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1 results

  • 5 - Background to Systemic Functional Grammar

  • Susan Hunston, University of Birmingham
  • Book:
    Pattern, Construction, System
    Published online:
    21 August 2025
    Print publication:
    04 September 2025, pp 85-104
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  • Summary

    The chapter provides an introduction to Systemic Functional Grammar, in the context of Systemic Functional Linguistics. It introduces the central concept of choice between language features and the use of networks to model that choice. One such choice lies between process types and this is explained as important to the concept of semantic field used in the book. Systemic Functional Grammar describes the relationship between lexis and grammar as a continuum; one challenge is to specify how the grammar and specific lexical items relate to one another. Three responses to this challenge are discussed: Hasan’s use of system networks to distinguish between the features of near-synonyms; Matthiessen’s use of Levin’s verb classes to add detail to the notion of process type, and the approach taken by the Cardiff grammar, specifically by Fawcett, Neale, and Chrispin.