DISCOURSE ANALYSIS

Analyzing Two Different Discourses

By:
I Putu Surya Pratama (1729081049)

English Language Education

Postgraduate Programme
Ganesha University of Education
2018
INTRODUCTION
Discourse analysis (1) concerned with language use beyond the boundaries of a
sentence/utterance, (2) concerned with the interrelationship between language and society, and
(3) as concerned with the interactive or dialogic properties of everyday communication
(Stubbs, 1983:1 in Slembroucks, 2003). According to Slembroucks (2003), discourse analysis
refers to attempts to study the organization of language above the sentence or above the clause,
and therefore to study larger linguistic units, such as conversational exchanges or written texts.
Discourse analysis is attempted for certain purposes. In some cases, most researches such as
literary, educational, or ethnographic research applied the theory of discourse analysis to
undergo the case for analyzing ‘text’. In line with this statement, Halliday and Hasan (1976)
state that the term ‘text’ refers to any instance of language, in any medium, that makes sense
to someone who knows the language.
Halliday and Matthiessen (2004) classify the two focuses of the text; 1) focus on the
text as an object and its own right, and 2) focus on the text as an instrument for finding out
about something else. They describe that;
“Focusing on text as an object, a grammarian will be asking questions such as: why
does the text mean what it does (to me, or to anyone else)? Why is it valued as it is?
Focusing on text as instrument, the grammarian will be asking what the text reveals
about the system of the language in which it is spoken or written.” (p.1)

It means that it is not possible to explain why a text means what it does, with all the various
readings and values that may be given to it, except by relating it to the linguistic system as a
whole; and equally, it is not possible to use it as a window on the system unless the meanings
and the reasons are understood. Thus, according to Halliday (1994), to understand the meanings
and the reasons of a certain text, understanding the process whereby the particular meanings of
the text are made is the first requirement. Then, the interpretation and evaluation are analyzed
to understand how and why the text means what it does to the reader or listener, and how and
why he evaluates it in a certain way.
This paper examines two different discourses with the same topic by analyzing the
processes occur on the both text in regards to the systemic functional linguistics approach.
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND: Systemic Functional Linguistics
The theory of systemic grammar or also known as systemic functional linguistics was
originally formulated by M.A.K Halliday in the early 1960s. Morley (2000) states that;
“From its very beginnings, systemic grammar has been marked by its recognition that
all language, whether it occurs in the form of a book, a letter, a group discussion, a
casual conversation, or a person’s emotional outpourings, takes place in the context of
a social situation, that the situation has an impact on the nature and meaning of the
language used and that any account of language must therefore include reference to
that context of use.” (p.1)

In line with that statement, Graber (2001) defines systemic functional grammar as a current
linguistic theory that examining texts in terms of the ways in which the language of the texts
functions, and the ways in which the functions relate to context. Thus, it means that the
systemic functional grammar deals with the language and the social context in which the texts
are made to be analyzed.
However, irrespective of whenever and wherever language is used or encountered,
systemic grammar holds that it is a social activity which always takes place in a context
(Morley, 2000). He further describes that the context of situation handles the dimensions of the
situation which have a bearing on the language used and is studied under register.
Morley (2000) defines that register is, traditionally in systemic grammar, studied in terms of
three parameters, namely: 1) field of discourse, tenor of discourse, and mode of discourse.

1. Field of discourse: concerns with the subject matter of the text, what the text is about.
2. Tenor of discourse: concerns with the social status and role of the various participants
and the relationship between them in the situation.
3. The mode of discourse: concerns with the language medium through which the text is
expressed.

There are three main semantic types recognized in systemic functional linguistic: 1)
material (earlier called ‘action’ process), 2) mental, and 3) relational. In line with this
statement, Halliday (1994) describes material process as processes of ‘doing’, in that they
involve obligatorily an actor. Mental processes are processes of ‘sensing’, in that in place of an
actor they involve a senser and a phenomenon in processes of perception (e.g. see, hear),
affection (e.g. like, fear) and cognition (e.g. think, know). Relational processes are processes of
‘being’, of which there are two types – identification and attribution. Furthermore, in the light
of the fact that verbs such as listen, watch, say, which used to be included as subclasses of
mental process (Halliday in Kress 1976), clearly involve ‘doing’ (and respond to the question
‘what did you do?), they would now be listed under ‘behavioral’ (probably listen, watch) and
‘verbal’ (say) processes, which, together with ‘existential’ process, constitute new, subsidiary
categories. Behavioral processes are described as having no clearly defined characteristics of
their own but are ‘partly like the material and partly like the mental’. Verbal processes are
processes of saying, e.g. say, tell, ask, promise, praise, insult, and existential processes
‘represent that something exists or happens’ (Halliday, 1994).

