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3. Mode
Mode refers to the channel of communication being used, whether it is spoken or written Board of Studies New South Wales, 1994: 97.
2.1.3.1.3 Text
The third circle in Figure 2.2 represents texts. A text can be defined as spoken or written language which is held together by the three strands of meaning
in a language, namely logical ideational, interpersonal, and textual meaning Feez, 1998: 4. People create texts when they are speaking and writing, they
interpret texts when they are listening and reading Board of Studies New South
Wales, 1994: 97.
2.1.3.2 The Language System
The language system is the resource which supplies all the language choices made by language users each time they use language to communicate
Board of Studies New South Wales, 1994: 97. The language choices consist of grammatical patterns, words, sounds, and symbols to make meanings. The
patterns of language choices can be distinguished at three levels Feez, 1998: 6. 1. Meaning or discourse semantic
The combination between the layer of meaning and the register variables constructs the three main functions of language Feez, 1998: 6. The discourse
semantic is related to the generic structure of text Board of Studies New South Wales, 1994: 98. The meaning and their relationships to the register are
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outlined in Table 2.1.
Table 2.1 The Main Functions of Language and their Relationship to the Register Variables Adopted from Feez, 1998: 7
Ideational Language represents the world logically
through experiential and logical meanings. These meanings
are reflection of field.
Interpersonal Language builds relationships through
interpersonal meanings. These meanings
are a reflection of tenor.
Textual Language organizes meanings into spoken
or written text through textual meanings. These meanings
are a reflection of mode.
2. Words and structure or lexicogrammar The words and structure or lexicogrammar is realized through the pattern of
grammar applied within the clauses, groups, and words Feez, 1998: 7. 3. Expressions or phonological and graphological
The words and structure or lexicogrammar level is expressed through spoken and written language Feez, 1998: 7. The expression of spoken language
requires sounds, sounds in combination, intonation patterns, and stress. On the other hand, the expression of written language requires alphabets, letters
combination spelling, punctuation, and layout Board of Studies New South Wales, 1994: 98. The relationship of the three levels of language is presented
in Figure 2.3.
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Figure 2.3 The Relationship between the Three Levels of Language Adopted from Eggins, 1994: 21 as cited in Feez, 1998: 7
2.1.4 Literacy Approach
Literacy approach is an approach to language learning focuses on the development of the students’ ability to create and interpret contextual spoken and
written texts Depdiknas, 2003: 35. Literacy approach is the methodology to implement a text-based syllabus Depdiknas, 2003: 9. This approach values the
interaction between teacher and students in the process of learning language. Based on this approach, the process of learning language is divided into stages
and emphasizes the differences between spoken and written language.
2.1.4.1 Scaffolding
The term scaffolding is used to describe the learning collaboration between the teacher and the students with the teacher facilitates the students’
transition from assisted to independent performance Vygotsky, 1978 as cited in Feez, 1998: 26. According to Roehler and Cantlon 1996 as cited in Hogan and
Presley 1997 the transition from assisted to independent performance is as Discourse semantics Texts
Lexicogrammar Words and Structure Expression Sounds and Writing
