Paradigmatic vs.

Syntagmatic

Ferdinand de Saussure
(1916)
 it c
a .. .
i gm
a d c e
r i
pa o
c h
.. .
... c h a i n ...
syntagmatic
... c h o i c e ...

... c h a i n ...
[b t] “bat”

b a t
[kat] [bIt] [bap]
[pat] [bEt] [bad]
 Phonemes / Phonology: contrastive units
... c h o i c e ...

... c h a i n ...
/b t/
b a t
k I p
p E d
choice is meaningful .. .
“paradigmatic” c e
o i
c h
.. .
... c h a i n ...
“syntagmatic”
 Phonemes / Phonology: contrastive units
... c h o i c e ...

... c h a i n ...
/b t/
b a
• phonemes are the minimal t
k I
units of phonology
p
p •
that you change d
means E
changing a phoneme
the
word!
 A clause analysis
process

The lion chased the tourist lazily through the bush

participants circumstances
• how
• where
 ‘Box’ representation of clause in
terms of Process, Participants and
Circumstances

The lion chased the tourist lazily through

the bush

Participant: Process Participant: Cir- Circum-

Actor Goal cum- stance
stance
 ‘Box’ representation of clause in terms of
Process, Participants and Circumstances

... c h a i n ...
The lion chased the tourist lazily through
the bush

Participant: Process Participant: Cir- Circum-

Actor Goal cum- stance
stance

“syntagmatic”
 ‘Box’ representation of clause in
terms of Process, Participants and
Circumstances

The tourist thought this was very unfair

Participant: Process Participant:

Senser Phenomenon
‘Box’ representation of clause in terms of
Process, Participants and Circumstances

... c h a i n ...
The tourist thought this was very unfair

Participant: Process Participant:

Sensor Phenomenon

“syntagmatic”
 Paradigmatic: clauses
... c h o i c e ...

material
Participant: Process Participant: Circum- Circum-
Actor Goal stance stance

mental
Participant: Process Participant:
Sensor Phenomenon
Paradigmatic: clauses

material Participant: Participant:

Actor Goal

relational Participant: Participant:

Carrier Attribute

verbal Participant: Participant:

Sayer Verbiage

mental
Participant: Participant:
Sensor Phenomenon
Paradigmatic: clauses

material
Participant: Participant:
Carrier Attribute

attributive
relational
identifying
verbal Participant: Participant:
Token Value

mental
Participant: Participant:
Sensor Phenomenon
 feature
feature
feature
 What about effective/middle?

... c h a i n ...
The lion chased the tourist lazily through
the bush

Participant: Participant: Cir- Circum-

Actor Process Goal cum- stance
Agent Medium stance
 Interpersonal:
Orientation and Manifestation
 Modality:
overview

(proposition)

(proposal)
 Modality:
overview

(proposition)

(proposal)
 Three kinds of meaning:
three metafunctions
• Textual meaning: how is
– Theme message is
• Interpersonal meaning: organised
– Subject
relationship
– Finite
between
– Polarity / Probability
speakers
• Ideational/Experiential meaning:
– Process
– Participants what’s
– Circumstances going on
 The contexts of text: what bits of
language have what effects…
what’s
what’s
going
goingon
on

how is
language
being
transmitted
what’s the
relationship
between the
speakers