Aspects of Discourse and Genre

Aspects of Discourse and Genre takes a functional approach to language within the general framework of socio-systemic linguistics. This approach to linguistics involves interpreting language as a system of meanings accompanied by forms through which the meanings can be realised in context. The notion of context is fundamental to language as communication takes place not in isolation but in relation to events, actions and participants. Using language also implies a continual choice among the various options offered by the system. The focus of the book is thus on language as a set of interrelated networks of semantic and pragmatic options which are expressed by formal and structural features. The aim is to show how varieties of discourse are used for specific purposes by different discourse communities in areas of socio-cultural activity. Discourse, used as a general term, refers to modes of communication in context, which include the use of spoken, written and sign language as well as multimodal and multimedia forms, while discourse community denotes a group of people involved in a common task or event and the language they use to accomplish it. The language that is used is made up of sequences of regularly occurring patterns which can be easily recognised within the discourse community. The book is divided into six Chapters each dealing with an aspect of English discourse. Chapter 1 presents an overview of the functional-semantic approach to language and Chapter 2 delves into the socio-cultural aspects of English with specific regard to text and context. Dialects as varieties of English are discussed in Chapter 3. The remaining chapters cover various aspects of textuality: Chapter 4 addresses the features of coherence and cohesion, Chapter 5 thematisation and thematic progression and Chapter 6 explores segmentation, sequencing and salience in relation to parataxis and hypotaxis