An overview of functional grammar

An overview of functional grammar

1. FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR

2. What is Grammar? It is the way in which a language is organized; theory of how language is put together and how it works. also known as the study of wording.

3. Why do we need Grammar? It is to understand how texts work. In language teaching

4. From Traditional Grammar to Functional Grammar

5. There are significant differences between Traditional & Formal grammar and Functional Grammar. Towards a Functional Grammar

6. According to Halliday (1994), language can be described in terms of RANK SCALE. The Rank Scale and Logical Meaning consists of one or more clauses consists of one or more groups or phrases consists of one or more words consists of one or more morphemes

7. The Rank Scale and Logical Meaning CLAUSE COMPLEX a language structure that consists of one clause working by itself, or a group of clauses that work together through some kind of logical relationship.

8. Clauses and Their Constituent Parts The way to see the constituent parts of the clause is to break any one clause up into its discrete units or component parts. To know how the clause constituency works, here is an example of text cited from story of Start and Finish in “ English Folktales” book by Keding and Douglas (2005) A long time ago, two farmers were neighbors. Each had a son, and the boys were called Alpha and Omega. As they grew up, they were known as Start and Finish. After their fathers died, the two lads took over the farms a nd stayed good friends all their lives. A long time ago, two farmers were neighbors. Each had a son, and the boys were called Alpha and Omega. As they grew up, they were known as Start and Finish. After their fathers died, the two lads took over the farms and stayed good friends all their lives. Clauses from the text above

9. The following abbreviations are used to label the constituents of the clauses here : A long time ago two farmers were neighbors ng ng vg ng and the boys were called Alpha and Omegs conj.g ng vg Ng After their fathers died conj.g Ng vg The two lads took over the farm ng vg pp The two lads took over the farm ng vg pp Clauses 1, 3 each have 4 constituents Clauses 6 has 3 constituents Clause 7 has 3 constituents, yet the division can be either in (a) with took as verbal group or (b) took over as the verbal group. The division of text into clauses and clauses into constituent parts is not always straightforward. ng = nominal group vg = verbal group conj.g = conjunction group pp = prepositional phrase

10. In Functional Grammar, elements of the clause are labeled in terms of the function each is playing in that clause. The kid sighed heavily Noun Verb Adverb The kid sighed heavily Participant Process Circumstance Behaver Behavioral Manner In traditional and formal grammar In Functional Grammar, analyzed by function

11. Functions of Language

12. Implication on Language Teaching Functional Grammar gives a light to more effective grammar teaching for the teachers who are put in paradoxical situation in regard of teaching grammar in language teaching.