Systemic Functional Approach Research Articles

Approaching complex multimodal phenomena in educational settings–Insights from theory

Digital media tasks are increasingly used in university settings to assess students’ scientific knowledge. The use of such tasks has generated the need for principled analytical approaches to better understand how meaning-making operates in these artefacts. However, there has been a proliferation of approaches to multimodality in recent years and as a result deciding which tools to use is challenging for analysts and for subsequent translation into pedagogy. Systemic functional approaches to multimodal phenomena have proved useful as we study the digital artefacts produced in tertiary science classrooms. These approaches are grounded in Halliday’s (1994) social-semiotic theories of language and influenced by Kress and van Leeuwen’s (2006) visual grammar. Here, we present insights from theoretical and methodological developments in systemic functional approaches to multimodal phenomena. We illustrate these insights with a student-generated digital media artefact, revealing the affordances of a systemic functional approach and the perspectives it offers on semiosis.

Construction of risk in road safety advertising: a multimodal analysis of Vietnamese child helmet awareness advertisements

Abstract The discourses of risk serve to organise the ways in which we understand and respond to potential harms and threats, which have become a major concern in our daily life. However, the discourses of risk have not been extensively investigated using linguistic text-based methods on the multimodal level, nor deeply examined beyond Western contexts. Grounded in the literature of risk and multimodal discourse, the aim of the study is to demonstrate Multimodal Discourse Analysis from a Systemic Functional Linguistics perspective as a potential methodology to investigate how risk discourses are constructed in and through semiotic resources in a non-Western setting. Through a case study of child helmet awareness advertisements in Vietnam, the multimodal analysis reveals a comprehensive picture of risk discourses constructed across various semiotic modes. In this analysis, the discourses of risk are constructed through a negotiation of expert knowledge and traditional values to encourage the audience to take actions and provide helmets for their children. Findings of the study demonstrate the use of Systemic Functional multimodal approach to media and communication to provide evidence for risk discourses in the Vietnamese setting, which are at odds with the current literature and can potentially be extended to other contexts.

Parataxis or hypotaxis? Choices of taxis in Chinese–English translation

Adopting a Systemic Functional Linguistic approach, the article investigates choices of taxis in Chinese-to-English translation. Previous studies have proposed that Chinese texts tend to favor parataxis more than hypotaxis, and translators are often advised to change the paratactic relation to hypotactic ones in the process of translation. Against such a background, two research questions are proposed: (1) what choices do professional translators actually make when translating Chinese paratactic clauses into English; and (2) how do professional translators translate Chinese hypotactic clauses into English? The data comprises texts on how China fought against COVID-19 and scientific texts extracted from a translation textbook approved by the editing committee of CATTI. Analysis reveals that there are a variety of choices available to the translators, which are discussed and consolidated into a network. Paratactic relations in the Chinese source text can be removed, retained, or changed into hypotactic relations. Hypotactic relations in the Chinese text tend to be retained, although they may also be removed. Different from the popular belief that parataxis in Chinese should be translated into hypotaxis in English, the analysis demonstrates that the choices of removing and retaining paratactic relations are more frequently made than simply changing parataxis into hypotaxis.

Analysis of MA Students’ Writing in English Language Teaching: A Systemic Functional Linguistic Approach

This study explores the ways in which master thesis writers position their research in the field of English language teaching in a context where academic literacies are still a developing field. From a social semiotic perspective, this paper aims to identify the resources writers use to represent their object of study and provide a context and justification for research. The analysis focuses on the ideational and textual metafunctions to account for patterns of meanings in seven introductory chapters of master theses in English teacher education. The results reveal a set of interconnected genres—descriptions of the object of study, definitions, and personal exemplum—that build a shared experience with the reader as well as the persuasive purpose of the text.

