Text Type and Texture
Edited by
Gail Forey [+–]
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Gail Forey is Associate Professor and Associate Director for The Research Centre for Profesional Communication in the Department of English at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has co-edited Globalisation, Communication and the Workplace (Continuum, 2010).
Geoff Thompson † [+–]
University of Liverpool
Geoff Thompson was Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at the University of Liverpool, UK
PAPERBACK EDITION PUBLISHED JULY 2010
Texture – the quality that makes a text ‘hang together’ as a text – is a key focus of investigation in discourse analysis. This volume provides a systematic overview of recent research on textual resources that are used to construct texture, and on the ways in which these resources are deployed differently in different text types. Theme is the major resource that is explored in the first part of the book. The opening papers set out the current understanding of Theme and explore aspects of the concept which remain controversial in the field. This is followed by an examination of thematic choices in a range of text types. Issues raised include the different kinds of meanings appearing in Theme which are particularly significant for each genre, the ways in which these relate to the broader socio-cultural context, and the ways in which thematic choices interact with other kinds of texturing. In the second part of the collection, the scope widens to include an examination of other resources, particularly the contribution to texture made by patterns of interpersonal choices, in Theme and more broadly across texts as a whole. The volume closes with an overview and illustration of a methodological approach by which our understanding of texturing can be further extended.
Series: Functional Linguistics
Table of Contents
Prelims
Preface [+–] vii
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Gail Forey is Associate Professor and Associate Director for The Research Centre for Profesional Communication in the Department of English at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has co-edited Globalisation, Communication and the Workplace (Continuum, 2010).
University of Liverpool
Geoff Thompson was Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at the University of Liverpool, UK
PAPERBACK EDITION PUBLISHED JULY 2010 Texture – the quality that makes a text ‘hang together’ as a text – is a key focus of investigation in discourse analysis. This volume provides a systematic overview of recent research on textual resources that are used to construct texture, and on the ways in which these resources are deployed differently in different text types. Theme is the major resource that is explored in the first part of the book. The opening papers set out the current understanding of Theme and explore aspects of the concept which remain controversial in the field. This is followed by an examination of thematic choices in a range of text types. Issues raised include the different kinds of meanings appearing in Theme which are particularly significant for each genre, the ways in which these relate to the broader socio-cultural context, and the ways in which thematic choices interact with other kinds of texturing. In the second part of the collection, the scope widens to include an examination of other resources, particularly the contribution to texture made by patterns of interpersonal choices, in Theme and more broadly across texts as a whole. The volume closes with an overview and illustration of a methodological approach by which our understanding of texturing can be further extended.
Acknowledgements [+–] viii
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Gail Forey is Associate Professor and Associate Director for The Research Centre for Profesional Communication in the Department of English at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has co-edited Globalisation, Communication and the Workplace (Continuum, 2010).
University of Liverpool
Geoff Thompson was Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at the University of Liverpool, UK
PAPERBACK EDITION PUBLISHED JULY 2010 Texture – the quality that makes a text ‘hang together’ as a text – is a key focus of investigation in discourse analysis. This volume provides a systematic overview of recent research on textual resources that are used to construct texture, and on the ways in which these resources are deployed differently in different text types. Theme is the major resource that is explored in the first part of the book. The opening papers set out the current understanding of Theme and explore aspects of the concept which remain controversial in the field. This is followed by an examination of thematic choices in a range of text types. Issues raised include the different kinds of meanings appearing in Theme which are particularly significant for each genre, the ways in which these relate to the broader socio-cultural context, and the ways in which thematic choices interact with other kinds of texturing. In the second part of the collection, the scope widens to include an examination of other resources, particularly the contribution to texture made by patterns of interpersonal choices, in Theme and more broadly across texts as a whole. The volume closes with an overview and illustration of a methodological approach by which our understanding of texturing can be further extended.
List of contributors [+–] ix-xi
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Gail Forey is Associate Professor and Associate Director for The Research Centre for Profesional Communication in the Department of English at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has co-edited Globalisation, Communication and the Workplace (Continuum, 2010).
