Framework Of Systemic Functional Linguistics Research Articles

Conveying the Meaning through Experiential Metafunction on Song Lyrics: A Case on Ideational Metafunction

This research explores the song "Better Man" by Westlife to uncover its experiential meaning and how it impacts the audience. Using the Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) framework, the study analyzes the song's meaning by examining the processes, participants, and circumstances in the lyrics. Qualitative content analysis is employed to identify various emotional experiences expressed through language. The study involves deconstructing each sentence to understand how participants, processes, and circumstances are used in the song. The primary data source is the authentic lyrics from reliable sources like official songbooks and verified lyric websites to ensure accuracy. The SFL theory helps examine experiential meta function and its components in the lyrics, considering the entire complexity of language in social contexts. The analysis reveals that "Better Man" predominantly employs mental processes, reflecting the singer's personal thoughts and perspectives. The use of verbs like "love," "say," and "hidden" effectively conveys emotions and interactions between individuals. The song's participants, such as "better man" and "her," create emotional connections with listeners. The findings emphasize the importance of language as an expressive tool in art and music, guiding songwriters in effectively communicating deeper messages and meanings. Song lyrics, with their emotional storytelling, establish powerful connections with the audience. While this study offers valuable insights into "Better Man," there is potential for further research. Analyzing more songs and genres can deepen the understanding of how language conveys experiences and emotions in music's broader context.
 Keywords: Experiential Metafunction, Systemic Functional Linguistics, Ideational Metafunction

Analyzing Process Types in Nigerian Newspapers Political Headlines Using Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) Transitivity Approach

Purpose: This study aims to examine the use of process types in Nigerian political headlines using the transitivity approach within the framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). The purpose of the research is to understand how language is used to construct political narratives in Nigerian newspapers, focusing on the different process types—material, mental, relational, verbal, behavioral, and existential—that shape public perception of political events and actors. Methodology: The study adopts a qualitative method, analyzing 50 political headlines from five major Nigerian newspapers: Vanguard, Leadership News, Punch, Daily Trust, and The Guardian Nigeria. The headlines, selected from articles published between January 2024 and September 2024, are categorized and analyzed based on Halliday's transitivity framework. Findings: The findings reveal that material processes are the most frequently used, representing 48% of the headlines, followed by mental (32%), verbal (20%), and relational processes (10%). Existential and behavioral processes were minimally represented. These results suggest that political discourse in Nigeria is predominantly action- and belief-oriented, with a focus on tangible actions and the intentions of political figures. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: This study makes a unique contribution to theory by applying the SFL transitivity framework to Nigerian political headlines, expanding the understanding of how process types reflect political actions, intentions, and relationships. The findings have practical implications for media practitioners and politicians in crafting messages that effectively engage the public, emphasizing actions and beliefs to influence perception. From a policy perspective, the study suggests the need for greater media literacy to enable the public to critically assess political communication and its impact on public discourse.

Analyzing descriptive report writing among English language learners in Japan through a genre-based approach to second language writing

Abstract This mixed-methods study evaluated the evolution of thematic development in descriptive report writing among 12 first-year English for Academic Purposes (EAP) university students in Japan over the course of a 15-week program. The program employed a genre-based approach within a Systemic Functional Linguistic framework. Four consecutive information report essays (two pre-essays, a post-essay, and a delayed test essay) were analyzed to assess the student’s writing progress. The results revealed a general progression, starting with limited Theme development in the first pre-essay, to some students exhibiting a growing familiarity with coherence and cohesion in terms of the generic structure of descriptive reports.

Transitivity Analysis of Luh Ayu Manik's Narrative Text: Unveiling Character and Action Dynamics

This study investigates the depiction of characters in the narrative text Luh Ayu Manik – Tresna ring Alas through the application of transitivity processes within the framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics. Utilizing a qualitative approach, the research analyzes various linguistic processes—including Material, Mental, Relational, Behavioral, and Verbal—to examine how these processes portray the main character and supporting characters. The findings reveal that Luh Ayu Manik is depicted as proactive and courageous through Material processes, introspective and empathetic through Mental processes, and responsible and caring through Relational processes. Her perseverance is emphasized through Behavioral processes, while her leadership is demonstrated through Verbal processes. Additionally, the analysis uncovers the complex roles of supporting characters such as Made Anjasmara and Ketut Suprabawa Kabinawa, who are portrayed as brave and strategic in their actions. Meanwhile, the antagonistic characters, the thieves, are depicted through destructive actions and complex emotional responses, highlighting their role as significant threats to the environment. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of character development and narrative dynamics, demonstrating the effectiveness of transitivity analysis in uncovering detailed character attributes and interactions.