Discourse Analysis of Lord of the Flies: A Systemic Functional Approach

This study used a systemic functional linguistic approach to interpret the theme of Lord of the Flies, an allegorical novel written by British writer William Golding. On the basis of the clause, this research analyzed the author’s ways of writing and interpreted the functional meanings he tried to convey through the wording and structure of the novel. Excerptions from Lord of the Flies were analyzed in terms of the three metafunctions of language, namely, ideational function, interpersonal function, and textual function. More specifically, the current study focused on the author’s lexico-grammatical choices in the transitivity system, mood system, and thematic structure of the clauses and revealed that different choices encode different meanings, all contributing to the manifestation of the theme: without proper constraints, human’s inner evil will be magnified indefinitely and their reversion to savagery will be inevitable.

ЗАСТОСУВАННЯ СИСТЕМНО-ФУНКЦІОНАЛЬНОГО ПІДХОДУ В УПРАВЛІННІ ІННОВАЦІЙНИМ РОЗВИТКОМ БУДІВЕЛЬНИХ ПІДПРИЄМСТВ

Reducing the cost of construction is a constant goal of the construction industry. One of the ways to reduce the cost of building construction is the innovative development of construction technologies and construction companies that will increase productivity. The purpose of the article is to substantiate the application of a system-functional approach in the management of innovative development of construction companies. It is important to distinguish between cheap or inexpensive and cost-effective production. Cost-effective buildings are buildings that are manufactured at a low cost while maintaining high standards of design and comfort. The hypothesis is that the system-functional approach is advantageous in order to find effective methods of managing the innovative development of construction companies. To achieve a holistic approach, an interdisciplinary approach to research is needed. Approaching effective methods of managing the innovative development of construction companies in terms of system-functional approach, you can achieve optimization with synergy effects and thus find cost-effective and energy efficient solutions. The study also combines a system-functional approach to strategic management with corporate and entrepreneurial thinking. He outlined the further development of the system of identification and classification of opportunities, consisting of three dimensions: 1) the dynamism between specific to the enterprise and industry opportunities, 2) hierarchies of opportunities and portfolios of opportunities, 3) their internal structure. The capacity for innovative development was analyzed in the context of the system-functional approach, technological systems and the type of process of pooling resources (creation of new versus consolidation of existing opportunities). Current portfolio of opportunities and organizational changes at the construction company are described. It also clarifies the mechanism by which companies can influence the balance between knowledge retrieval and the efficiency of knowledge transfer and integration in their daily financial and economic activities, and hence the diversity of their portfolio and the breadth and novelty of the range of services.

ОРГАНІЗАЦІЙНО-ЕКОНОМІЧНІ ЗАСАДИ АКТИВІЗАЦІЇ ДЕТЕРМІНАНТ ІНТЕЛЕКТУАЛЬНО-ІННОВАЦІЙНОГО РОЗВИТКУ РЕГІОНІВ В УМОВАХ ЦИФРОВІЗАЦІЇ

The article substantiates the use of system-functional approach of organizational and economic principles of activation of determinants of intellectual and innovative development of regional economic systems in terms of digitalization of econom-ic processes. It was found that the determining factor in ensuring the development of the region is the available intellectual capital and innovation potential, as well as an effective organizational and economic mechanism for their activation and use in the context of digitalization of economic processes. A system-functional approach was used to conduct the study. The sys-tem approach allows a systematic approach to the consideration of organizational and economic principles in relation to the regional economic system, taking into account all the principles of systematization, according to which the system consists of certain subsystems and is a subsystem of higher order, in this case the national economy. The functional approach makes it possible to determine the functional priorities in the direction of the determinants of economic development of regions in the context of digitalization, which include intellectual and innovative determinants. According to the functional approach, or-ganizational and economic principles have a certain priority in accordance with the directions of development of regional systems. The managerial principles of activation of intellectual and innovative determinants based on various conceptual provisions concerning the type of managerial response to development impulses, management methods, ways of organizing managerial influence are considered. The components of organizational and economic support for the activation of intellec-tual and innovative determinants of regional development in terms of digitalization, which include: financial and investment,technical and technological, institutional and legal, information and logistics, material and resource components. The for-mation of organizational and economic principles using a system-functional approach to formalizing the activation of intel-lectual and innovative determinants of regional economic systems in the context of digitalization will contribute to achieving the goals of strategic development of regions.

