CHAPTER 3

AN OVERVIEW OF FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR

NAME: LIM THEARATH

1. In using language, meaning is equated with function. People use language in order
to express meaning. What are the THREE types of meaning language is used for?

Language serves various purposes and is used to convey different types of meaning. The
three types in the lecture video are referred to as metafunctions of language.

Experiential Meaning: This refers to how language is used to express content or give
descriptions about the world from our own personal experience. It's the use of words,
phrases and sentences to represent people, things, actions, events, and conditions, in the
world or in our mind. For example, if we say, "It's raining outside," we cause our listener
to understand that water is falling from the sky outside, which is a fact or event we
experienced.

Interpersonal Meaning: This focuses on the interaction between speaker/writer and

hearer/reader; essentially, the social aspect of language. It discusses the role language
plays in relationships, social status, and personal feelings. It's used to negotiate
relationships and roles in a social interaction. For instance, the use of polite language to
show respect, or use of casual language among friends.

Textual Meaning: This focuses on how we use language to organize messages in a

manner that makes sense to the listener or reader. It refers to the structure and
organization of the text, how different parts of a text are connected and meant to fit
together. It can be viewed as the 'glue' that binds the language together, like the use of
connectors ('however', 'in addition') to guide a reader or listener through a text.

2. What does it mean by “Lexicogrammar”? Give an example of how these linguistic resources
can be used in expressing meaning?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

1
3. Looking at the following sentences, identify the types of meanings conveyed and the
functions they serve.
She bought the CD on Friday. vs. Did she buy the CD on Friday?
She bought the CD on Friday. vs. She may have bought the CD on Friday.
She bought the CD on Friday. vs. On Friday she bought the CD.
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

4. As noted above, language is used to serve functions. Briefly explain the following
metafunctions.
Experiential
___________________________________________________________________________

Interpersonal
___________________________________________________________________________

Textual
___________________________________________________________________________

5. When it comes to grammar, write the structures of the following:

Declarative
___________________________________________________________________________

Interrogative
___________________________________________________________________________

6. Taking functions in mind and using structures to realize each function, write a sentence(s)
to reflect the following:

You were in the class with a classmate, and after coming back from the restroom, you found
your pen was missing. You suspected the classmate of taking it and asked him to return the
pen.

Use the options of structures to express the meaning/function you want to convey:

Experiential
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Interpersonal

2
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

Textual
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________