Systemics 1.0: Software for Research and Teaching Systemic Functional

The usefulness of the software program, Systemics 1.0 (O’Halloran and Judd 2002) for research and teaching Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) is examined in this paper. Systemics 1.0 is software which contains a pre-programmed SFL grammar at the rank of word, word group, clause, clause complex and discourse stratum. The software is designed to overcome the physical constraints of text analysis through features such as pull-down menus containing the grammatical systems, and search and print facilities. As the ’standard ’ grammar in Systemics 1.0 can be modified, discourse analyses undertaken with the software can incorporate other theoretical per-spectives. Following a discussion of the functionality of the software, the ways in which the design features and interfaces in Systemics 1.0 shape the users ’ perceptions of systemic functional theory and practice are considered. This includes a discussion of the limitations of the program, together with recommendations for possible future developments in SFL software