ABSTRACT
Module 1: Language and meaning 3
1.1 Communicative acts 3 1.2 The content of communication 4 1.3 Three ways of interpreting clause structure 5
1.3.1 The clause as representation: transitivity structures 5 1.3.2 The clause as exchange: mood structures 6 1.3.3 The clause as message: thematic structures 6 1.3.4 Combining the three types of structure 7
Module 2: Linguistic forms and syntactic functions 9
2.1 Syntactic categories and relationships 9 2.2 Testing for constituents 9 2.3 Units and rank of units 11 2.4 Classes of units 12
2.4.1 Classes of clauses 12 2.4.2 Classes of groups 16 2.4.3 Classes of words 16 2.4.4 Classes of morphemes 16
2.5 The concept of unit structure 17
2.5.1 Syntactic elements of clauses 17 2.5.2 Syntactic elements of groups 18 2.5.3 Componence, realisation and function 19
Module 3: Negation and expansion 21
3.1 Negative and interrogative clause structures 21
3.1.1 The finite operator 21
3.2 Clausal negation 22
3.2.1 Interrogative clauses 22
3.3 No-negation vs not-negation + any 23 3.4 Any and other non-assertive words 23
3.6 Local negation 25 3.7 Expanding linguistic units 26
3.7.1 Coordination 26 3.7.2 Subordination 27 3.7.3 Embedding 28
Exercises 28
A functional grammar aims to match forms to function and meaning in context. This module introduces the three strands of meaning that form the basis of a functional interpretation of grammar: the representational, the interpersonal and the textual.
