marked vs metaphorical theme grammatical matephor

1、MARKED theme Metaphorical theme Contents 1. Theme 2. Unmarked/marked theme 3. Congruent/metaphorical theme 1. Theme Definition of Theme: the first constituent of the clause the starting-point for the message or the ground from which the clause is taking off. (Halliday,1994:38) Example of theme The d

2、uke has given my aunt that teapot That teapot the duke has given to my aunt. Very carefully she put him back on his feet again. Theme Rheme the starting-point of the message and the first constituent of the clause, so it is the theme in this clause. Classification of theme Theme Thematic equativePre

3、dicated theme Unmarked theme Marked theme Mapping grammatica l rank Etc . Metaphorical theme 2. Unmarked/Marked theme 2.1 Unmarked theme Examples (1) John sat in the front seat Subject=Theme A man was dying last night. (2) Where did you go after the party? What happened to her? Does he speak English

4、? Have you finish your homework? (4) Leave the book here. Dont cry about it. Do have some cheese. 2.2 marked theme (1) In the front seat sat John Predicate Subject Theme (2) After the party, where did you go? (3) He speaks English? (4) You shut up! On arrival at the airport take a taxi to my home 2.

5、2.1 Marked theme in declarative Marked theme in declarative: Subject not as theme Adjunct as theme (less marked) Complement as theme (very marked ) Circumstantial attributive Complement as theme (intermediate in markedness ) 环境修 饰性补语 Last night, a man was dying. (adjunct) All the rest we will do for

6、 you. (complement) Next door is the Museum Towards the end lies the theatre. 3. Metaphorical theme 3.metaphorical theme In a sentence with metaphorical theme, there is not only the alteration of word order, but also mapping (shift ) between grammatical rank scales. (The meaning normally expressed by

7、 a word or word group is now realized by a projected clause or vice versa) a: congruent theme Nick give me an apple . b: metaphorical theme What Nick give me is an apple. 3.1 Thematic equative I worry about the poor quality of their work. What worries me is the poor quality of their work. predicator

8、 be 3.2 Predicated theme it + be + All creature need water in order to survive. It is water (that) all creatures need in order to survive. congruent/marked/metaphorical theme congruentcongruent I Iaskedaskedthem round for drinks. them round for drinks. noun Theme = subjectRheme metaphoricametaphoric

9、a l l What I didWhat I didwas ask them round for drinks. was ask them round for drinks. clause Theme ( subject ) Rheme markedmarked AllAllI did I did was ask them round was ask them round for drinks. for drinks. Pronoun +Modifier (clause) Theme ( subject )Rheme congruent/marked/metaphorical theme The duke gave my aunt that teapot. What the duke gave to my aunt was that teapot. mt It was the duke (that) gave my aunt that teapot . T