In this article, I would like to share with you what Systemic Functional Linguistics is. This, of course, is just an overview. So, I will not provide a detailed discussion of this language theory.

Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) is a language theory developed by a British-born linguist, Michael Alexander Kirkwood Halliday. Expanding on the existing linguistics, particularly Saussure's Structuralism, Halliday argues that language is a resource for making meaning in a socio-cultural context (social semiotic system). Based on contextual considerations, he argues, we choose words and structures (lexicogrammar) to make meaning (the system of choice).

Language as a social semiotic system

The term social semiotic refers to language as a sign system, which to some extent aligns with Saussure's view of language. However, Halliday focuses on the act of meaning-making. Unlike Saussure, who views meaning and structure as having an arbitrary relationship, Halliday believes that meaning is always contextual, which in turn realizes itself as grammatical structure.

Grammatical structure, or, in SFL, lexicogrammar, is the "end-product" of the meaning-making realization hierarchy. It begins with the meaning at the text level (discourse semantics). Based on the intended meaning, we choose available language resources (vocabulary and grammar). Finally, we create the text, either phonologically (speaking) or graphologically (writing). This is known as the concept of strata in SFL. So, the arbitrary relationship between the meaning and the structure is a "myth," according to SFL. The figure below illustrates the hierarchy.

Also, as can be seen, this meaning-to-text realization occurs within the overarching context, which will be briefly explained later. For now, what we can understand is that as a social semiotic system, the meaning and structure are not as distinguished as in other language theories.

Text and Context

Since SFL focuses on meaning, it views language as a semantic unit. Text, in this case, is a semantic unit, not a grammatical unit. In SFL, text is defined as any stretch of language of whatever length, whether spoken or written, which has a complete meaning. Traditionally, this definition applies to a sentence (as a grammatical unit). However, in SFL, it applies to a clause.

Regarding the relationship between text and context, Halliday says that the context plays a part in determining what we say, and what we say plays a part in determining the context. Look at a simple clause below:

"You should read this article completely."

It is a text, which is created under the mercy of the meaning to make and the context within which the meaning is being made.

The meaning of the clause above consists of experiential or ideational meaning (the topic of the clause), the interpersonal meaning (what the clause proposes), and the textual meaning (how the message in the clause is organized). These three strands of meaning are called metafunctions. The words and structure used in the clause above represent the context of situation (register). Register has three variables, including the Field (what the clause is about), Tenor (the relationship between us and what the clause proposes to do), and the Mode (how the meaning is made, which in this case is written).

Ideational Meaning (Field)

Sometimes, it is also referred to as experiential meaning. Now, the clause is about "someone [should] read an article completely." The word "completely" adds a circumstantial element to the clause, emphasizing the expected manner from you.

Interpersonal Meaning (Tenor)

This clause engages us (you and me), where the message is exchanged. The exchange is in terms of goods and services. To this end, I employ a soft command (semi-imperative). I could simply write, "read this article completely." However, I use "You..." to engage with you as the receiver of the command. Then, I also use the modality "should" to "soften" the command. Imagine that the modal verb used is "must," which I cannot use because we are equal in terms of position. If this article is read by my student, I would use "must."

Textual Meaning (Mode)

This is a written clause or text. Although the clause can also be spoken. However, the field covers more than the channel of communication. It also covers the theme, which is typically identified at the beginning of the clause. The theme here is you, not the article. So the clause is not about what the article is, but about what you should do with the article. Imagine that I change the organization of the message by saying: "This article should be read completely by you." In this situation, the theme is the article, not you (e.g., the importance of the article content is emphasized).

Language as a System of Choice

As can be seen, I have made choices based on the meaning. The choices here refer to the linguistic resources (lexicogrammar) available in English to convey the meaning. For instance, I chose "should" rather than "must," or "you" as the theme instead of "article."

In this case, no one can say that the clause above is correct or incorrect. It is all about the appropriateness based on context. I chose "read," although I could use "process" or "understand." I chose "article," although I could use "text" or "essay." I could also use a passive voice. However, I did not. My choices are based on what I am trying to say (field), to whom (tenor), and in what way (mode).

This is the principle of language as a system of choice in SFL. Words and grammar are no longer "rules," but options, although SFL does not deny that correct grammar is necessary to ensure clarity and prevent misunderstanding.

That's all I can share with you today.