Theme and Mood: Systemic Functional Linguistics

Theme and Mood

1. 3.3 Theme and mood 71

2. What is the element that is typically chosen as Theme in an English clause? The answer to that question depends on the choice of mood. 71

3. Mood will be discussed in Chapter 4. Here we shall need to anticipate the first steps in that discussion, and introduce the primary categories of the mood system. We will restrict ourselves to free clauses, those that can stand by themselves as a complete sentence. 72

4. Every free clause selects for mood. Some, such as J ohn ! and good night!, are minor clauses; they have no thematic structure, and so will be left out of account. The others are major clauses. 72

5. A free major clause is either indicative or imperative in mood; if indicative, it is either declarative or interrogative; if interrogative, it is either ‘ yes/no ’ interrogative or ‘ WH ’ interrogative. Examples:

6. 72

7. (1) Theme in declarative clauses. In a declarative clause, the typical pattern is one in which Theme is conflated with Subject; 73

8. for example, Little B o-peep has lost her sheep, where Little B o-peep is both Subject and Theme. 73

9. All the examples in Figure 3 -1 were of this kind; similarly, those in Figure 3-3 to Figure 3-5. 73

10. From p. 66

11. We shall refer to the mapping of Theme on to Subject as the unmarked Theme of a declarative clause. 73

12. The Subject is the element that is chosen as Theme unless there is good reason for choosing something else. 73

13. Note that this adds a further explanation for the use of a thematic equative in clauses such as you're the one I blame for this, that's what they don't tell us: here, the Theme is Subject, and therefore unmarked, 73

14. whereas in the non- equative variants you I blame for this, that they don't tell us, you and that - not being Subject - are now marked Themes. The effect of this is to add a feature of contrastiveness which the speaker may not require. 73

15. Text 3-7 We are aware of our responsibility to our critics. We are also aware of our responsibility to the author, who probably would not have authorized the publication of these pages. This responsibility we accept wholly, and we would willingly bear it alone. 73

16. 73

17. what a self-opinionated egomaniac that guy is how dreadful she sounds Theme Rheme Fig. 3-6 Theme in exelamatlve clauses 75

18. (2) Theme in interrogative clauses. The typical function of an interrogative clause is to ask a question; and from the speaker's point of view asking a question is an indication that he wants to be told something. 75

19. who wants a glass of white wine? where did you get that from? how many hours did you want? and how long 's she there for? why was he opposed to coming in? Theme Rheme Fig. 3-7 Theme in WH- interrogative 76

20. could you eat a whole packet of tim tams? has he got the car back by the way? did you sleep okay? didn't it smell terrible? shall I make some toast? are they still together? Theme (1) Theme (2) Rheme Fig. 3-8 Theme in yes / no interrogative 76

21. at lower latitudes [where there are no stratospheric ice crystals], is the role of ice mimicked by other aerosols such as volcanic dust? on the right is it? "The barge she sat in", do you remember that passage in The Waste Land? aesthetically, in terms of the vision in your head, what is the relationship between the fiction and the non-fiction? now about The Love Song of Alfred J. Prufrock , what is that poem about? Theme Rheme Fig. 3-9 Marked Theme in interrogative clauses 77

22. (3) Theme in imperative clauses. The basic message of an imperative clause is either 'I want you to do something' or 'I want us (you and me) to do something'. 76

23. The second type usually begin with let's, as in let's go h011Je now; here, let's is clearly the unmarked choice of Theme. 76

24. But with the first type, although the 'you' can be made explicit as a Theme (e.g. you keep quietl , meaning 'as for you, ... '), this is clearly a marked choice; the more typical form is simply keep quiet, with the verb in thematic position. 76

25. The function of the verb, in the mood structure (clause as exchange), is that of Predicator; here, therefore, it is the Predicator that is the unmarked Theme. 76

26. turn it down. just place a blank CD in the drive, and click the Burn CD icon. t ry to prevent any teacher being singled out as inadequate. you take the office well Jane think of smoked salmon. don't do that no don't worry let's do lunch at the Ivy. let's all think about that for a moment. don't let's quarrel about it let me send Lesley a photocopy. Theme Rheme Fig. 3-10 Theme in imperative clauses 77

27. Imperative clauses may have a marked Theme, as when a locative Adjunct is thematic in a clause giving directions:   From this crossroads town # follow the main road south through increasingly arid landscapes towards Rembitan , a pretty little village claiming a 17th-century mosque, then Sade. (Text 142) 78

28. MOOD of clause Typical ('unmarked') Theme declarative nominal group functioning as Subject interrogative: yes / no first word (finite operator) of verbal group plus nominal group functioning as Subject interrogative: wh - nominal group, adverbial group or prepositional phrase functioning as interrogative ( W h- ) element imperative: 'you' verbal group functioning as Predicator, plus preceding don't if negative imperative: 'you and me' Jet's plus preceding don't if negative exclamative nominal group or adverbial group functioning as exclamative ( Wh -) element 78 Table 3(2) MOOD TYPE and unmarked Theme selection

29. The following passage from David Copperfield shows a typical context for the choice of marked Themes in declarative clauses (Figure 3-11): 78

30. Text 3-8 'We came,' repeated Mrs Micawber , 'and saw the Medway. My opinion of the coal trade on that river is, that it may require talent, but that it certainly requires capital. Talent, Mr Micawber has; capital, Mr Micawber has not ... 78

31. Text 3-8 We are at present waiting for a remittance from London, to discharge our pecuniary obligations at this hotel. Until the arrival of that remittance, ... I am cut off from my home .... , from my boy and girl, and from my twins.' 78

32. talent Mr Micawber has capital Mr Micawber has not Theme/Complement: Rheme nominal group until the arrival of that remittance I am cut off from my home Theme/ Adjunct: Rheme prepositional phrase Fig. 3-11 Examples of marked Theme in declarative clauses 79

33. END of 3.3 Theme and mood 79 Next: see 3.4 Textual, interpersonal and topical Themes, p. 79