University of Liverpool
Geoff Thompson was Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at the University of Liverpool, UK
PAPERBACK EDITION PUBLISHED JULY 2010 Texture – the quality that makes a text ‘hang together’ as a text – is a key focus of investigation in discourse analysis. This volume provides a systematic overview of recent research on textual resources that are used to construct texture, and on the ways in which these resources are deployed differently in different text types. Theme is the major resource that is explored in the first part of the book. The opening papers set out the current understanding of Theme and explore aspects of the concept which remain controversial in the field. This is followed by an examination of thematic choices in a range of text types. Issues raised include the different kinds of meanings appearing in Theme which are particularly significant for each genre, the ways in which these relate to the broader socio-cultural context, and the ways in which thematic choices interact with other kinds of texturing. In the second part of the collection, the scope widens to include an examination of other resources, particularly the contribution to texture made by patterns of interpersonal choices, in Theme and more broadly across texts as a whole. The volume closes with an overview and illustration of a methodological approach by which our understanding of texturing can be further extended.
Introduction [+–] 1-7
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Gail Forey is Associate Professor and Associate Director for The Research Centre for Profesional Communication in the Department of English at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has co-edited Globalisation, Communication and the Workplace (Continuum, 2010).
University of Liverpool
Geoff Thompson was Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at the University of Liverpool, UK
Introductory chapter
1
Central Michigan University
Fries, a major contributor to the discussion of Theme for many years, provides an account of the effect Theme and New have on our perception of written text. Based on his 30 years study of Theme, Fries summarises the considerable advances that have been made and, synthesizing previous work, proposes a number of key considerations in investigating Theme. The chapter as a whole is thus designed as an attempt to frame an agenda for future research on the structure-assigning aspects of the textual metafunction.
2
Theme, Subject and the unfolding of text [+–] 45-69
University of Liverpool
Geoff Thompson was Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at the University of Liverpool, UK
University of Liverpool
Thompson and Thompson approach the concept of Theme from a theoretical perspective, focusing especially on the criteria for the identification of Theme; and they explore aspects which remain controversial in this area, such as the inclusion of Subject as part of Theme following a marked Theme. Their arguments lead them to adopt a position which partly runs contrary to much current thinking on the analysis of marked Themes (see e.g. Martin and Rose 2003). The dynamic, exploratory and, at times, contentious discussion of Theme in these two chapters both reflects how far our understanding of this texturing resource has developed and contributes to the fruitful ongoing debate concerning the boundaries and interpretation of Theme.
3
Theme, field and genre: thematic realisations in academic articles and their popularisations [+–] 70-93
University of Glasgow
John Corbett is Professor of Applied Language Studies at the University
of Glasgow. Amongst his publications are ‘Language and Scottish Literature’,
‘Written in the Language of the Scottish Nation’ and ‘An Intercultural
Approach to English Language Teaching’. He currently edits the journal
‘Language and Intercultural Communication’ and he directs the Scottish
Corpus of Texts and Speech (www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk).
of Glasgow. Amongst his publications are ‘Language and Scottish Literature’,
‘Written in the Language of the Scottish Nation’ and ‘An Intercultural
Approach to English Language Teaching’. He currently edits the journal
‘Language and Intercultural Communication’ and he directs the Scottish
Corpus of Texts and Speech (www.scottishcorpus.ac.uk).
Corbett explores the texturing of comparable ideational matter in two different registers. He focuses on a discussion of Theme choice in popular and academic science texts and shows how the differences in the choice of Theme reflect the different communicative purposes.
