Theme and rheme 1

theme rheme

1. The Grammar of Textual Meaning: Theme and Rheme

2. Clause as Message: Theme and Rheme A clause has a character of message, giving it the status of communicative event. That communicative character comes from one part of the clause which is known as THEME; Theme and rheme help us understand how information is conveyed in clauses. My sister goes to campus every morning. Theme Rheme In the example, the writer wants to show us My sister as something she talked about. Meanwhile, the rest of the clause, talks about theme, gives more information about the theme. This part is called Rheme .

3. Types of Theme

4. A clause at least has one theme, That is the topic of the clause, which is called as topical theme Based on ideational type, theme can be identified as marked and unmarked one. Ideational or Topical

5. Unmarked Topical Theme The coach praised his students for their teamwork Unmarked Theme Rheme Nominal Group (Common Noun) Susan read the poetry book quietly. Unmarked Theme Rheme Nominal Group (Proper Noun) What Mona did for Mulan was praiseworthy. Unmarked Theme Rheme Nominalization For example

6. Marked Topical Theme The students the coach praised [ ] for their teamwork. Marked Theme Rheme Complement Quietly Susan read the poetry book [ ] . Unmarked Theme Rheme Adjunct Under the tree Juli and Bryce met. Unmarked Theme Rheme Adjunct/Prepositional Phrase For example

7. u sually found in the first string of themes. include continuatives and/or conjunctive adjunct, and conjunction show the logical or temporal relationship between what has just been said and what is being said in the current clause. Textual

8. a small set of words that signal a new move is beginning usually found in the beginning of the clause. E.g. yes, no, well, oh, now, OK, right, of course Continuatives OK, but, we really should go home now. Cont. Conj. Topical Rheme Textual Theme

9. Conjunctive Adjunct Conjunction Conjunctive adjunct is freer to move in a clause, while C onjunction is more restricted to being at the beginning. Adverbial groups of prepositional phrases that relates the clause to the preceding text by providing logical link between messages. A word or group that either links (paratactic) or binds (hypotactic) the clause in which it occurs structurally to another clause.

10. Type Examples Additive Moreover, in addition, besides Adversative However, conversely Concessive Nevertheless, despite that Causal Therefore, as a result Conjunctive Adjuncts Conjunctions In Paratactic In Hypotactic and, or, nor, either, neither, but, yet, so, then, for, etc when, while before, after, until, because, if, although, unless, since, etc

11. Conjunctive Of course , nevertheless, she is still part of the group [ ] Cont. Conjunctive Topical Rheme Theme Conjunctions Of course , nevertheless, since she is still part of the group Cont. Conjunctive Conjunction/ Structural Topical Rheme Theme occur at the beginning of a clause and carry the hypotactic relation between clauses Conjunctive adjunct can be moved to the end of the clause

12. Usually called comment adjunct express the speaker’s judgment on or attitude to the content of the message. Modal adjuncts i nclude: Interpersonal Are the ones that indicate something about the relationship between speaker and hearer. probably, usually, obviously, to my mind, frankly, believe me, seriously, please, no doubt, presumably, in principle, understandably, as expected, by chance Well, as expected , he won the game again. Cont. Modal Topical Rheme Text. Interpersonal Theme Mood Adjunct For example

13. are names or other terms of address used to get attention of the hearer or reaffirm the speaker-hearer relationship. For instance, personal name, my dear, honey, darling, and any other address. Only thematic if they occur before the Topical Theme, a Finite verb, or a Modal adjunct. Vocatives Now, kids, you need to wake up. Cont. Voc. Topical Rheme Text. Interp. Topical Theme Kids go to school every morning. Topical Rheme Theme Here, kids is interpersonal theme as it is used as vocative while the topical theme is you. kids in this clause is the subject of the clause and functions as topical theme . For example

14. Finite Verb Operator are small set of finite auxiliary verbs construing primary tense or modality. My dear, Rue, seriously didn’t we come to agreement already? Voc. Voc. Modal Finite Topical Rheme Interpersonal Topical Theme For example

15. More about Theme In a hypotactic clause complex, if the dependent clause comes first then the dependent clause is treated as the Theme for the whole clause complex. Clause as Theme in a Clause Complex If the dependent clause comes first Conj. Topical Rheme Theme Theme then it is the theme for the whole Complex Conj. Topical Rheme Theme Theme For example

16. These take the form it + be + … Predicated Theme It was those male students {{who helped the grandma.}} Theme Rheme Theme Rheme Theme Rheme It is important {{that the drivers Put on safety belt. Theme Rheme Str /Conj. Topical Rheme Theme Rheme Theme Rheme For example

17. Polar: the Finite which precedes the Subject is thematic if the Subject is also the Topical Theme. Theme and Mood Theme in Interrogatives Did you sleep on the coach last night ? Fin. Subj. Rheme Theme In Marked Topical Theme case, if the finite comes after the marked topical theme, so it is not thematic. Las t night , did you sleep on the coach? Topical Rheme Theme

18. In Wh -Interrogatives, the Wh -element alone is thematic. Where are you heading to ? Theme Rheme Theme in Interrogatives Two ways of treating Theme in Imperative clauses: e ither as Rheme only or treat the Process as Theme Read the instructions carefully Rheme Read the instructions carefully Theme Rheme

19. Theme in Exclamatives Wh - element + nominal group Wh -element + adverbial group How fast he drives Theme Rheme What an unforgettable moment it is Theme Rheme

20. Theme Patterns 1. Theme Pattern based on Deterding and Poedjosoedarmo (2001:126-128) 2 . Theme Pattern based Paltridge (2000:140-143) Theme and rheme are used to highlight information. Based on the theme and rheme organization in the texts, there are classifications of theme pattern.