СИСТЕМНО-ФУНКЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ КОНЦЕПТУАЛІЗМ СТРАТЕГІЧНОГО УПРАВЛІННЯ ОСВІТНЬОЇ ГАЛУЗІ

The article considered a system-functional approach to strategic management in the educational field. Management variations were listed and analyzed, which visualize management methodology in the educational field. Such variations of management are administrative, dynamic, integrative, quantitative, complex, marketing, normative, behavioral, process, situational, systemic, functional. The role of the system-functional approach in the research methodology of the strategic management system in the educational field was defined. The role consists in distinguishing the relevant segments (elements) in the system objects of the intra-industry environment and determining their properties, characteristic intra-industry role, i.e. functions in the activity of the system as a whole. The system of strategic management in the educational field was described. This system is an adaptive, purposeful and multi-structured functional set of interacting elements that are responsible for the timely achievement of defined intra-industry strategic goals. The main characteristics of the system were listed. A system-functional approach to strategic management in the educational field was analyzed. Segments of the management system in the educational sector were singled out, which ensure its functioning and permanent adaptation to the influence of endogenous and exogenous factors. A systematic approach to strategic management in the educational field was described. The main components of the system approach were listed. The effects that characterize the system of strategic management in the educational sector were singled out. The main orientations of the strategic management system in the educational sector were analyzed. The logic of the system-functional approach to strategic management in the educational field was illustrated. The main functions of strategic management in the educational sector were highlighted. The main functions in the system of strategic management in the educational field were illustrated. Conclusions were made regarding the system-functional approach to strategic management in the educational field.

Теоретично-методичні положення інституційного забезпечення технологічної конкурентоспроможності економіки: сутність, функції, завдання

Technological competitiveness of the economy is a very dynamic concept, associated with the rapid growth of production and implementation of innovations and technologies. The latter are continuously increasing their importance in ensuring the socio-economic development of the state. The evolution of scientific approaches to interpreting innovation infrastructure through a number of systemic features of institutional support for technological competitiveness of the economy is studied. The meaning of the definitions «infrastructure of technological activity» and «technological infrastructure» is substantiated. On analyzing the development of innovation infrastructure in the marketing behavior of the national economy, the author determined general properties of the innovation and market infrastructure. It is concluded that innovation infrastructure plays the main role in the technological growth of various sectors of the national economy. It is proved that the systemic-functional approach is the most common approach to interpreting the innovation infrastructure of the national economy. It is concluded that most studies reveal the meaning of the functions of a usual innovation infrastructure, and less attention is paid to the functions and tasks characteristic for the infrastructure of the technological competitiveness of the national economy. Within the comprehensive theoretical definition of the important role infrastructure of technological competitiveness plays in innovation and technological growth of the national economy, its main functions (the innovative and regenerative, investing and stimulating, supporting, transformational, coordinating, resources-accumulating, consolidating, and process-stimulating) and tasks are defined The results of generalizing the existing approaches make it possible to form a unique approach to interpreting the definition of the «infrastructure of technological competitiveness».

Recovering financial sustainability of debtors: present-day legislative development trends

The purpose of the research is to study the problems rooted in the development of relations in the sphere of bankruptcy in the Russian Federation, connected with the inefficiency of procedures aimed at financial rehabilitation of business entities, as well as to identify the main directions for further changes in the legal regulation of this area. The methodological basis was based on the application of such research methods as logical and structural analysis, systemic-functional approach, formal legalistic method. The research resulted in the disclosure of substance, features and legal regulation of such an important mechanism of market relations as a bankruptcy. As part of the research, the authors present the evaluation of law enforcement practice based on the norms of the current legislation on insolvency. A particular result of its regulatory impact is cumulatively assessed. The key problems of the law enforcement practice that has been formed within the past 20 years, as concerns the sphere of insolvency of business entities, have been formulated. The further directions of changes in legal regulation with regard to the relations in the sphere of bankruptcy in the Russian Federation have been outlined. It was concluded that, in the current situation, a change of approaches to the current bankruptcy system in favour of extending the use of rehabilitation procedures can provide significant support to businesses facing a difficult financial situation. The novelty of the research lies in a comprehensive study of the problems connected with the inefficiency of rehabilitation procedures, and in the formulation of concrete proposals for improving the legal environment in the sphere of bankruptcy.

