Research Article Titles in TESOL Quarterly and TEFLIN

Journal: A Systemic Functional Grammar Perspective

Giffari Syabilla Ramadhan (2215153119)

Research Questions
• What is the transitivity system of the research article titles in TEFLIN
Journal and TESOL Quarterly

• What are the functions in the research article titles in TEFLIN Journal and
TESOL Quarterly?

• How is each function lexicogrammatically represented?

Research Purposes
• To analise the transitivity system of the research article titles in
TEFLIN Journal and TESOL Quarterly

• To identify the functions in the research article titles in TEFLIN Journal and
TESOL Quarterly

• To describe the lexicogrammatical features of each of the function identified

 Empirical Background
• duality of nominal groups in research article compound titles (Rath, 2010; Hartley, 2007;
Stephanie et al., 2012)

• the construction of research article titles (Soler, 2007; Balch, 2012; Bavdekar, 2016)
Conceptual Background

Research article title types (Soler, 2007;

Balch, 2012; Bavdekar, 2016):
- Nominal group title
- Verb-ing (Non-finite clause) title
- Prepositional phrase title
- Full sentence title
- Compound title (separated by a colon)
 Conceptual Background

Compound title (separated by a colon) contains (Stephanie et al.,

2012; Hartley, 2007):

 Topic-Scope  Question-Method+Source
 Topic-Question
 Topic-Method
 Question-Method
 Topic-Description Rath (2010) Duality of
 Name-Method

 Topic-Method+Source
 Topic-Source NG in titles:
 Metaphor-Question
 Metaphor-Topic Theme/Rheme
Conceptual Background

Halliday (1985) Transitivity System

Functions:

• Process

• Participant

• Circumstance
Conceptual Background
• Participant
• Nominal Group

• Process
• Non-finite
• Finite
• Metaphor

• Circumstance
• Prepositional Phrase
• Adverbial Phrase
Conceptual Background
Nominal Group
• Deictic (article, determiner, possessive)
• Numerical (Numerical value)
• Epithet (Usually adjective)
• Classifier (type)
• Head noun/thing (object)
• Qualifier (description after thing, phrase/clause)
Data and Data Analysis
TESOL Quarterly (2018) Vol 52 Issue 1
TEFLIN Journal (2018)

DATA
 STEP 1 Identifying the main elements of
the title

ID Method Topic Method

Developing Conceptions of Teaching English
tq. 3 Preservice Teachers’  
Learners
of Islamic
Proficiency Level and Language Learning
tef. 1   University Learners
Strategy Choice
in Indonesia
of the Use of the First Language in Libyan EFL
tef. 9 An Investigation
Classrooms

STEP
1
 STEP 2 Identifying the aspects of the topic
ACTION
ACTION AND
DIMENSIO CONCEP DIMENSI AND
ID RESPONDEN AREA AREA
N T ON RESPONDE
T
NT
tq. 3   Developing     of Teaching English Learners    
Conceptions (QUALIFIER)
(THING)
        Teaching English Learners    
(PROCES (GOAL)
S)
tef. 9         of the use of the First language    
in Libyan EFL Classrooms
(QUALIFIER)
        the Use of the First language in Libyan    
(THING) EFL Classrooms
(QUALIFIER)

STEP
 STEP 3 Identifying the aspects of the
method
ID ACTION RESPONDENT TOPIC RESPONDENT
tq. 3   Preservice Teachers’    
(DEICTIC)
tef. 1.a       of Islamic University
Learners in Indonesia
(QUALIFIER)
tef. 3.a Comparing Pakistani Teachers'    
(PROCESS) (DEICTIC)

STEP
THE FREQUENCY OF TITLES STATING
METHODS
• TESOL : 5 titles (50%)
• Total word count : 121 words
• Method statements : 14 words
• Percentage : 11.57%

• TEFLIN : 6 titles (60%)

• Total word count : 130 words
• Method statements : 27 words
• Percentage : 20.76%
Discussion
• Functions and aspects
• TESOL and TEFLIN possess similar functions and aspects

• Lexicogrammatical features
• Topic (Concept)
• TESOL: Clearly stated as thing, classifier, or qualifier with additional information from
the method
• TEFLIN: Buried beneath the area aspect and without additional information from the
method
• Method (Action)
• TESOL: Using Non-finite verb
• TEFLIN: Using nominal group (head noun)