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Diachronicity in Systemic Functional Linguistics

Michael Cummings [+–]
York University, Toronto.
Michael Cummings is Professor emeritus and Senior Scholar in the English Department of York University, Toronto. His research interests include Systemic Functional linguistic approaches to discourse and lexico-grammar in Old English and modern English.

Systemic functional linguistics has intensively studied synchronic language variation, both the diatypic and the dialectal. Even though some systemic functional analyses of aspects of historical dialects, mainly English, and various descriptions of historical texts, also mainly English, have been made, nevertheless systemic functional diachronic studies have been relatively neglected.

The aim of this book is to provide a model for the diachronic description of languages within the systemic functional framework, with particular emphasis on the history of English for illustration. At the centre of the model are the historical relationships between successive states of semantics and of lexico-grammar. Changes from one state to another are seen to occur within specific parameters. Diagrams of changes from one structural configuration to another, and from one system-network configuration to another can conveniently be seen as three-dimensional. The first part the model concerns cultural semantics, discourse semantics, register and genre. Change over the history of English in each of these areas runs through the stages of Old English, early Middle English, later Middle English, early Modern English, and later Modern English. The second part of the model concerns lexico-grammar, with a concentration on changes through the same historical stages of English in structures and systems.

Series: Key Concepts in Systemic Functional Linguistics

Table of Contents

Chapter 1

Language Change [+–]
This introductory chapter covers language variation in terms of both the diatypic/dialectal dichotomy and the diachronic/synchronic dichotomy. It goes on to describe ancient and modern theories of language origins, and later diachronic variation, including the Indo-European theory of modern European and Asiatic language development.

Chapter 2

Systemic Functional Linguistics [+–]
Systemic functional linguistics describes a language’s potential at various levels, beginning with its cultural semantics. Various discourse registers manifest themselves in structural configurations of grammar, lexis and intonation. Potential at any level is mapped in networks of systems of contrasting choices.

Chapter 3

Systemic Functional Descriptions of Historical Language [+–]
Numbers of systemic functional analyses of aspects of historical dialects, mainly of English, have been made. Additionally various descriptions of historical texts, mainly English, utilize systemic functional linguistics. These studies not only detail stages in historical development, but also demonstrate the applicability of systemic description to the historical dimension.

Chapter 4

A Systemic Functional Model for Diachronic Change [+–]
The core of the model is the historical relationships between successive states of semantics and of lexico-grammar. Changes from one state to another must take place within parameters. Diagrams of changes from one structural configuration to another, and from one system-network configuration to another are conveniently imagined as three-dimensional.

Chapter 5

A Systemic Functional History of English Language Change: Cultural Semantics, Discourse Semantics, Register and Genre [+–]
The history of English illustrates the applicability of this model. The first part of the model concerns cultural semantics, discourse semantics, register and genre. Change in each of these areas run through the stages of Old English, early Middle English, later Middle English, early Modern English, and later Modern English.

Chapter 6

A Systemic Functional History of English Language Change: Lexico-grammar [+–]
The second part of the model concerns lexico-grammar. The main focus here is on changes through the historical stages of English in structure and systems. The higher ranks on the rank-scale tend to be more historically conservative than the lower. But historical changes in lexis are extreme due to demographic and social factors.

ISBN-13 (Hardback)
9780000000000
Price (Hardback)
£75.00 / $100.00
ISBN-13 (Paperback)
9780000000000
Price (Paperback)
£24.95 / $32.00
ISBN (eBook)
9780000000000
Price (eBook)
Individual
£24.95 / $32.00
Institutional
£75.00 / $100.00
Publication
01/09/2024
Pages
224
Size
254 x 178mm
Readership
students
Illustration
15 figures and 80 line drawings

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