Exploring the Organizing Patterns of Doings of the Material Process in Tamil: A Systemic Functional Linguistics Approach

The study endeavours to explore the organizing patterns of doings of the material process in Tamil. For that, this research accounts a brief description of the lexicogrammatical resources of DOING PROCESS TYPE of Tamil which is potentially concerned with modelling the representing patterns of experiential meanings realised through the transitive model of the TRANSITIVITY SYSTEM. The principal objective of this paper is to describe the resources in Tamil by approaching Systemic Functional Linguistics theory. By underlying this theory, researcher is able to identify, understand and explain the organisation of doings of the material process of Tamil in asking questions about how language is configured for use and how that configuration is representing, creating and exchanging meaning in a social setting. In terms of the description, a number of different texts are collected from spoken and written discourses in Tamil. This corpus-based and theory-based research is comprehensive and accompanied by the combination of qualitative and quantitative methods. Such approach achieved through the exploration will be presented in detail as the domain of doing process type by means of the system network. This study provides both Tamil speaking community and systemic functional linguists with insights into the basic organizations and variations of doing process type of Tamil in order to use in their different language applications and implementations.

Digitalization in the field of music education: assessment of prospects

Preconditions of the research: in the course of implementation of federal program of digitalization of all areas of life, the digital format has been applied for education of musicians in higher schools. In this regard, the research objective is assessment of digitalization results of modern departments of music in Moscow universities (RSSU, MPGU), determination of prospects and issues of this process. The research was based on common methods of analysis: system analysis, instrumental and functional approaches, dialectic and comparative analysis, as well as sociological and statistic methods. Results: it is possible to conclude that in Russia digitalization of higher music education leads to improvement of its quality in total; provides higher level of mastering programs by students, expansion of range of acquired competences and opportunities to obtain high-quality education by broader range of people. Herewith, digitalization does not deprive art education of its inherently individualistic and practice-oriented approaches (individual lessons, independent creative work, rehearsals, etc.). The novelty of the work is comprised of substantiation of efficiency of digital educational environment in universities and departments of music, which is a promising approach promoting development of higher education in Russia and allowing to achieve qualitatively new level of music pedagogics. The practical significance of the work is in disclosure of problems of music education digitalization.

СПОСОБЫ ПРЕДСТАВЛЕНИЯ ГРАММАТИКИ ПРИ ПРЕПОДАВАНИИ РУССКОГО ЯЗЫКА КАК ИНОСТРАННОГО

The article deals with the specifics features of methodological approaches to teaching Russian grammar to non-Russian-speaking students. The author analyzes two leading principles of presentation of grammar material to such students. A third authored approach is suggested, which is based on the concept of a communicative metamodel, fixing both the grammatical form intended for acquisition and the communicative value of the vocabulary studied. The presentation of the Russian grammar material in teaching Russian as a foreign language is one of the problems solved in the article. The main methods of research are the method of lingo-comparative analysis, as well as methods that synthesize the system-functional and synchronic approaches to presenting the Russian grammar. The scope of research covers special vocabulary of the sublanguage of the professional sphere “agriculture” and frequency-based communicative metamodels of the Russian language, in which this vocabulary is used. The practical significance of this article consists in the fact that it contains the results of the implementation of three methodological approaches to teaching of Russian grammar in three experimental groups of foreign students. The study was conducted on the base of experimental groups at SPbGAU. Particular attention is paid to both the theoretical description of these methodological approaches of grammar material presentation in the process of learning Russian, and the practical result of training organized using these methods. The article provides a summary table of training results for three experimental groups. The theoretical novelty of the study is that the author offers a new approach to the presentation of grammar material in teachinf Russian to foreign students, which has proven itself positive in the implementation of the program of the prep department of St. Petersburg State Agrarian University and other agricultural universities. This approach can be taken as a basis for studying grammar of professional vocabulary in other spheres of human activity. The development of a new methodological approach to the presentation of Russian grammar and its practical test in teaching foreign students of St. Petersburg State Agrarian University is a special contribution of the author to the study of the topic.

