This document discusses Systemic Functional Linguistics and the concepts of theme and rheme in clauses and texts. There are three main types of theme: ideational, which refers to the topic or subject; interpersonal, which includes elements like modals and vocatives; and textual, which relate the clause to the context. The theme serves as the point of departure for the message and clause, with the rheme providing new information. Various linguistic elements can serve as themes, including subjects, objects, adverbials, and conjunctions. The ordering of themes and rhemes helps to structure texts cohesively.

1. TEXTUAL MEANING
SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL
LINGUSTICS (SFL)

2. TEXTUAL / TRANSITIVITY
(THEME AND RHEME)
• Theme and Rheme are two terms that represent how
information is distributed in a sentence.
• Halliday (1994, p.64), Theme is the element that serves as a
point of departure of the message. It is that which locates and
orients the clause within its context. Moreover, the Rheme
explains the Theme.
• The Theme can be identified as that or those element(s) which
come(s) first in the clause (Gerot and Wignell, 1994, p.104).

3. THEME-RHEME STRUCTURE
According to Eggins (1994: 305)
“theme/rheme structure of the clause is an essential component in the
construction of the cohesive, coherent text. However, the implication of
Theme beyond the clause, in that the theme/rheme structure of the clause
can be seen as merely the micro-level realization of textual organization.
The same principles that underlie thematic patterning (that the Theme
provides a point of departure to which the writer/speaker adds a rheme
containing new information; that successive Theme is related cohesively to
each other, etc) can be identified as operating in the text at several different
levels”
Halliday (2004, p.65) stated that as a message structure,
therefore, a clause consists of a theme accompanied by a rheme,
and the structure is expressed by the order – whatever is chosen
as the Theme is put the first.

4. Theme Rheme Structure
The postman has delivered my mother that letter.
My mother has been given that letter by the postman.
That letter the postman has given to my aunt
Theme Rheme

5. TYPED OF THEME
The Theme can be divided into ideational, textual, and
interpersonal.
Ideational
The ideational or topical Theme is usually but not always the first
nominal group in the clauses. Topical themes may also be
nominal group complexes, adverbials groups, and prepositional
phrases or embedded clauses. In the unmarked case, the topical
Theme is also subject. A topical theme that is not the Subject is
called a marked topical theme.
Unmarked topical themes
Unmarked Theme is when the element of Theme is also
determined as Subject (in a declarative clause), finite (in an
interrogative), predicator (in an imperative), and WH-element (in
WH-INTERROGATIVE) of the clause.

6. The Theme of unmarked Theme also conflates with the Mood
structure's main part that happens in the first position in the clause
of that Mood class (Eggins, p.296).
The nominal group as Theme
Nominal group complex as Theme
Embedded clauses
Jack Went up the hill
Theme Rheme
Jack and Jill Went up the hill
Theme Rheme
((what Jack and Jill did)) Was go up the hill
Theme Rheme

7. Marked topical themes
A Topical Theme, which is not the Subject, is called a Marked
Topical Theme. The term marked is used because it stands out. It
attracts attention because it is not what we usually expect to find
(Gerot and Wignell 1994, p.104)
Adverbial as Theme
The prepositional phrase as Theme
Complement as Theme:
down Jack fell
Theme Rheme
Up the hill Jack and Jill went
Theme Rheme
His crown He broke
Theme Rheme

8. Textual themes
• Textual themes relate the clause to its context. It can be
conjunctive adjuncts, continuatives, and conjunction.
• Continuatives are a small set of items that are always at the
beginning of the clause and signal that a new move is
beginning. For example: well, right, ok, now, anyway, of
course
These relate to the context of speaking in that they signal to the
listeners that someone is about to start, resume, or continue
speaking.
Right, what we need to do
today
is revise for our test.
continuative Topical
Rheme
Theme

9. Conjunctive relate the clause to the preceding text by providing a
logical link between messages.
Likewise, conjunctions almost always occur at the beginning of a
clause and carry the logical-semantic relations between clauses.
Well, on the other hand, we could wait
Continuative Conjunctive Topical
Rheme
Theme
Well, on the other hand, if we wait until Tuesday
…
Cont. Conjunctive structural topical
Rheme
Theme

10. Conjunctive adjunct
Conjunction

11. Modal adjunct

12. Modal adjunct (Cont ...)

13. Interpersonal Theme
• Interpersonal Theme is when a fundamental element of the
beginning clause determined as a mood label.
• Parts of Interpersonal Themes (Modal Adjuncts, Vocatives,
finite or WH-elements, polarity, and comment) are before the
topical Theme (Eggins, 1994, p.278).
• Interpersonal elements occur before the Topical Themes are
also thematic. They may be Modal Adjuncts, Vocatives, finite,
or Whelements (Gerot and Wignall (1994, p.107).
• Kinds of interpersonal Theme according to Gerot and Wignall
(1994, p.107) are as follow:

