NAME : ARLYANITA BR SITEPU

ID : 2182121019

CLASS : ENGLISH EDUCATION 18 E

SUBJECT : FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR

Summary Chapter 5

Chapter V

THEME AND RHEME: CLAUSE AS MESSAGE

Language is used to organize human experience. This is to say that language is concerned with
the organization of the larger text.

a. Theme and Rheme

Theme is the starting point of the message or the point of departure of the message. To
exemplify, in a hypothetical language with ten word. Rheme is the rest of the message of
the clause after the theme. Thus, the rheme is where the clause moves after the point
departure.

b. Unmarked and marked theme

The theme is coded by the first element of the transitivity system. Thus, the element of
the clause may function as the actor, subject and theme simultaneously. The status of the
theme i.e., whether it is unmarked or marked is associated to the mood.

c. Multiple theme
The theme in a simple sentence may be simple or multiple.
1. Topical theme
Topical theme is coded by the first element of the transitivity systems.
2. Interpersonal theme
 Interpersonal theme covers one or more of elements of finite(typically realized by an
auxiliary verb), a Wh-element, (signaling that an ‘answer’ is required from the
addressee, and vocative( identifying the addressee in the exchange ), adjunct
(typically coded by an adverb).
3. Textual theme
Includes : conjunction, relatives, conjunctives and continuantives.

3.Analysis

In the analysis of theme and rheme of a clause one should first determine a clause
boundary. Then an analysis is conducted with reference to the theme and rheme principle.

4. Troubleshooting
a. Textual or interpersonal
1) Yes and no
Yes or no may function either as an interpersonal or textual theme. Yes or no
function as an interpersonal theme in response to a yes/no introgative.
2) Adjunct
An adjunct occupying initial position in a clause may function as an
interpersonal or textual theme. When an adjunct functional as an interpersonal
theme it typically adds ‘flavor’ or not separated from the combinational of
subject finite.

b. Interpersonal or textual
1) Time expression
Time expression such as sometimes, often, never, always, seldom, hardly, etc.
function as interpersonal theme, to test whatever an expression of time is
topical themes, predicate theme can be used (it is).
2) Questions words
 Questions word such as where, why, when, who, how are both interpersonal
and topical themes. This is because the questions world function both in the
interpersonal and experiential structure of the clause. Who discovered the
contain of America? (who is both interpersonal and topical theme)

c. Textual or topical
1) Relative pronoun
Relative item such as who, whom, which, whose function as both textual and
topical theme. This because the relative pronouns function in the the
transitivity structure and as the linking element.
2) Reference item
Reference item such as this is a topical theme, it is often mistakenly viewed as
a textual theme since it functions as a linking element. Thus, in the following
text this is a topical theme.
3) Temporal expression
When a temporal expression functions as a textual linker combining two
clause the temporal expression in textual theme. However when its spectives a
time setting of the clause it is topical in the following clause which is textual
whereas during its lifetime is topical.

5. Review and contextualization

One of the metafunctions is that language functions to organize experience, here a
clause is regard as a unit of message in which it is coded the beginning of starting
point of the message and a part that follows it. Thus, a message consist of two
elements: theme which is the shared knowledge between the addresser and addressee
and the theme, which is the rest of the message. In true life, conversation the theme is
complex in the sense that is comprised of other elements such as textual, interpersonal
and topical theme.
Exercises Chapter 5

Exercise I

1. Identifying the theme (textual, interpersonal and topical). Identify the theme in the
following clauses. Examples are given after the clauses for your guide.
1. May be you call them ‘ bullshit’.
2. Perhaps he won’t notice you, John.
3. Frank, it was fantastic.
4. Did I ever say that?
5. How old are you?
6. But surely you can see the difference between Harold Robbins and the other two?
7. We really should talk about you and Denny, my dear.
8. Then why did it try to bite me?
9. So after breakfast they went round to see Bill.
10. Actually, in criticism sentiment has no place.

No. Theme
Textual Interpersonal Topical Rheme
1. May be - You Call them ‘bullshit’

2. - Perhaps - won’t notice you, John.

3. - Frank - It was fantastic

4. - Did I Ever say that?

5. - How - Old are you?

6. But - You Can see the difference between Harold

Robbins and the other two?

7. - We - really should talk about you and Denny,

 my dear.

8. then why did - it try to bite me?

9. So - They breakfast they went round to see Bill

10. Actually - in criticism sentiment has no place

Exercise 2

Analyze the following expository text. Indicate where the topical theme is unmarked or marked.
An example is given for your guide.

1. Although the United states participate heavily in World War 1.

2. The nature of that participation was fundamentally different from what it became in
World War II.
3. The earlier conflict was a one –ocean war for the Navy and a one-theatre war for the
Army.
4. The latter was a two –ocean war for the Navy and a one of the five major theatres for the
Army.
5. In both wars a vital responsibility of the navy was escort-of-convoy and anti-submarine
work,
6. But in the1917-1918 conflict it never clashed with the enemy on the surface
7. Whilst between 1941 and 1945 it fought some twenty major and countless minor
engagements with the Javanese Navy.
8. American soldiers who engaged in World War 1 were taken overseas in transports
9. And landed on docks or in protected harbors.
10. In World War II the art of amphibious warfare had to revived and developed,
11. Since assault troops were forced to fight their way ashore
 12. Airpowers, in the earlier conflict, were still inchoate and almost negligible
13. In the latter it was a determining factor
14. In world war I the battleship still reigned queen of the sea,
15. As she had in changing forms, since the age of Drake.
16. And battle line fought with tactics inherited from the age of sail
17. But in world war II the capital naval force was the air-craft carrier task group,
18. For which completely new tactics had to be devised.

No Marked Unmarked

1. Although

2. The nature

3. The earlier conflict

4. The latter

5. both wars

6. But

7. Whilst between

8. American soldiers

9. And

10. In World War II

11. Since

12. Airpowers

13. In the latter

14. In world war I

15. As she

16. And battle

17. But in world war II

18. For which