THE REALIZATION OF THEMATIC PROGRESSION IN ONLINE IELTS WRITING TASK 2 SAMPLES IN AN ENGLISH-LEARNING WEBSITE: A CASE STUDY

This research aims at investigating the realization of thematic progression (TP) patterns, which is defined as “the way in which the theme of a clause may pick up, or repeat a meaning from a preceding theme or rheme” (Paltrigde, 2006, p. 148), and their effects on text quality of online IELTS Writing Task 2 samples. Investigated in the light of systemic functional approach, TP is classified into five patterns, namely Simple Linear Progression (SLP), Constant Progression (CP), Split Rheme Progression (SRP), Split Theme Progression (STP) and Derived Hypertheme Progression (DHP) (McCabe, 1999). In this study, the corpus consisting of 24 sample essays derived from an English-learning website was analyzed using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The results of this study highlight that SLP is the most frequently employed pattern in the corpus, followed by CP, SRP, STP and DHP patterns respectively. The analysis also shows that proper employment of TP overall is a contributing factor to the coherence and cohesion of the text, with each pattern exerting different effects. SLP, with its cross-referential links, yields a constantly developing and cohesive text whilst CP keeps a strong thematic focus. Meanwhile, SRP and STP patterns are both found to offer a planned text development and DHP creates cohesion with hypernym-hyponym relation. Problems related to the lack of TP, inappropriate theme positioning and the overuse of the theme “It” and “There” are also reported in the corpus.

Lexicogrammatical and Semantic Development in Academic Writing of EFL Learners: A Systemic Functional Approach

Many Japanese university students' English writing skills are insufficient despite completing at least six years of English language instruction before entering university. Several researchers have explored this topic. A corpus-based approach to this field, for example, has improved the understanding of the writing skills of learners of English. In Japan, the recent developments in corpus linguistics have enabled instructors and researchers to analyze English linguistic features written by Japanese EFL learners. For example, Mizusawa (2015) referred to the Japanese EFL learner Corpus, a collection of junior high and high school students' English essays, to investigate the linguistic features, such as lexical density, grammatical intricacy, and semantic variations framed by systemic functional linguistics (SFL). This paper aimed to examine English academic writings written by 38 Japanese university students. Their writings were analyzed in terms of lexical density and semantic features within the SFL frameworks. The results highlighted that the critical limitation in Japanese university students' writing skills suggested teaching students the lexicogrammatical differences between written and spoken modes of the English language.

Interpersonal and Ideational Metaphors in the Writing of Thesis Texts of Undergraduate Students of English Study Program: A Systemic Functional Linguistic Approach

This study describes how interpersonal and ideational metaphors were realised in th writing of theses texts written by undergraduate students of English study program. This study is a documentary analysis of descriptive method. Data in the form of corpus data were randomly taken from 15 theses among 70 theses in population. Data were analyzed by focusing on the semantic functions covering interpersonal and ideational metaphors. The results showed that interpersonal metaphor was realised in mood system and modality. Mood system was realised mostly in declarative clauses than interrogative and imperative ones. This fact was caused by the channel of text, written text. Modality was least used in the texts. Ideational metaphor was sin transitivity system in which material process was mostly applied than mental, behaviour, existential, relational and verbal processes. Nominalisation was selected as the mostly used property of linguistic feature in writing theses. Ideational metaphor was more used than interpersonal metaphor. This fact happens due to the text channel, written text. Therefore, it is suggested that lecturers in their teaching should consider their teaching by including metaphorical meaning, especially ideational and interpersonal metaphors. Besides, it is suggested to conduct research by comparing languages, national or international languages such as between Indonesian and English or else.