21. Theme 1 Rheme 1 Theme 2 Rheme 2 Theme 3 Rheme 3 Type 1 The topic found in the first clause becomes the theme in the second The theme in the second clause becomes the theme in the third. The most important technological advance of the 20 th century is the computer . Computers now not only sit on desktops in offices and at home; they also regulate temperature in our homes, control the function of washing machines and automobiles . The words in highlight is the topic of each clause. 1. Theme Pattern based on Deterding and Poedjosoedarmo (2001:126-128)

22. Type 2 Theme 1 Rheme 1 Theme 2 Rheme 2 Theme 3 Rheme 3 Theme 4 Rheme 4 The topic of the first clause is introduced in the first theme Then becomes the second, third, and fourth theme of each clause Noam Chomsky , author of Aspects of the Theory of Syntax, revolutionized linguistics. He also happens to be well-known for his political views. In fact, he is better-known to laymen for his political views than he is for his revolutionary linguistic ideas.

23. Type 3 Theme 1 Rheme 1 Theme 2 Rheme 2 Theme 3 Rheme 3 Theme 4 Rheme 4 The rheme of each clause becomes the theme of the next clause. The museum is located in the centre of town near the square. This square is a common destination of tourist buses . The buses, all belonging to the Island Tour Bus Company, are driven by the tour guides. These guides get off at each stop with the passengers and explain the sights to them.

24. Type 4 Theme 1 Rheme 1 Theme 2 Rheme 2 Theme 3 Rheme 3 Theme 4 Rheme 4 The topic of every clause is found in the rheme . Everybody likes Mamma Mia. Kids like Mamma Mia. Teenagers love Boogie Burgers . Parents love Boogie Burgers . Grandparents love Boogie Burgers . usually found in advertisement, which emphasizes on the repetition in the rheme to make the topic easier to be memorized.

25. Theme 1 Rheme 1 Theme 1 Rheme 1 Theme 1 Rheme 1 Theme 1 Rheme 1 Theme 1 Rheme 1 Theme 1 Rheme 1 2 . Theme Pattern based Paltridge (2000:140-143) Reiteration/ constant

26. Theme Rheme The bat is a nocturnal animal. It lives in the dark. There are long nosed bats and moused eared bats. Bats hunt at night. They sleep in the day and very shy. It shows that the bat as the theme becomes the theme in the second, third, fourth, and the fifth. Example of Reiteration Pattern in Paragraph

27. Theme 1 Rheme 1 Theme 2 Rheme 2 ZIGZAG/LINEAR Example of Reiteration Pattern in Paragraph Theme Rheme The American Psychological specifies a documentation format required by most psychology, sociology, communication, education and economics instruction. This format includes parenthetical documentation in the text that refers to an alphabetical reference at the end of the chapters. It shows that the rheme 1 becomes the theme 2

28. MULTIPLE/SPLIT Theme 1 Rheme 1 Theme 1 Rheme 2 Theme 2 Rheme 3 Theme 3 Rheme 4 Theme 4 Rheme 5 Theme 5 Rheme 6 (Theme 5) Rheme 7 Theme 6 Rheme 8

29. Theme Rheme When Japanese people write their language they use a combination of two separate alphabets as well as ideograms borrowed from Chinese. The two alphabets are called hiragana and katakana. The Chinese ideograms are called kanji. Hiragana represents the 46 basic sounds that are made in the Japanese language. Katakana represents the same sounds as hiragana but is used mainly for words borrowed from foreign languages and for sound effects. Kanji are used to communicate an idea rather than a sound. Example of Multiple/Split Pattern in Paragraph

30. Practice, let’s Get Started! Correct (C ) He told Start and Finish Incorrect (I) Marked Theme Rheme Based on the analysis of theme and rheme , identify if the clauses are correct (C) or incorrect (I). Correct the errors . He in the clause is the pronoun that has position of subject in the clause. As a result, He is categorized as unmarked topical theme instead of marked topical theme.

31. Correct (C) and they were free to go Incorrect (I) Conj. Adj Marked Theme Rheme Interp. Topical Theme Rheme Theme Rheme Correct (C) that the case was dismissed Incorrect (I) Conj./ Str Unmarked Theme Rheme Text. Topical Theme that is one of the conjunctions (also known as structural theme included as textual theme. Following the textual theme, the case is common noun functions as subject and thus becomes unmarked theme in the clause and is not conjunctive adjunct. Instead, it is conjunction which is categorized as textual theme. Also, pronoun they belongs to unmarked theme as the pronoun becomes subject of the clause.

32. Correct (C) "Oh Jack, Jack, you have been gone all day, Incorrect (I) Cont. Unmarked Unmarked Rheme Text. Topical Theme Rheme Correct (C) did you get the job, Jack? Incorrect (I) Finite Unmarked Theme Rheme Interp. Topical Theme Oh is continuative which is part of textual theme. However, Jack, Jack here is not an unmarked theme, this is supposed to be vocatives (Voc.) which is part of interpersonal theme. did is auxiliary verb which becomes interpersonal theme in yes/no interrogative.

33. Correct (C) “Well then, Jack, maybe you have got your pottle of brains Incorrect (I) Cont. Conj. Adj. Voc. Modal Adjunct Unmarked Rheme Textual Interpersonal Topical Theme Correct (C ) With the milk {{we get from the cow}}, we will be able to keep some and sell some and never want for anything again." Incorrect (I) Marked Theme Rheme Adjunct Well, then are both textual theme and Jack, maybe are interpersonal theme. Maybe functions as modal adjunct here to express speaker’s attitude to the content of message. The first clause with milk we get from the cow is an adjunct from the following clause which is why we can call is as a marked theme.