Linguistic Features and Structures in Newspaper Headlines of the ‘The Standard’ and ‘Daily Nation’ on Banditry, Kenya, 2023

This article aims to look into the linguistic features and structures used in The Standard and Daily Nation Newspaper Headlines on the subject, banditry and the possible implication that it has to the shaping of public perception, informing government responses and raising awareness about the challenges posed by banditry. The study adopted systemic functional linguistics framework, introduced by Michael Halliday in the 1960s. It also adopted analytical research design. Data collection involved the development of a coding sheet. A coding sheet was developed to guide the systematic categorization and analysis of linguistic features and structures present in the newspaper headlines. Content analysis was employed to examine the functions, themes and the rhetorical devices used in the headlines to portray banditry incidents. The data analysis procedure entailed a systematic analysis of the newspaper headlines, aiming to examine the ways they reflect the realities on reporting of banditry in the study regions. The findings revealed that there is a nuanced interplay of linguistic features that significantly shape the construction of public perception. The headlines employed vivid verbs, descriptive adjectives, and metaphors to convey the actions, attributes, and causes associated with banditry. Rhetorical questions, emotive language, personalization, and attributions to sources engaged readers emotionally and conveyed the stance of news sources. The recommendations from this study suggests that newspapers should use varied linguistic elements to offer readers with a more comprehensive knowledge of banditry, editors and journalists should also be creative and precise in their terminologies, use language appropriately when reporting difficult themes and the media should employ rhetorical questions and emotive language with caution. There should be a balance to ensure that emotions do not overpower accurate reporting.

Grammatical cohesion found in undergraduate student’s thesis writing: A case study at one private university in Indonesia

Writing an excellent and comprehensive text depends on applying appropriate grammatical cohesive devices. This study aims to investigate the types and errors of the grammatical cohesive devices found in the undergraduate student's thesis. The analysis used in the present study applied the framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) proposed by Halliday and Hasan (2014). Through the qualitative design with content analysis, this study examines two undergraduate students' theses, focusing on finding and discussing sections at one private university in Jakarta. The analysis revealed that grammatical cohesive devices in the thesis are not diverse. The data's most dominant grammatical cohesive devices are references and conjunctions—no elliptical and substitution devices are found in the data. Besides, errors in applying grammatical cohesion in the undergraduate students' writing were found, especially in using personal and demonstrative references and extension conjunctions. It indicates that the students still lack understanding in applying the knowledge of grammatical cohesion in their writing, influencing the readers' understanding in capturing information from the thesis. It implies that the knowledge of appropriate grammatical cohesion is essential for students in academic writing, predominantly undergraduate thesis, to convey the ideas and information properly and coherently.

Graduation Resources in News Discourse: Calls for the British Museum to Return Chinese Cultural Artefacts

Using a discourse approach, this study examines online news and opinion pieces about calls for the British Museum to return Chinese artefacts. We examine the interpersonal meanings conveyed by the linguistic choices made in these texts. This study uses the appraisal system in the systemic functional linguistic (SFL) framework to examine how news discourse addresses the issue and constructs interpersonal meanings. Graduation resources, as a subcategory of appraisal system, can underpin the degree of meanings and perspectives, allowing writers to adjust the gradability of attitudinal meanings conveyed to readers. This research first examines how the writer’s voice is embedded in graduation resources, and later, how these graduation resources are used in online news articles calling for the return of the artefacts. This study also examines how online newspapers covered a short film by vloggers called “Escape from the British Museum”, which sparked massive social media reactions, offering new perspectives on how social media and traditional news organisations interact to construct meanings through language. The results show that quantification and fulfilment (completion) resources are the two most common subcategories of graduation resources. The findings shed light on the language strategies used in news and social media discourse, as well as the interpersonal meanings behind such requests for cultural heritage repatriation.

“Spoken and monologic”: modelling oratory, past and present, through the framework of systemic functional linguistics

Abstract This article focuses on instances of spoken communication which qualify commonly as “oratory” and which can be modelled within the socio-semiotic of “spoken and monologic”. This includes both “podium oratory”, as exemplified by political speeches delivered from a stage to an audience that is physically present, as well as forms of “digital oratory” which have developed via the digital interface, including videos posted to social media. The study proposes to model both types of oratory with respect to a range of multimodal and linguistic resources. The study notably explores spoken and monologic discourse in regard to grammatical intricacy and lexical density, the two types of information packaging which respectively inform prototypical speech and writing. Digital oratory reflects trends associated with the technologisation of discourse, and its underpinnings as socio-semiotic. The discussion also makes the case that systemic functional linguistics (SFL) theory, via its articulation between system and function, provides an ideal lens through which these activities can be modelled, as well as their social role and the symbolic power attached to them.