4
Formerly at Tokyo Institute of Technology
Hugh Gosden is interested in the application of tools of SFL such as
thematic analysis to contexts within English for Academic Purposes. Of
particular focus is the experience of young researchers writing their first
scientific papers for international publication. Formerly at Tokyo Institute
of Technology, he has designed and teaches specialist EAP courses which
integrate much of his published work in this area.
thematic analysis to contexts within English for Academic Purposes. Of
particular focus is the experience of young researchers writing their first
scientific papers for international publication. Formerly at Tokyo Institute
of Technology, he has designed and teaches specialist EAP courses which
integrate much of his published work in this area.
Gosden is concerned with helping novice research writers to handle more confidently the process of submitting papers for publication in international journals. He argues that it is particularly important for the novice writers to develop a sense of the motivation behind referees’ comments in responding to reviews. With a better understanding of the peer review genre, prospective authors may be able to frame their replies to referees’ criticisms more effectively. One way of guiding them towards this understanding is through raising awareness of the importance of the thematic content of referees’ comments. Gosden demonstrates this approach through an analysis of the Theme choices in a corpus of peer reviews of scientific papers.
5
Text-type and texture: the potential of Theme for the study of research writing development [+–] 108-124
National University of Rio Negro, Argentina
Ann Montemayor-Borsinger has held professorial posts in several Argentinean universities in graduate and postgraduate programs in linguistics and discourse analysis. Her research interests focus on functional grammar, discourse analysis, genre studies, literary stylistics and translation issues. She has widely published drawing on Systemic Functional Linguistics to investigate different types of discourse in English, Spanish and French. She has recently been appointed director of a research centre on Language and Literature Studies (LELLAE) at the National University of Rio Negro in Argentina.
Montemayor-Borsinger, focusing on academic scientific texts, provides a longitudinal study of academic writers as they move from apprentice to expert status in publishing in academic journals. She investigates in detail changes in the ways in which they develop the texture of their argument through the choice of Theme as they become accepted members of their academic community.
6
University of Sheffield
David Hyatt works in the School of Education, University of Sheffield
where he is the Director of three programmes: the MEd in English Language
Teaching; the MA in Education Policy and Practice; and Singapore Distance
Learning Programme. He is also a tutor on the MA Literacy and Language
in Education Programme and a core member of the Literacy Research
Centre. He has an MEd TEFL from the University of Bristol and a PhD in
critical literacy from the University of Sheffield.
where he is the Director of three programmes: the MEd in English Language
Teaching; the MA in Education Policy and Practice; and Singapore Distance
Learning Programme. He is also a tutor on the MA Literacy and Language
in Education Programme and a core member of the Literacy Research
Centre. He has an MEd TEFL from the University of Bristol and a PhD in
critical literacy from the University of Sheffield.
Hyatt tackles the texture of adversarial political interviews. His database of television political interviews, questionnaires and interviews with specialist informants offers an overview of the argumentative meaning making devices exploited by interviewers and interviewees, and how the potential for resistant readings/hearings of a text may be developed.
7
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Gail Forey is Associate Professor and Associate Director for The Research Centre for Profesional Communication in the Department of English at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has co-edited Globalisation, Communication and the Workplace (Continuum, 2010).
Forey explores workplace texts, focusing on one particular feature of interpersonal meaning construed by projecting clauses in initial position in a clause or clause complex. She discusses how the choice of Theme in workplace text is related to ‘control and power’ (Iedema 2003).
8
What can linguistics tell us about writing skills? [+–] 175-190
University of Liverpool
Hoey ties thematic choices in with other resources which contribute to texturing in written text, including lexical priming (Hoey 2005). Illustrating his discussion with sample analyses of well- and poorly written texts, he explicitly addresses the implications for improving the writing skills of novice writers.
9
Open University
Caroline Coffin is Professor in English Language and Applied Linguistics at the Open University, UK.
University of Wollongong
Coffin and Derewianka examine the shift from the more linear texturing of a traditional, late 20th century history textbook to the multimodal pastiche of contemporary textbooks. They probe the implications of this shift for the student reader in terms of creating a coherent reading of the text. They focus on issues such as the interpersonal and textual resources that the multimodal text draws on in achieving coherence (or not) and how these differ from those found in traditional linear texts.
