27
3 Mode of discourse: the „parts‟ or the particular functions that are
assigned to language in this situation is expressed though the textual function in the semantics.
Halliday and Hasan 1989: 26 show the relation of the text to the context of situation.
Table 2.2 The Relation of Text to the Context of Situation
SITUATION: Feature of the context
realized by TEXT
Functional component of semantic system
Field of discourse what is going on
Experiential meanings transitivity, naming, etc.
Tenor of discourse who are taking part
Interpersonal meanings mood, modality, person,
etc. Mode of discourse
role assigned to language Textual meanings
theme, information, cohesive relations
2.2.5 Metafunction in Functional Grammar
It has been suggested that context of situation is realized by functional components of semantic system. Martin and Rose 2004: 6 describe the SFL
model of language in social context recognizes three general social functions that we use language for: i to enact our social relationships interpersonal; ii to
represent our experience to each other experiential; and iii to organize our enactment and representations as meaningful text textual. These are known as
the metafunction in social activity.
28
In addition, Halliday 2004: 61 develop four metafunction, three of them show up in the clause column
– the technical names for the metafunctions, matches them up with the different statutes of the clause and shows the kind of
structure favored by each, but the fourth metafunctional heading does not show up in the clause column because it is not embodied in the clause but in the clause
complex-clauses linked together by logicosemantic relations to form sequences.
Table 2.3 Metafunction and Their Reflexes in the Grammar
Metafunction Technical
Name Definition
Kind of Meaning
Corresponding Status in
Clause Favored Type of
Structure
Experiential Constructing a
model of experience
Clause as representation
Segmental based on constituency
Interpersonal Enacting social
relationship Clause as
exchange Prosodic
Textual Creating relevance
to context Clause as
message Culminative
Logical Constructing
logical relations -
Iterative
Analyzing three strands of meaning can be carried out in an even single clause since different structures reflects the realization of the various kinds of
meaning simultaneously in a clause. Additionally, Thompson 2014: 28 defines three kinds of meaning as
follows:
29
1 We use language to talk about our experience of the world, including the
worlds in our own minds, to describe events and states and the entities involved in them ideational meanings.
2 We also use language to interact with other people, to establish and
maintain relations with them, to influence their behavior, to express our own viewpoint on things in the world, and to elicit or change theirs
interpersonal meaning. 3
In using language, we organize our messages in ways which indicate how they fit in with other message around them and with the wider
context in which they are talking or writing. By looking at the definitions above, the metafunctions can be concluded as
below: 1
Ideational meanings are meanings that express speaker‟s experience in
the certain circumstances. These meanings are influenced by field of discourse.
2
Interpersonal meanings are meaning that reveal speaker‟s attitude and
judgement towards the interactants. These meanings are influenced by tenor of discourse.
3
Textual meanings are meaning which function to relate the language to
the environment, and show how the text is organized in a relevant context. These meaning are influenced by mode of discourse.
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2.2.6 Textual Meaning