Analysis of Textual Meaning on Lyrics of Supporter’s Chant to Support Football Players in English Premier League

The spoken language phenomenon in social interaction, like in the sports discourse domain, is always exciting but rare to be discussed. This study focuses on the textual meaning of the supporting chants to support football players sung by supporters of the English Premier League (EPL), especially from the six biggest clubs (The Big Six). It is a qualitative descriptive study using content analysis. Within the Systemic Functional Linguistic approach, this study reveals textual meaning through the analysis of Theme and Rhyme consist of the Topical Theme; Unmarked Topical Theme, and Marked Topical Theme, Textual Theme, and Interpersonal Theme. The data are clauses taken from the football player supporting-chant lyrics from the supporters of the big six clubs. The analysis results are obtained through domain, taxonomy, componential and cultural themes analysis. Six chants are analyzed by textual meaning. Topical Theme analysis shows the development of a topic in the lyrics of supporting chants. Textual Theme indicates the connecting clause from the previous. Interpersonal Theme shows the interaction and transacting socially. These themes created a smooth information flow on the chant. Besides, it brought the meaning of these lyrics delivered well to the listener.

Teacher professional identity development through digital stories

Digital stories are powerful instructional tools that allow students to communicate complex concepts and emotions through both linguistic and nonlinguistic modes. A digital story is a 3–6 min multimodal video through which students can engage in critical reflection about their experiences, participate actively in the learning process, and give voice to their identities. This study analyzes two digital stories created by teacher education students in a graduate course; using a new framework that draws on Systemic Functional Linguistics, we demonstrate how these beginning teachers used digital storytelling to shape their professional identities. The results show how valuable digital stories can be in fostering reflection and teachers' development as professionals. The paper also introduces and illustrates an innovative systemic functional linguistic approach to analyzing digital stories as complex multimodal objects.

Поиск адекватной социально-философской рефлексии в различении социальной виртуальности сетевого социума

The research objective includes developing an appropriate theoretical and methodological basis to explicate constantly changing social virtuality of the network community. The paper examines formation of convergent methodology as a means to implement a multidimensional social-philosophical analysis of the Internet technologies influence on the modern society. Scientific originality of the study lies in the fact that the researcher for the first time proposes convergent methodology based on N. Luhmann’s systemic-functional approach and M. Castells’s network approach. The conducted research allows concluding that social virtuality of the network community, its artificial world of mediated virtual communications serve to transfer virtual subjects’ perceptions, social experience and social behaviour models. It is shown that in social virtuality, virtual subjects’ statuses and roles are identified only by their network position - a channel of virtual communication.

Russia, China: Poverty Alleviation (Comparative Analysis)

Goal and objectives. The article analyzes the state policy of Russia and China on poverty alleviation, conducted a comparative analysis of the strategy of the two countries in solving the problem, basic areas, social programs, measures, measures of social support for poor categories of citizens. The general and specific approaches of each. The results achieved are considered, as well as the objectives set by each country in this direction for the near and far term.Methods. The study uses a set of general scientific methods, such as analysis, synthesis, generalization, comparison, system-functional and integrated approach. Within the framework of the stated theme, theoretical provisions and modern approaches were systematic on the basis of the study of the works of various authors, federal and regional regulatory documents, official statistics.Results. The theoretical and practical significance of the study is to specify and organize the modern strategic approaches of the state policy of Russia and China, both in the sphere of poverty alleviation and in the provision of state social assistance to poor categories of citizens. These areas of state social policy of each country are not sufficiently researched by national science. The analysis provides an opportunity to identify the state of poverty in Russia and China, actualizes the importance of state policy to reduce poverty in each country, justifies the need for its further improvement in this direction. The findings highlight the positive results achieved by countries to date and identify the ways that have led to them, which can further promote public social policies to overcome poverty in each country and the system of state social assistance to the poor.Scientific novelty. The scientific novelty lies in the study of the state policy of Russia and China to reduce the poverty level of the population, as one of the most acute problems of both countries. The article shows the characteristics of poverty in each country, the scale and concentration of poverty, the trend of changing poverty in recent years as a result of the efforts of states and new strategies in public social policy. Weaknesses and strengths in the state social policy to overcome poverty in Russia and China have been identified. The lack of effectiveness of the organization of state social assistance to poor categories of citizens is justified. The conclusions are drawn on the versatility of ways to overcome poverty, the need to unite the efforts of all countries in this direction, the fruitfulness of the exchange of experience accumulated by different countries.