“But it’s truly aggravating and depressing”: Voicing counter-expectancy in US–Philippines service interactions

Intercultural competence is essential in a globalized business environment, where successful cross-border transactions rely on effective cross-cultural communication. Interactions between US customers and Filipino customer service representatives (CSR) in call centers are one example where intercultural competence is required. This study examines the use of counter-expectancy expressions in call center complaint calls by American consumers and Filipino CSRs in the insurance sector. This study used a Systemic Functional Linguistic (SFL) framework to examine the various linguistic realizations used in the dialogues, with a focus on appraisal theory. To further explore the connection between the use of business language, cultural norms, and the growth of intercultural competence, this study also considered Hofstede's cultural distinctions, as well as Hall's high-context and low-context cultures. Using a mixed approach, the present study examined 20 authentic audio recordings of complex insurance complaint calls (approximately four hours in length and containing 39,440 words). These spoken data were transcribed and analyzed for linguistic characteristics that indicated concessive expressions, for example, connectives such as “but” and “however”, and adjuncts such as “just” and “only”. The findings of this study have implications for language and cultural awareness training programs, and ultimately for enhancing intercultural communication skills in professional settings.

Transitivity in Pope Francis’ Speech in Morocco: A Systemic Functional Linguistic Analysis

The way we speak and the words we choose to convey a certain message are not neutral. They are overloaded with certain meanings that represent our worldview, namely when delivered by most influential people like religious leaders and used in contexts which are ideologically constructed like that of the speech of Pope Francis with his symbolic power and role in religious diplomacy. The main aim of this study is to investigate the construction of experiential meanings in Pope Francis' historical speech during his apostolic journey to Morocco on March 19, 2019, by examining the specific linguistic choices employed. This study employs the transitivity model within the framework of systemic functional linguistics (SFL) as its theoretical foundation for analysis. Precisely, using quantitative analysis, this paper endeavors to address two key questions: Firstly, what distributions and patterns of transitivity has Pope Francis utilized in constructing experiential meanings in his speech in Morocco? Second, what functions do the transitivity processes and each participant involved have in the delivered speech text, aiding the speaker in conveying their intention? The dataset comprises 182 clauses extracted from the aforementioned speech. The results of this study showed that Pope Francis employed six types of transitivity processes, totaling 186 processes. Yet, material processes, constituting 62%, and mental processes, comprising 15%, were identified as dominant, suggesting their significant roles in conveying vibrant information in his speech that aimed to enhance dialogue and foster friendly relations between Catholicism and Islam, promoting cooperation in the construction and establishment of a world characterized by sincere, courageous, and essential collaboration. The findings therefore indicate that transitivity choices play a crucial role in conveying implicit meanings.

Readability of Reading Texts as Authentic Materials Issued by ChatGPT: A Systemic Functional Perspective

Selecting the appropriate texts as the authentic material for English teaching, particularly at the university level, matched with students’ mastery level is still challenging. This study attempts to investigate the readability level of reading texts through the framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) issued by ChatGPT, focused on whether the complexity level of the texts matches the standard level of the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR) by proposed British Council. Through the qualitative design with content analysis, this study examines eighteen texts classified following CEFR levels issued by ChatGPT. It analyzes their lexical density, grammatical intricacy, and lexical variation to know the complexity of the texts. The analysis revealed that the complexity level of the texts issued by ChatGPT has not thoroughly followed the standard level of the texts used by the British Council on the CEFR level, indicating that several texts are inappropriate with their complexity levels. It is found that the complexity level of the texts issued by ChatGPT is determined by the length of the texts that increase from the basic level to the proficient level seen from the number of words in each text, not by their lexical density, grammatical intricacy, and lexical variation indexes. The study provides implications for the lecturer to carefully select the text used as teaching material issued by ChatGPT by relying on the lexico-grammatical analysis of the text to help students achieve the comprehension stage.

