Synopses & Reviews
This revised edition of the classic treatment of its subject presents an outline of the grammar of modern English in the framework of systemic-functional linguistic theory and serves as an introduction to functional theory in general, which can be used for describing any language in its own terms. The description of English presented here has been widely used in a number of applied linguistics contexts, particularly artificial intelligence and language education, both second language and mother tongue, but also in literary stylistics and other fields requiring a rich interpretation of the text.
Review
"This new edition of An Introduction to Functional Grammar (IFG) is essential and invaluable as a textbook for students and researchers of linguistics, especially of functional linguistics, discourse analysis and literary studies, and also for those with broader educational concerns. It is a must-read for researchers and scholars interested in the relation between grammar, meaning and discourse. ...it is a great joy and comfort to see a theory keep renewing itself while sticking to its basic views about the relationship between language, text and society."--Linguist List
"Anyone who claims any interest in practical grammar and its relationship to theoretical grammar should certainly familiarize themselves with it."--Studies in Second Language Acquisition
Review
"This long awaited text is an invaluable presentation of, and rationale for, the central descriptive apparatus of Halliday's systemic-functional grammar of English...essential reading for all students of English textual structure, teeming with insights."--Michael Toolan, University of Birmingham, UK
"Anyone who claims any interest in practical grammar and its relationship to theoretical grammar should certainly familiarise themselves with it."--Studies in Second Language Acquisition
Synopsis
In this extensively revised third edition, Halliday and Matthiessen retain the organization and topical coverage of the earlier editions, while incorporating a considerable amount of new material. They give greater emphasis to the systemic perspective, in which grammaticalization is understood in the context of an overall model of language. Their description of grammar is grounded in a comprehensive theory, but it is a theory which evolves in the process of being applied.
Synopsis
This third edition of An Introduction to Functional Grammar has been extensively revised. While retaining the organization and coverage of the earlier editions, it incorporates a considerable amount of new material. This includes strengthening the grammar through the use of data from a large-scale corpus, upgrading the description throughout, and giving greater emphasis to the systemic perspective, in which grammaticalization is understood in the context of an overall model of language.The approach taken in the book overcomes the distinction between theoretical and applied linguistics. The description of grammar is grounded in a comprehensive theory, but it is a theory which evolves in the process of being applied.