20
Figure 2.3 Overview of the speech function network Taken from Eggins and Slade 1997:102
As Halliday proposes, each subclasses of speech function by Eggins and Slade above are divided into two kinds, as supporting response and confronting
response. So, sustaining speech function has continuing speech function as the supporting response and reacting move as the confronting move; reacting move
which is divided into response and rejoinder, each of them also has the supporting and confronting responses.
2.2.1 Opening Speech Functions
As the name stated, opening speech function is one which opens or begins sequences of talk. From the figure 2.4 below, it can be seen that opening speech
function can be divided into two kinds, attend and initiate. Attending moves include salutations, greetings and calls, all of which function to prepare the
ground for interaction by securing the attention of the intended interactant. The initiating moves proposed by Eggins and Slade are exactly the same
as proposed by Halliday, in this thesis is presented on table 2.2. As presented in figure 2.4 below, Eggins and Slade provide two extensions in delicacy, they are
fact and opinion and open and closed questions. move
open
sustain continue
react respond
rejoinder
21
Figure 2.4 Opening speech functions in casual conversation Adapted from Eggins and Slade 1997:193
The difference between fact and opinion statement and question is usually expressed lexically, with opinion containing either expressions of
modality, or appraisal lexis. Fact and opinion initiations also tend to lead to different types of exchanges, and eventually genres, with opinion exchanges
generating arguments, while fact exchanges often remain brief or develop into story-text.
Open question is distinguished from closed question in which the former seeks to elicit completion of a proposition from the addressee and is congruently
realized by wh-interrogatives, while the latter presents a complete proposition for the support or confrontation of the addressee and is realized by polar
interrogatives.
2.2.2 Sustaining Speech Functions
As the name suggested, sustaining speech function has the function to keep negotiating the same proposition. This kind of speech function depends a lot
Sustain Open
move
initiate attend
Goods and service Information
Demand Give
Open
Fact Closed
Opinion
22
on the previous moves which can be any speech function classes. In an interaction, to sustain the same proposition may be to continue the speech
function by the speaker who has just been talking or by other speakers taking a turn. Therefore, sustaining speech function can be divided into two kinds:
continuing and reacting. Continuing speech function is one which is produced by the current
speaker to keep talking in a conversation. The continuing move subclasses then capture the options open to a speaker who retains the turn at the end of a move
and who produces a move which is meant to be heard as related to an immediately prior move produced by the same speaker. The continuing status of a
move will be realized by its potential or actual elliptical status in relation to the prior move.
Reacting speech function is one which sustains the negotiation in which turn transfer occurs, i.e. when one speaker reacts to a move produced by a
different speaker. Eggins and Slade 1997:200 divide this kind of speech functions into two kinds: response and rejoinder.
23
Figure 2.5 Sustaining speech functions in casual conversation Taken from Eggins and Slade 1997:195
2.3 Mood System
