CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
2.1 Systemic Functional Linguistics SFL
Systemic Functional Linguistics SFL is a theory about language as a resource for making meaning which is situated in context of situation and a context of culture. SFL
was developed by M.A.K Halliday, a professor of Linguistics from University of Sydney, Australia. This theory is based on Firth’s system structure theory. Firth developed
Malinowski concepts of context of situation and context of culture. According to Halliday 1985:130, “ Systemic theory is a theory of meaning as choice, by which
language or any other linguistic system is interpreted as networks of interlocking options : ‘either this or that, or the other’, ‘either more like the one or more like the other’, and so
on”. Then, Sinar 2002:71 in her dissertation Phasal and Experential in Lecture Discourse : A Systemic Functional Analysis explains the abbreviation of SFLT in order to
ease the meaning of SFLT such as the following :
“The letter “S” for “systemic” implies three main senses, that is study pays attention to 1 the systemic
relations and their choices in probabilities in system network of relations and choices starting from general
to specific features, which are vertical or paradigmatic in nature. 2 the systems of meaning that are involved
and interrelated with respect to the phenomena being investigated and 3 the systems of meaning that lie
behind, below, around, above or beyond the phenomena being investigated. The use of letter “F” for
“functional” implies three main senses, namely, that this study pays attention to 1 the functional
realizations of the system in structures and patterns, which are structurally horizontal syntagmatic in nature,
2 the semiotic functions or meanings that are at work or in operation, and 3 the semiotic functions or
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meanings that operate in various semiotic levels and dimensions. The letter “L” for “linguistics” here is used
to imply two main senses, namely, 1 that the framework of this study belongs to and derives from a
‘discipline’ called “linguistics”, 2 in its investigation of the phenomena this study applies a language-based
approach which is interpreted as being semiotic, thematic and transdisciplinary in nature. The letter “T”
for “theory”, which is bound to the “SFL” and taken together as one term in this context, carries the meaning
that this study adopts a theory that would be referred to by many as representing a particular theory within the
so-called linguistics”.
It is obvious that when analyzing a text, the grammar becomes a prominent thing to describe how language works. SFL believes that grammar and meaning are closely
related. Grammar becomes a study of how meanings are built up through of words when language acts are performed as the expression of meaning. The way how language work
involves the idea that a language consists of a set of system, each of it offers the speakers or writers a choice of ways expressing meanings because the form of the language that is
used by a speaker represents meanings. In short, we make a meaning through our choice and use of works and systemic study of language in use is how we make sense of our
meanings.
2.2 The Metafunctions of Language
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