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Understanding Theme and Rheme

The document discusses the linguistic concepts of theme and rheme. Theme refers to the starting point or given information in a clause, while rheme is the remainder of the message that develops the theme. Theme is always first in the clause and provides the local context. There are different types of theme, including ideational theme, textual theme, and interpersonal theme. Ideational theme can be an unmarked topical theme like a nominal group, or a marked topical theme using an adverbial or prepositional phrase. Rheme is the new information that follows the theme.

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Hana Nurshafa
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563 views10 pages

Understanding Theme and Rheme

The document discusses the linguistic concepts of theme and rheme. Theme refers to the starting point or given information in a clause, while rheme is the remainder of the message that develops the theme. Theme is always first in the clause and provides the local context. There are different types of theme, including ideational theme, textual theme, and interpersonal theme. Ideational theme can be an unmarked topical theme like a nominal group, or a marked topical theme using an adverbial or prepositional phrase. Rheme is the new information that follows the theme.

Uploaded by

Hana Nurshafa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

THEME AND RHEME

from the Functional Grammar

will be presented by
Adelita, Pamela, Ida
CLAUSE AS MESSAGE
A message comes from somewhere and leads to somewhere.

Keywords:
theme, rheme, clause, topic, nominal groups
DEFINITION

• Theme is the given information serving as “the point of departure of a message”.


(Halliday and Matthiensen, 2004:64).
• Rheme is the remainder of the message in a clause which theme is developed.
(Halliday and Hasan, 2004:64-65)

theme in some sources also topic, background, or presupption.


rheme in some sources also comment, focus, or predictation.
EXAMPLE
I come from down in the valley
(from the Bruce Springsteen song “The River”)

I as the theme
come from down in the valley as the rheme
THEME / TOPIC RHEME / COMMENT (NEW
(STARTING POINT) INFORMATION)

Our dog, Rufus limped into the room.


His back paw was red with infection.
but he forgot all about it.
When he was distracted by the snarling cat.
he began to chase her.
In a nutshell, this is what you need to know about theme:

• Theme is always that which comes first in the clause


• It provides the "local context" for the development of the
clausal message
• It is the point of departure
TYPES OF THEME
-
Ideational Theme
Textual Theme
Interpersonal Theme
IDEATIONAL THEME

Unmarked Topical Theme


Nominal group as theme
e.g. Jack went up to the hill
Nominal group complex as theme
e.g. Jack and Jill went up to the hill
Embedded clause
e.g. ((What Jack and Jill did)) was go up to the hill

*red represented theme


blue represented rheme
Marked Topical Theme
Adverbial as theme
e.g. Down Jack fell
Prepositional phrase as theme
e.g. Up the hill Jack and Jill went
Complement as theme
e.g. His crown he broke

*red represented theme


blue represented rheme
STOP RACISM

#BLM
#PLM
Black Lives Matter
Papua Lives Matter

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