting and reporting of saying and thinking, which is discussed with the terms such as speech reporting, speech presentation, discourse presentation, citation, quotation in other linguistic traditions
Research questions The following research questions guide the present synthesis: RQ1: What trends can be identified across studies on projection in terms of publication, and methodology? RQ2: How have trends of projection studies developed in terms of research subdomains? And what have the studies in each sub-domain found? RQ3: What research issues and future research gaps can we identify based on the above observations?
The present synthesis shows that the field has been expanding rapidly in the past decades, attracting more and more research attention

Summary

Introduction

Projection is a concept used in Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL hereafter) to refer to quoting and reporting of saying and thinking, which is discussed with the terms such as speech reporting, speech presentation, discourse presentation, citation, quotation in other linguistic traditions (see the summary in Buchstaller and Alphen 2012: XIX-XX). Halliday (1977) first introduced the term projection as a type of logicosemantic relationship, alongside with expansion, between two clauses. Halliday (1977) first introduced the term projection as a type of logicosemantic relationship, alongside with expansion, between two clauses. (1) Expansion: the secondary clause expands the primary clause, by (a) elaborating it, (b) extending it and (c) enhancing it. Projection is typically realized as a clause complex consisting of a projecting clause and a projected clause. In he said he would go, the projecting clause is ‘he said’ whereas the projected clause is ‘he would go’. Halliday and Matthiessen (2014) conceptualize projection as a semantic domain that could be diversely manifested in a range of grammatical environments including clause nexuses, verbal groups, nominal groups, adjuncts.

Methods

Discussion

Conclusion