A1 Journal article (refereed)
Revisiting the role of embedding in Systemic Functional Linguistics : Construing depth in “big texts” (2021)

Szenes, E. (2021). Revisiting the role of embedding in Systemic Functional Linguistics : Construing depth in “big texts”. Finnish Journal of Linguistics, 34, 179-219. https://journal.fi/finjol/article/view/109102

JYU authors or editors

Publication details

All authors or editors: Szenes, Eszter

Journal or series: Finnish Journal of Linguistics

eISSN: 2814-4376

Publication year: 2021

Publication date: 31/12/2021

Volume: 34

Pages range: 179-219

Publisher: Suomen kielitieteellinen yhdistys

Publication country: Finland

Publication language: English

Persistent website address: https://journal.fi/finjol/article/view/109102

Publication open access: Openly available

Publication channel open access: Open Access channel

Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/80284

Abstract

This paper is concerned with exploring the role of embedded genres in expanding the meaning potential of long texts, focusing especially on complex tertiary assignments. A significant body of work has evolved in Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) on modelling “big texts” as macrogenres since Martin (1994: 29) posed the question how texts “get bigger than a page”. However, based on detailed genre analyses of high-scoring undergraduate business country reports, this paper illustrates that not all big texts are macrogenres made up of elemental genre complexes. Analogising from clause grammar, it will show that these texts unfold through multiple layers of embedded genres in their generic stages. By revisiting current understandings of the occurrence of embedded genres as “a relatively rare phenomenon” (Martin 2012: 002), this paper argues that their role has not been sufficiently considered for understanding lengthy university assignments. By complementing and extending existing research on the analysis and representation of lengthy university assignments, this research provides the missing link in the theoretical conceptualisation of the “nature of big texts” (Martin 1994; 1995) in SFL.

Keywords: text types; genres; textual analysis; functional linguistics

Free keywords: genre; macrogenre; embedded genre; complexing; embedding; student business reports

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Ministry reporting: Yes

Reporting Year: 2022

JUFO rating: 1