FINDINGS
Text 1
John Legend and Chrissy Teigen Make It to Japan – Eventually
BBC News (www.bbc.com)
28 December 2017
Model Chrissy Teigen and her musician husband John Legend have made it to Japan after their
initial flight from Los Angeles was turned around mid-air. The ANA plane turned back four hours into
its journey to Tokyo, reportedly because a passenger boarded in error. Teigen documented the drama
on Twitter and continued to live tweet once she and Legend were put on another plane.
The model, who is expecting her second child, also explained why she and her husband had not
used a private jet. "A lot of people have been asking this and I would just like you all to know that a
round trip international private flight is like...300,000 dollars," she tweeted on Wednesday.

Text 2
Chrissy Teigen’s Plane Tweets Have Finally Reached a Happy Ending
Bustle (www.bustle.com)
28 December 2017
After the longest flight in the history of ever (not really, but it feels like it), Chrissy Teigen
plane tweets have ended because she finally made it to Tokyo with John Legend. At 4:34 p.m. ET
Wednesday, the model confirmed their arrival with an exciting tweet. Unfortunately, the couple still
had to change their travel plans, because of the major flight snafu they faced, but at least they finally
arrived in Japan.
According to a statement from ANA received by CNN, "The cabin crew notified the pilot that
one of the passengers boarded the incorrect flight, and the pilot in command made the decision to return
to the originating airport. We take great pride providing exemplary customer service, and on this flight
we failed to do so."
Analysis
Text 1
Sentence 1.
C1 (Clause 1)
Model Chrissy Teigen and her musician husband John Legend have made it to Japan
Model Chrissy Teigen and her musician have made it to Japan
husband John Legend
Agent Proc: causative token value
C2 (Clause 2)
After their initial flight from Los Angeles was turned around mid-air.
After their initial flight from Los Angeles was turned around mid-air
Adjucnt: Recipient Circ: location Proc: material Circ: extent
conjunctive

Sentence 2
C1 (Clause 1)
The ANA plane turned back four hours into its journey to Tokyo,
The ANA plane turned back four hours into its journey to Tokyo
Actor Proc: material Circ: time Goal Circ: location

C2 (Clause 2)
Reportedly because a passenger boarded in error.
Reportedly because a passenger boarded in error
Circ: manner Adjunct: conjunctive Actor Proc: material Circ: extent

Sentence 3
C1 (Clause 1)
Teigen documented the drama on Twitter and continued to live tweet
Teigen documented the drama on Twitter and continued to live
tweet
Actor Proc: material goal Cir: location Conjunction: Proc: goal
correlative material
C2 (Clause 2)
Once she and Legend were put on another plane
Once she and Legend were put on another plane
Recipient Proc: material Circ: location

Sentence 4
C1 (Clause 1)
The model also explained why she and her husband had not used a private jet
The model also explained why she and her husband had not used a private jet
Sayer Proc: verbal verbiage

C2 (Clause 2)
Who is expecting her second child
Who is expecting her second child
Senser Proc: mental Phenomenon: simple

Sentence 5
C1 (Clause 1)
A lot of people have been asking this
A lot of people have been asking this
Sayer Proc: verbal verbiage

C2 (Clause 2)
and I would just like you all to know that a round trip international private flight is like …
300,000 dollars.
and I would just like you to know that a round trip
all international
private flight is
like… 300,000
dollars.
Conjunction: Agent/Attributor Pr: carrier Pr: attribute
correlative causative intensive
C3 (Clause 3)
She tweeted on Wednesday.
She tweeted on Wednesday
Actor Proc: material Circumstance: time

Text 2
Sentence 1
C1 (Clause 1)
After the longest flight in the history of ever (not really, but it feels like it)
After The longest not but it Feels like it
flight in the really
history of ever
Adjunct: Circumstance Adjunct: senser Proc: mental Phenomenon:
conjunctive conjunctive simple

C2a (Clause 2b)

Chrissy Teigen plane tweets have ended
Chrissy Teigen plane tweets have ended
Actor Proc: material

C2b (Clause 2b)

Because she finally made it to Tokyo with John Legend.
Because she finally made it to Tokyo with John
Legend
Adjunct: Agent Adjunct: comment Proc: token Value Circ: manner
conjunctive causative

Sentence 2
At 4:34 p.m. ET Wednesday, the model confirmed their arrival with an exciting tweet.
At 4:34 p.m. ET The model confirmed their arrival with an exciting
Wednesday tweet
Circum: time Actor Proc: material goal Circum: manner
Sentence 3
C1 (Clause 1)
Unfortunately, the couple still had to change their travel plans, because of the major flight
snafu they faced
Unfortunately the couple still had to change their travel Because of the major
plans flight snafu they faced
Adjunct: actor Proc: goal Circumstance: extent
comment material

C2 (Clause 2)
But at least they finally arrived in Japan.
but at least they finally arrived in Japan
Adjunct: Actor Adjunct: Proc: Circumstance:
Conjunctive comment material location

