An alternative approach to theme: A systemic-functional perspective

Abstract

Halliday's conception of Theme as “the starting-point of the message;…l what the clause is going to be about” is examined in application to natural texts, together with the related notion of topic as a narrative category. It is suggested that, while all ideational, interpersonal and textual elements comprising ‘multiple Themes’ may be regarded as points of departure of the message, only certain types of ideational Theme will tell us what the clause is about. Evidence for this view is sought by reference to participant roles. Theme and topic are seen to be distinct categories which may coincide in one realization, but only when this is a participant. As a consequence, it is proposed that ‘topical Theme’, if retained at all, be dissociated from identification with the first ideational element of the clause, since this is frequently not a participant. Other ideational Themes, such as circumstantials and attributes, are seen to fulfil specific discourse functions, independently of their syntactic realization.