Developing advanced L2 German writing: A functionally oriented longitudinal study

AbstractCompetent L2 writing has been described in research in terms of an increasing incidence, variety, and length of clauses; a countervailing compactness and tightness with reduced number of clauses even as clause length expands; and various interrelationships between syntactic realizations of texts and the genres they represent. These partly contradictory features are typically related to the fact that “advancedness” is both a notoriously vague term and a developmental stage that is more expansive than are introductory and intermediate levels of L2 performance. To contribute to a more differentiated understanding of advancedness—particularly its gradual development in instructed settings—this article examines the characteristics of advanced writing through an analysis of data that are (a) longitudinal, rather than cross‐sectional, (b) embedded in an instructional environment that has implemented principled, articulated curricular, and pedagogical practices for the development of advancedness, and (c) analyzed within a systemic–functional linguistic framework in order to focus on the notions of experiential and logical meaning. By analyzing the intraclausal and interclausal resources that evolving advanced learners use and by relating them to the learners’ developmental trajectory, this article contributes to a better understanding not only of the nature of advancedness but also of its development by adult instructed learners.

Exploring the experiential meanings of the COVID-19 survivors’ expressions

Language transforms experience into meaning. Grammar, which can be metaphorically construed as its powerhouse, enables such a transformation. One of the linguistic approaches utilised to understand the linkage between the semiotic and material world is Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). SFL argues that the experiential meaning of a clause can be investigated through its transitivity structures in terms of Process, Participant, and Circumstance. This study carries out a transitivity analysis of expressions shared by COVID-19 survivors from different parts of the world in an attempt to learn how they construe their experience of illness. The data were obtained from online newspapers published in different countries and conveniently developed into a corpus from which COVID-19 survivors’ expressions were extracted. All texts under examination were reported in English regardless of their original language. This study examines the survivors’ direct expressions through their transitivity structures using the SFL framework. The results show that these individuals frequently used relational and abstract material Processes in describing their illness, meaning that they tended to express their physical or psychological experiences metaphorically as beings and actions. This suggests that they abstractly construe their experiences with this viral disease. Constructing experiences abstractly is likely driven by the need to distance themselves from experience as a way of coping with an event perceived as potentially life-threatening.

Evaluative Language in the Comments of Judges of TV Reality Shows: The Case of “Ghana’s Most Beautiful

The study sought to investigate the language judges use to assess performances of reality show contestants. It specifically examined the attitudinal evaluative language judges of Ghana’s Most Beautiful (GMB) show employ in their comments when assessing contestants’ performances. To realize the objectives set for the study, the appraisal framework by Martin and White (2005), which was developed within the broader theoretical framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) and focuses on the interpersonal metafunction of language, informed the study. Fifty-two comments of four judges from six episodes of three seasons were recorded and transcribed for analysis. The study revealed that the dominant attitudinal resources used by judges as a means of evaluating contestants’ performances was judgement. Thus, while judges praise and admire, they criticize when necessary. Again, it was observed that the use of judgement as the dominant attitudinal device for evaluation appropriately reflected the purpose of GMB.

THEMATIC PROGRESSION ANALYSIS ON STUDENTS’ ANALYTICAL EXPOSITION TEXTS

This study aims to investigate how university students organize their ideas in Exposition texts, particularly Analytical Exposition texts, and to what extent their Analytical Exposition texts are consistent with argumentative language features in terms of Thematic Progression, based on the framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics. The data were taken from nine Analytical Exposition texts of university students at low, moderate, and high levels of achievement. The result shows that the students organize their ideas in three ways of Thematic Progression namely Constant Theme Theme Progression (CTP) or Re-iteration pattern, Simple Linear Theme Progression (SLP) or Zig-Zag pattern, and Derived Theme Progression (DTP) or Multiple Theme pattern. In terms of Thematic Progression consistency, some texts from middle and high achievers are consistent with the argumentative language features, since they employed SLP than CTP and DTP. However, some students still need more guidance to improve the quality of their writings

Transitivity Analysis of AJ Hoge’s Short Story “Day of the Dead”

This study analyzes a short story created by AJ Hoge, a well-known English Materials creator of effortless English learning with his short story. It aims to reveal how meanings are constructed and what characterizes the story. Transitivity system, a framework of Halliday's Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), is used as an analytical tool. The data are gathered from the short story entitled “Day of the Dead”. This study employs qualitative descriptive analysis incorporating SFL into the methodology and Transitivity system analysis. This study finds that the creator employs all six Process types of Transitivity i.e., Material, Mental, Relational, Behavioral, Existential, and Verbal Processes. In constructing meanings, the six Processes are manifested in the three elements of the story: orientation, sequence of events, and reorientation. The employment of the six Processes is as an effort to expose learner to the clause as representation completely, that is to provide learners with all possible represented experiences through Processes that may happen in the world. The dominant Process of Material becomes the characteristic of the text and meets the linguistic features of recount text.