Sentence 4
C1 (Clause 1)
According to a statement from ANA received by CNN, the cabin crew notified the pilot that
one of the passengers boarded the incorrect flight
According to a the cabin crew notified the pilot that one of the
statement from passengers
ANA received boarded the
by CNN incorrect flight
Circum: manner sayer Proc: verbal receiver verbiage

C2 (Clause 2)
And the pilot in command made the decision to return to the originating airport
and the pilot in command made the To To the
decision return originating
airport
Adjunct: Actor Circum: Proc: goal Circ: Circ: location
conjunctive manner material extent
Sentence 5
C1 (Clause 1)
We take great pride providing exemplary customer service
we take great pride providing exemplary customer service
Actor Proc: material goal Circumstance: manner

C2 (Clause 2)
And on the flight we failed to do so
and on the flight we failed to do so
Adjunct: Circumstance: Actor Proc: goal
conjunctive location material

DISCUSSION
From the data analysis, it is found that there are; 1) Relational process, 2) Material
process, 3) Verbal process, and 4) Mental process, as shown in the following diagram.

Process Types
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
TEXT 1 TEXT 2

Relational process Material process Verbal process Mental process

Figure 1. Process types of Text 1 and Text 2

From the above diagram, it shows that in text 1, there are 2 Relational processes, 6 Material
processes, 2 Verbal processes, and 1 Mental process. In text 2, there are 1 Relational process,
7 Material processes, 1 Verbal process, and 1 Mental process.
Material Process
It is important to analyze the function of the ‘Actor’ in Material process by separating it from
the ‘goal’, ‘range’, and ‘beneficiary to distinguish between the kinds of ‘Actor’ being
represented. The following diagram shows the analysis.

Material Process
6
5
4
3
2
1
0
Goal Range Beneficiary

TEXT 1 TEXT 2

Figure 2. The ‘Actor’ in the Material Process

Halliday (1994) describes material process as processes of ‘doing’, in that they involve
obligatorily an actor. From the above diagram, it shows that in the text 1, there are 3 ‘goal’
which represent the function of ‘Actor’, and the rest 3 material processes in text 1 do not
represent any ‘goal’ for the function of ‘Actor’. Meanwhile, in the text 2, there are 5 ‘goal’
which represent the function of ‘Actor’, and the rest 2 material processes in text 2 do not
represent any ‘goal’ for the function of ‘Actor’.

Mental Process
It is important to distinguish the function of mental process, since it has its classification.
Halliday (1994) defines and classify that Mental processes are processes of ‘sensing’, in that
in place of an actor they involve a senser and a phenomenon in processes of perception (e.g.
see, hear), affection (e.g. like, fear) and cognition (e.g. think, know). The following diagram
shows the classification found in both texts.

Mental Process
2

0
Cognition Affection Perception

Text 1 Text 2

Figure 3. Mental process classification

From the above diagram, it shows that in text 1, there is 1 mental process which is ‘expecting’
which belongs to ‘cognition’. Meanwhile, in text 2, there is 1 mental process which is ‘feels’
which belongs to ‘affection’.

Relational Process
Halliday (1994) divides the relational into two types as he mentioned “Relational processes
are processes of ‘being’, of which there are two types – identification and attribution.” The
following diagram shows the two types in both texts.

Relational Process
2
1
0
Identification Attribution

Text 1 Text 2

From the above diagram, it shows that in text 1, there is 1 Relational process which belongs to
‘Identification’. Meanwhile, in text 2, there is 1 Relational process which belongs to
‘Attribution’.

Verbal Process
Halliday (1994) defines Verbal process as process of saying, e.g. say, tell, ask, promise, praise,
insult. From data analysis result, it is found that in text 1, there are 2 Verbal processes.
Meanwhile, in text 2, there is 1 Verbal process.

CONCLUSION
From the result of data analysis and the discussion, it can be concluded that the topic
and the content of the news from different mass media may be the same, but the way the writer
or the publisher construct the sentences is different. However, the analysis of lexis, grammar,
and the functions (meaning in use) of the news can still provide the reader with the opportunity
to familiarize with the way texts are composed. Thus, it helps the reader to interpret the texts
as well as to raise awareness of the reader’s potential effects.
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Graber, P. (2001). Context in Text a Systemic Functional Analysis of the Parable of the Sower
(Doctor of Philosophy). Emory University.
Halliday, M. (1994). An introduction to functional grammar (2st ed.) London: E. Arnold
Halliday, M. & Hasan, R. (1976). Cohesion in English (1st ed). London: Longman.
Halliday, M. & Matthiessen, C. (2004). An introduction to functional grammar (3red ed.)
London: Arnold.
Kress, G. (ed.) (1976). Halliday: System and Function in Language. London: Oxford
University Press.
Morley, G. (2000). Syntax in Functional Grammar: An Introduction to Lexicogrammar in
Systemic Linguistics (1st ed). London and New York: Continuum International
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Slembrouck, S. (2003) What is Meant by Discourse Analysis?. Belgium: Gent. University of
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