10
University of Technology Sydney, Australia
Returning to the topic of academic texts, Hood discusses the interpersonal prosody and patterning developed through the choice of Theme. Hood focuses on the discourse semantic patterning of interpersonal meaning in her combined analysis of ATTITUDE and GRADUATION evoking ATTITUDE (see Hood 2004; Martin and White 2005) within the thematic choices of research writing.
11
Cultural stereotype and modality: a study into modal use in Brazilian and Portuguese meetings [+–] 234-251
Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo
Tony Berber Sardinha is Associate Professor of Applied Linguistics at Sao Paulo Catholic University (PUCSP)
Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo
Leila Barbara is Professor of Linguistics at the Catholic University in São
Paulo; she works in Systemics and in Research Methods in Applied
Linguistics. Her main research interests are Discourse Analysis, specifically
related to work, business and the professions, including Education and the
description of the Portuguese language.
Paulo; she works in Systemics and in Research Methods in Applied
Linguistics. Her main research interests are Discourse Analysis, specifically
related to work, business and the professions, including Education and the
description of the Portuguese language.
Berber Sardinha and Barbara take the discussion in a different direction, arguing that the identification of recurrent patterns of textualisation in specific text types can be a way into exploring how stereotypes may emerge. They focus on the use of modality in transcripts of business meetings held in Portuguese in Brazilian and Portuguese business companies, and link the differences that emerge to the different stereotypes that each of the groups has of the other.
12
University of Sydney
J R Martin is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sydney. His research interests include systemic theory, functional grammar, discourse semantics, register, genre, multimodality and critical discourse analysis, focussing on English and Tagalog – with special reference to the transdisciplinary fields of educational linguistics and social semiotics.
Martin closes the collection with an overview and illustration of a methodological approach by which our understanding of texturing can be further extended. In his chapter, Martin draws on his extensive experience of discourse analysis to provide a detailed account, which will be illuminating for both the experienced and the novice text analyst, of how to approach a text, and shunt from the text to the context to the ideological meanings constructed. In doing this, he brings together many of the threads of earlier chapters and shows how they can be integrated in a comprehensive analysis of how a text works as a text.
End Matter
Index [+–] 285-293
Hong Kong Polytechnic University
Gail Forey is Associate Professor and Associate Director for The Research Centre for Profesional Communication in the Department of English at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University. She has co-edited Globalisation, Communication and the Workplace (Continuum, 2010).
University of Liverpool
Geoff Thompson was Senior Lecturer in Applied Linguistics at the University of Liverpool, UK
PAPERBACK EDITION PUBLISHED JULY 2010 Texture – the quality that makes a text ‘hang together’ as a text – is a key focus of investigation in discourse analysis. This volume provides a systematic overview of recent research on textual resources that are used to construct texture, and on the ways in which these resources are deployed differently in different text types. Theme is the major resource that is explored in the first part of the book. The opening papers set out the current understanding of Theme and explore aspects of the concept which remain controversial in the field. This is followed by an examination of thematic choices in a range of text types. Issues raised include the different kinds of meanings appearing in Theme which are particularly significant for each genre, the ways in which these relate to the broader socio-cultural context, and the ways in which thematic choices interact with other kinds of texturing. In the second part of the collection, the scope widens to include an examination of other resources, particularly the contribution to texture made by patterns of interpersonal choices, in Theme and more broadly across texts as a whole. The volume closes with an overview and illustration of a methodological approach by which our understanding of texturing can be further extended.
ISBN-13 (Hardback)
9781845532147
Price (Hardback)
£75.00 / $95.00
ISBN-13 (Paperback)
9781845539122
Price (Paperback)
£25.00 / $35.00
ISBN (eBook)
9781845535933
Price (eBook)
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Institutional
£75.00 / $95.00
£25.00 / $35.00
Institutional
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Publication
01/02/2009
Pages
308
Size
234 x 156mm
Readership
scholarly
Illustration
11 figures
