This course introduces students to systemic functional grammar, in which language is regarded as “a resource for making meaning”. Language is thus seen as a vehicle for communication between people in social and cultural contexts. Students will be introduced to the framework for analysing grammar and meaning along three dimensions: of how language represents states and activities, of how language functions in interaction between people, and of how information is structured in sentences and texts. Through both theoretical introductions and practical exercises, students will raise their awareness of how language users convey meaning through their choice of words and grammatical structures in specific situations. The coursework includes analyses of authentic texts.

1. being able to account for the framework of systemic functional analysis (CLO1, PLO 1)
2. being able to reflect on the relationship between the wording of a text and its communicative goals (CLO 2, PLO 4)
3. being able to use the framework of systemic functional grammar to analyse and discuss a text with appropriate use of secondary sources (CLO 3, PLO 8)

1. Butt, D, Fahey, R, Feez, S, Spinks, S, Yallop, C. 2000. Using Functional Grammar An Explorers Guide. Sydney. National Centre for English Language Teaching and Research.
2. Thompson, Geoff. 2014. Introducing Functional Grammar, 3rd Edition. New York. Routledge.
3. Halliday, MAK, Matthiesen, CMIM. 2001. An Introduction to Functional Grammar, 3rd Edition. London. Hodder Headline Group