An Investigation of Engagement Resources in the World Cup 2022 Newspaper Articles in the Arab World Media

Introduction: Investigating patterns of dialogic engagement in newspaper articles can help inform novice writers of effective writing strategies that can increase their readers’ engagement and interest. The study aimed to identify the linguistic features used to engage and sustain readers’ interest in sports newspaper articles and explore related research within a systemic functional linguistics framework. Methodology: A corpus of 9,000 words from 14 different sports newspaper articles was analyzed using the UAM Corpus Tool software following Appraisal Theory proposed by Martin and White (2005). Results: The study revealed that writers of sports news employed various linguistic and discourse strategies, including evaluative language, to create engagement. The findings suggest that heteroglossic instances were more common, compared to monoglossic ones. Moreover, the writers preferred to use contract resources more frequently than expand resources. Disclaim resources had a higher frequency than proclaim resources, while attribute and entertainment resources were almost equally used. Conclusion: According to the findings, sports news writers use a range of grammatical structures and vocabulary choices to create a sense of immediacy and establish the relevance of the reported events.

Unraveling Changez: A Transitivity Analysis of Character Development in The Reluctant Fundamentalist

This research paper applies systemic functional linguistics (SFL) to analyze the transitivity patterns of Changez’s character in Mohsin Hamid’s novel, The Reluctant Fundamentalist. The study aims to examine how Changez’s transitivity patterns evolve and shift over the course of the narrative, particularly in relation to his changing ideological stance and identity. Using Halliday’s SFL framework, the analysis reveals that Changez’s transitivity patterns reflect his evolving agency, worldview, and social positioning. The findings also suggest that Changez’s linguistic choices are not merely reflective but constitutive of his evolving subjectivity and ideology. The study contributes to the existing body of literature on SFL, critical discourse analysis, and postcolonial studies by showcasing the usefulness of transitivity analysis in uncovering the complex interplay between language, ideology, and identity in literary texts.

Thematic Development in Students’ Report Writing: A Study Based on Achievement Level

This study examines Thematic Development types based on the framework of Systemic Functional Linguistics that are used by tertiary students. It aims to find out how the students used Thematic Development to produce effectively and efficiently their report texts. The data were all clauses taken from fifteen students’ report text divided into three levels: high, middle, and low achievement. The findings showed there are three types of Thematic Development patterns used in students’ report text, they are Theme Reiteration, Zig-zag, and Multiple-Rheme patterns. The most dominant pattern is Theme Reiteration occurred 50 times (67.5%), followed by Zig-Zag occurred 18 times (24.3%), and the Multiple-Rheme pattern occurs 6 times (8.1%). The dominance of the Theme Reiteration in their texts is to enable the readers to focus on a specific element to follow the development of the text. By the result, it indicates the students’ report writing conveyed the messages cohesively and coherently

The interpersonal semantics of rhetoric

Abstract Different from previous linguistic studies on rhetoric, which primarily concern the ideational semantics and the logic of sentences, this article attempts to deal systematically with the interpersonal semantics of rhetoric by drawing on the comprehensive appraisal framework of systemic functional linguistics (Martin and White 2005) and explores the mechanism of rhetorical persuasion in science communication via appraisal through a case study of the gene-modification (GM) debate in China. It first examines the rhetorical appeals of the subsystems of appraisal and then based on a self-constructed and coded corpus of GM debate discourses, it compares how institutional (the Chinese Ministry of Agriculture and the Greenpeace Organization) and individual stakeholders (Cui Yongyuan and Fang Zhouzi) of different ideological interests in the GM debate mobilize the interpersonal semantic resources to rhetorical effects to persuade the audience of the safety/danger of the GM technology and products. The analysis reveals that while the opinion leaders choose ‘soft’ persuasion by heavily using affect and judgement resources, the institutions opt for ‘hard’ persuasion by utilizing more appreciation resources. The four parties all prefer contracting resources over expanding resources of engagement, which restricts the space of negotiation. Their communicative motives are interpreted through the lens of the rhetoric theory, and the implications and consequences for science communication in the post-truth era are discussed. Theoretically, the paper contributes to understanding the persuasion mechanism of appraisal and to understanding the science vs. society, and government vs. citizens relationship.