Structuring information in written English : a re-appraisal of the systemic functional approach to information structure
The concept of Information Structure in English originated in Systemic Functional Linguistics, and has developed to function as newsworthy information, or what the speaker directs the listener to focus on. In spoken English, Information Structure is realised in intonation, with the tonic foot identifying New information. In written English, consensus has gradually converged on the same function being realised by final position in a clause. While this is assumed to be the case, there has been no study so far that demonstrates a role for Information Structure in written English independent of Reference or Theme. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the existence and role of an independent Information Structure in written English, within the context of a modern Systemic Functional theory. The main strategy employed is to investigate the systems in the Textual Metafunction that are realised within clauses by analysing texts for the systems of Participant Identification and Tracking, and for Theme and Rheme, using a largely quantitative approach on a range of texts from a single register. Systemic Functional theories of reference are compared with other perspectives, resulting in a re-evaluation of the
Moore, Nicolas Antony James
Structuring information in written English : a re-appraisal of the systemic functional approach to information structure. The concept of Information Structure in English originated in Systemic Functional Linguistics, and has developed to function as newsworthy information, or what the speaker directs the listener to focus on. In spoken English, Information Structure is realised in intonation, with the tonic foot identifying New information. In written English, consensus has gradually converged on the same function being realised by final position in a clause. While this is assumed to be the case, there has been no study so far that demonstrates a role for Information Structure in written English independent of Reference or Theme. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate the existence and role of an independent Information Structure in written English, within the context of a modern Systemic Functional theory. The main strategy employed is to investigate the systems in the Textual Metafunction that are realised within clauses by analysing texts for the systems of Participant Identification and Tracking, and for Theme and Rheme, using a largely quantitative approach on a range of texts from a single register. Systemic Functional theories of reference are compared with other perspectives, resulting in a re-evaluation of the
structuring information write_english re_appraisal systemic_functional information_structure concept information_structure english originate systemic_functional_linguistics develop function information speaker listener focus spoken_english information_structure realise intonation foot identify new_information write_english consensus gradually converge function realise final position clause assumed case_study far demonstrate role information_structure write_english independent reference theme aim_present study existence role independent information_structure write_english within_context modern systemic_functional theory main strategy_employ investigate system textual realise within clause analyse texts system participant identification theme_rheme use largely quantitative range text single register systemic_functional theory reference compare perspective result re_evaluation