The Functional Analysis of English: A Hallidayan Approach

By Meriel Bloor, Thomas Bloor, Thomas; Bloor Meriel Bloor

Book Overview

This book presents the principles of a Hallidayan approach to language studies, and introduces a set of techniques for the grammatical analysis of English. It includes an overview of the applications of functional grammar that demonstrates the practical importance of linguistic theory and analysis in relation to issues in education and society. This edition also locates Michael Halliday and his school within the history of linguistics. Linguistic terms are clearly explained and illustrated with authentic examples from a wide variety of sources including scientific and technical texts.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 034080680X
• ISBN13: 9780340806807
• Release Date: July 2004
• Publisher: Hodder Education Publishers
• Length: 332 Pages
• Weight: 1.26 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 9.1" x 6.1"

Customer Reviews

An excellent introduction to functional grammar

Halliday's functional grammar is a unique way of describing how language is actually used in a social situation. This is not a grammar of rules, but rather an analysis of language and its functions. Tom and Meriel Bloor's book is the best introduction to this grammar. Written as a course textbook, with a clear, methodical presentation and exercises, it can also be read as a general introduction for the curious. It is complete and highly readable, and the grammatical theories it presents and explains can be useful to anyone who works with language, to better understand how language works. Language is not examined here out of context - in fact, context is one of the key factors in Halliday's grammar - rather, Bloor and Bloor show how isolated bits of text fit in with the larger perspective of language as a whole.