14. Modal adjunct
Example:
In the example above, “perhaps” is adverbial that expresses the
speaker’s judgment about his/her thought of something.
Vocatives
A name or nickname used to address someone is only thematic if
they occur before the topical Theme, finite verbal, or a modal
adjunct. Example:
Perhaps I can stay for a while
Modal Unmarked
RhemeInterpersonal Topical
Theme
Dearly beloved we are gathered here today
Vocative Topical
Rheme
Theme

15. Finite
Finite is a form that shows the tense and Subject of a verb.
Example:
In the example above, “didn’t” is finite because it follows the
verb. Finite in the example above is in the past form of “do”
Rose, didn’t we decide to stay for a while?
Vocative Finite Unmarked
RhemeInterpersonal Topical
Theme
Mary, we decided to wait until next week
Vocative Topical
Rheme
Theme

16. THE SUMMARY OF THEME COMPONENTS
Type of Theme Component of Theme
Ideational /
Topical
Topical (Subject, complement or
circumstantial Adjunct)
Interpersonal Modal (Adjunct);
Finite;
WH-Interrogative / WH-question
Textual Continuative (well, ok etc);
Structural (conjunction or WH-relative);
Conjunction (adjunct)

17. CLAUSE AS THEME IN A CLAUSE COMPLEX
In a hypotactic clause complex, if the dependent clause comes
first, then the dependent clause is treated as the Theme for the
whole clause complex. Each clause also has its Theme-Rheme
structure.
If the dependent clause comes first
Theme
Then it is the Theme for the whole Clause
Complex.
Rheme

18. If the dependent clause comes first
structural Topical
Rheme
Theme
Theme
then it is the Theme for the whole Complex.
Structura
l
Topical
Rheme
Theme
Rheme

19. Thematic Equatives
These occur in specific identifying clauses where the Theme and
Rheme are equated with each other. They almost always involve
nominalization.
Predicated Themes
These take the form it + be (is, am, are, was, were, etc) + ….
What we wanted to do was wait until next week
Theme Rheme
It was the lectures ((who made the decision))
Theme Rheme Theme Rheme
Theme Rheme
It was suggested ((that they wait))
Theme Rheme Str Top
Theme Rheme
Theme Rheme

20. Theme in Interrogatives
the Finite precedes the Subject and is thus thematic if the Subject
is also the Topical Theme.
Finite Elements
The Finite elements are among the small numbers of verbal
operators expressing tense, modality, and polarity.
Sometimes the Finite elements and the lexical verb are fused. It
happens when the verb is in:
• Simple past or simple present: ate = did eat; eats = does eat
• Active voice: they eat pizza = they do eat pizza VS pizza is
eaten
• Positive polarity: they eat = they do eat VS they don’t eat
• Neutral contrast: go away = do go away

21. Example:
"On Saturday" is a Marked Topical Theme. The Finite comes
after, so it is not thematic. In the case of WH interrogatives, the
WH-element alone is thematic. Example:
Did We decide to wait?
Fin. Subj.
Rheme
Theme
On Saturday will you be going?
Topical
Rheme
Theme
What time is the exam?
Theme Rheme
Who are you trying to kid?
Theme Rheme

22. Theme in Imperatives
There are two ways of treating Theme in imperative clauses:
either as Rheme only. Example:
or treat the Process as Theme
We can see the rationale for treating the Process as Theme if we
look at a text-oriented towards 'doing', such as a set of
instructions.
Write your name in the upper right-hand corner
Rheme
Write your name in the upper right-hand corner
Theme Rheme

23. Theme in Exclamatives
This consists of a Wh – element plus either a nominal group or an
adverbial group.
Example:
What a beautiful day it is.
Theme Rheme
How divinely he dances
Theme Rheme

24. References and Recommended Readings
• Droga, L., & Humphrey, S. (2003). Grammar and meaning:
An introduction for primary teachers. New South Wales:
Target Texts.
• Eggins, S. (1994). An Introduction Systemic Functional
Linguistics. London: Pinter Publisher Ltd.
• Slade, D., & Eggins, S. (1997). Analysing casual
conversation. London: Cassell.
• Gerot, L., & Wignell, P. (1994). Making Sense of Functional
Grammar. Sydney: Gerd Stabler.
• Halliday, M. A., & Matthiessen, C. M. I. M. (2004). An
Introduction to Functional Grammar Third Edition. London:
Edward Arnold.