SFE20814 English: Systemic-Functional Grammar (Autumn 2014)

Facts about the course

ECTS Credits:: 10
Responsible faculty:: Avdeling for økonomi, språk og samfunnsfag
Course Leader:: Daniel Lees Fryer
Teaching language:: English
Duration:: ½ year

The course is affiliated to the following study programme

Obligatory subject within the 90 study credits English Extension Course. May be taken as part of the bachelor programme in Society, Language and Culture.

Teaching semester

English extension course: 1. Semester (autumn)
Bachelor's Programme in Society, Language and Culture: 3d or 5th semester (autumn)

Content

The course is an introduction to a systemic-functional approach to describing language and communication.
Systemic-functional grammar (SFG) attempts to model language and meaning based on the choices made by language users in specific social and cultural contexts.
The theory can also be applied to communicative modes other than spoken and written texts, such as images and music, or a combination of these (multimodal texts).
Students get an introduction to SFG and how this theory can be used to examine a variety of authentic texts.

The student's learning outcomes on passing the course

KNOWLEDGE
Students have knowledge of the systemic-functional grammar framework (SFG)

SKILLS
Students understand how this framework can be used to examine language and the social/cultural context in which it is used.

GENERAL COMPETENCE
Students know how SFG can be used to examine the function of multimodal texts.

Teaching and learning methods

Lectures and seminars

Coursework requirements - conditions for taking the exam

One written assignment must be approved by the lecturer and completed at a specific deadline before students can start the final written examination.

Exam

Individual written assignment and oral exam
A written assignment (2000-3000 words) on a topic chosen in consultation with the lecturer; the assignment should be analytical, research based, and clearly referenced.
The written assignment has to be approved for a pass result before the oral exam.
The oral exam (c. 30 mins) is based on the final written assignment. The oral exam may adjust the final result by one step up or down on the A-F grading scale.

If a complaint is filed, the written part will be reassessed. In the case of a changed result a new oral exam will be arranged.

Course evaluation

The course is evaluated twice each semester.

Reading list

Thompson, Geoff (2013). Introducing functional grammar. Third edition. London: Routledge.

Martin, J. R. & David Rose (2007) Working with discourse: meaning beyond the clause. Second edition. London: Continuum.

Kress, Gunther & Theo van Leeuwen (2006) Reading images: the grammar of visual design. Second edition. London: Routledge.

Selected articles: to be provided during course

Oppslagsverk (til supplering):

Halliday, M. A. K. & Christian M. I. M. Matthiessen (2013). Halliday's introduction to functional grammar. Fourth edition. London: Routledge.

Martin, J. R. (1992) English text: system and structure. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.

Last updated from FS (Felles studentsystem) Oct. 15, 2026 2:48:28 AM