Traditional Grammar

In the discussion about Traditional Grammar, Halliday explains that traditional grammar has always been the grammar of written language; and traditional grammar has always been a product grammar. While, Linda Gerot & Peter Wignell state that grammar is the structure of language. They further explain that traditional grammar aims at describing the grammar of standards

English by comparing the grammar of English with the one of Latin. They state that students learn the name of parts of speech (nouns, verbs, prepositions adverbs, adjectives). They also explain that traditional grammar focuses on the rules for producing connected sentences.

So far, traditional grammar has been associated with the use of class labels like noun, verb, adjective, adverb, etc. Traditional grammar is mainly concerned with syntax and some morphology. Traditional grammar focuses on surface structure. Traditional grammar limits the discussion on the sentence level.

The difference between formal and functional approaches can be briefly and simply illustrated with the following sentence:

(1) I had also been rejected by the law faculty.

In analyzing the voice of this sentence, both formal and functional grammarians would agree in calling it a passive voice sentence. However, a formal grammarian would be primarily interested in finding the best abstract representation of the structure of the sentence and in how it might be related to the structure of the active voice sentence:

(1) The law faculty had also rejected me.

For example, rules can be set out to show how sentence 1 may be derived from sentence la. These would specify (1) the movement of the constituent the law faculty to a position at the end of the sentence following the preposition by; (2) the movement of the constituent me to the front of the sentence and its change in form to /; and (3) the change from had . . . rejected (an active form of the verb) to had . . . been rejected (a passive form of the verb).

Functional Grammar

In the discussion about Functional Grammar, Halliday explains that functional grammar is essentially a 'natural' grammar, in the sense that everything in functional grammar can, be explained, ultimately, by reference to how language is used. He further states that the aim of functional grammar has been to construct a grammar for purposes of text analysis: one that would make it possible to say sensible and useful things about any text spoken and written in modern English.

Going into deeper discussion, Halliday proposes three lines of meaning in the clause. There are theme, subject and actor. As a working approximation, he defines different strands of meaning as follows:

1. The Theme functions in the structure of the clause as message.

2. The Subject functions in the structure of the clause as an exchange.

3. The Actor functions in the structure of the clause as representation.

While, Linda Gerot & Peter Wignell note that functional grammar is concerned not only with the structures but also with how those structures construct meaning. Functional grammar starts with the question, how the meanings of this text are realized.

On the same view of Linda Gerot & Peter Wignell (1994), and Halliday (1994), Martin, Matthiessen, & Painter (1997) describe that functional grammar is a way of looking at grammar as it is used. Functional grammar focuses on the development of grammatical systems as a means for people to interact with each other.

1. Clause as Message

Halliday (1994) states that clause as message is a clause which has meaning as a message, a quantum of information. He also claims in all languages the clause has the character of a message: it has some form of organization giving it the status of a communicative event, but there are different ways in which this may be achieved. In the clause as a message, there are theme and rheme.

a. THEME

Halliday (1994) explains that theme is the element which serves as the point of departure of the message, the part in which the clause is concerned. Furthermore, he states that the theme is put first.

On the same view about Theme, Martin, Matthiessen, & Painter (1997) note that theme is one of two systems that organize the information presented in the clause, the other being that information. Further they also state that theme can be divided into 3 categories. There are ideational / topical theme, interpersonal theme, and textual theme.

1. Ideational/Topical theme is language construes human experience. Ideational consists of what there is to argue about.

2. Interpersonal theme is language enacts human relationships. Interpersonal consists of something people can interact with.

3. Textual theme is language creates discourse. Textual consists of word order related the clause to its context.

b. RHEME

Halliday (1994) states that rheme is the remainder of the message, the part in which the theme is developed. He further explains that rheme as a message structure. A clause consists of a Theme accompanied by a Rheme.

2 Clause as Exchange

Based on Flalliday, clause as exchange is a clause which has meaning as an exchange, a transaction between speaker and listener. In clause as exchange, there are mood and residue.

a. MOOD

Mood according to Halliday (1994) refers to the element that realizes the selection of mood in the clause. While, Martin, Matthiessen, & Painter describe that the mood element consists of Finite and Subject.

(1). Finite

This term, according state that finite element is one of the small numbers of verbal operators expressing tense, modality and polarity. They further explain that finite element has the function of locating an exchange with reference to the speaker and making a proposition something that can be argued about.

(2). Subject

Halliclay states that subject is the responsible element, but in proposition this means the one on which the validity of the information is made to rest.

Not to be different from Halliday (1994), Linda Gerot & Peter Wignell (1994) state that subject is that upon which the speaker rests his case in exchanges of information, and the one responsible for insuring that the prescribed action is or is not carned out in exchanges of goods and services

Still in the discussion about subject, Martin, Matthiessen, & Painter (1997) stated that subject is the element in terms of which the clause can be negotiated.

b. RESIDUE

Residue consists of functional elements of three kinds: Predicator, Complement and Adjunct.

(1). Predicator occurs in all major clauses, except those that are displayed through ellipsis. Predicator is realized by a verbal group.

(2). complement

A complement is an element within the residue that has the potential of being subject but is not. Complement is realized by a nominal group.

Giving more explanation about complement, Linda Gerot & Peter Wigneli (1994) state that complement answers the question 'is/had what', 'to whom', 'did to what'.

(3). Adjunct

Adjunct, is an element that has not got the potential of being subject. Adjunct is typically realized by an adverbial group or a prepositional phrase.

3. Clause as Representation is a clause which has meaning as a representation, the actor is the active participant in that process.

b. Circumstances

The other element that also plays an important part in the experiential meaning is the circumstance. A circumstance is defined as any piece of circumstantial information about the process within its own clause. The function is to illuminate the process in some way. Circumstances are realized by adverbial groups, prepositional phrases, and even by nominal groups.

Still in the same discussion about Circumstance, Halliday (1994) divides circumstances into 9 categories. There are: (1) Extent (2) Location (3) Manner (4) Cause (5) Contingency (6) Accompaniment (7) Role (8) Matter (9)