Traditional Syntactic Analysis Versus Systemic Functional Analysis

Tercer Encuentro Nacional de Profesorados de Inglés: Weaving the Tapestry of Language teaching

Instituto Juan Zorrilla de San Martín

Lugar: Córdoba Capital; Año: 2007; p. 1 - 2

A grammatical analysis of any given text would be of real pedagogic use as long as its purpose not only has to do with simply laying out the correct forms and structures of the language, but also if it is intended to throw some light on the different shades of meanings conveyed by the grammatical choices made at the ideational level as well as by the real communicative purpose behind the choices made at the textual level. "en" This demonstration will consist in the analysis of a passage applying both the traditional syntactic analysis and the systemic functional one. The purpose of this ?dual analysis? is mainly to make grammar teachers more familiar with Halliday?s Systemic Functional Theory and, thus, aware of the benefits of combining both approaches in the grammar class. Analysing a text using these two approaches will confirm that it is impossible to apply and profit from Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) if one is not acquainted with Traditional Grammar first. The application of the former theory will demonstrate how the choices made at the ideational level will depend on whether the writer and/or speaker views reality as phenomena, perceptions or thoughts. It will, through the identification of all themes, help students trace in what direction the text is moving, and thus reveal the author?s actual communicative purpose behind each thematic choice. However, we must admit that it is only through deep knowledge of Traditional Grammar that both teachers and students will be able to fully comprehend and benefit from the Functional Approach.