A Linguistic Framework: A Systemic Functional Approach

This chapter discusses why Systemic Functional Linguistics provides a more suitable framework for this study than formal or cognitive or even alternative functional approaches. It also outlines the aspects, derived from Systemic Functional Linguistics which will be used. Process types of finite verbs provide a suitable aspect in the ideational metafunction, and a system of five process types is used. Thematic structure fits into the textual metafunction, and both the grammatical function and a semantic categorization of themes are considered. Modality provides an aspect of the interpersonal metafunction. In addition, the nominalization of processes, which Halliday considers to be of particular importance in scientific writing, is taken into account.