Focusing on focus: A comparison of Functional Grammar, Role and Reference Grammar and Systemic Functional Grammar [An article from: Language Sciences]

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Description:
The aim of this paper is to compare the approaches to information focus taken in three functional theories: Functional Grammar, Role and Reference Grammar and Systemic Functional Grammar. After discussing what is meant by focus in each theory, I examine the classification of focus in each approach, and its realisations in prosody, syntactic structure and special morphemes. I then look closely at data from authentic spoken interaction in order to highlight similarities and differences, advantages and disadvantages in the three accounts. In the concluding section I suggest a programme for future research.