An Investigation into the System of Theme and
Rheme in Electronic

Nguyễn Thị Nguyệt Minh

University of Languages and International Studies
M.A. Thesis English Linguistics, Code: 60 22 15
Supervisor : M.A. Nguyễn Hương Giang
Year of graduation: 2011

Abstract: This study in Functional Grammar attempts to investigate the way
thematic structure is presented in newspaper headlines. To set out the theoretical
framework for analysis, theme/rheme theories by different linguists are consulted
and the Systemic Functional Grammar of M.A.K Halliday is especially focused
on. The paper presents the results of a descriptive qualitative research conducted
basing on 18-day corpus of the headlines taken from the world famous website
. The findings of the study indicate that of all the themes,
English news headlines tend to employ the simple themes so as to make the reader
understand easily. The majority of themes in news headlines are unmarked
themes, which is because of the consideration of drawing readers’attention to the
content. Among three elements which form the experiential part of a theme,
participant appears most, circumstance the second and process the last. Process as
experiential element is always used to appeal while participant and circumstance
are used to state. Their different roles decide their different distributions.

Keywords: Ngôn ngữ học; Tiếng Anh; Tiêu đề; Báo điện tử

Content
INTRODUCTION
1. Rationale
Newspapers is generally said to have more readers than any other kinds of written text. In

to illustrate, although in the analysis, Rheme content will also be examined to some
extent.

3. Aims of the study

This study aims at shedding a light on the use of theme in contemporary news headlines.
As there has been relatively little research into use of theme in news headlines, this study
attempts to fill this gap in the literature on thematic structure. More importantly, this
study is an attempt to contribute to a broader framework for the investigation of theme.
According to Brown (2000:4), to understand complex issues, asking the right questions is
more valuable than “possessing storehouses of knowledge”, so in this light, 3 key
research questions addressed in this thesis are:

• How is Theme-Rheme structure realized in BBC news headlines?
• What are the functions of theme in the headlines?
• What factors govern the theme choice of the press headlines? 4 Methodology

4.1 Type of the Study
The type of research applied in this research is descriptive. Descriptive research is used to
analyze the parts of the clause based on thematic structure.
In addition, in this research, the writer uses quantitative analysis, in that things are
counted. It is, however, not merely a statistical analysis; the quantitative data is used as a
basis for interpretation. The study is based on the theory of systemic functional grammar
developed by Halliday, particularly on the notions of Theme-Rheme, within Theme-
Rheme and on notions of transitivity.
4.2 Object of the Study
The corpus for this study consisted of 516 headlines from from

Conclusion: This part summarizes the analysis and discussion done in previous parts of
the paper. It also provides the limitations of the study and suggestions for further studies.
Apart from the 4 main parts, appendices are also included. Appendix I is the full analysis
of theme in terms of markedness and multiple/simple theme and theme as transitivity
role. Appendix II offers analysis of theme choice as participant, process and
circumstance. The thematic structure and transitivity are presented in Appendix III. REVIEW OF LITERATURE

1.1 Headlines
1.1.1 Definition of press headlines
1.1.2 Surface structural categorization of headlines
1.1.2.1 Plain Headlines
1.1.2.2 Speech as Headlines
1.1.2.3 Headlines with Pointer
1.1.2.4 Question as Headlines
1.2 Theme-Rheme structure
1.2.1 The notion of Theme
1.2.1.1 Marked and unmarked themes
1.2.1.2 Theme in declarative clauses
1.2.1.3 Theme in non-declarative clauses
1.2.1.4 The predicated theme
1.2.1.5 Theme in clause complexes
1.2.1.6 Theme in Bound, Minor, and Elliptical Clauses
1.2.2 The notion of Rheme
1.3 Transitivity system

happens.

CONCLUDING REMARKS

In this study, what I have been trying to do is to apply systemic functional grammar
approach, particularly system of theme and rheme in analysing English press headlines.
In order to have this analysis, I have consulted theories related to thematic structure from
different theorists, and I have chosen the one by Halliday to base my study on. In details,
throughout this study, theme choices have been analyzed in terms of their experiential,
interpersonal, and textual role, along with their grammatical functions. The different
functions of the theme and the rheme of the clause have also been revealed: elements
which have more orienting role in a headline will often be placed in theme, while
elements which have a focal role (e.g. spatial location references which form part of a
description of events in a narrative) will appear in the rheme.
From the research and through the above discussion, it has been shown that choice of
theme appears to be a key factor for the success of clause in general and headline in
particular. In relation to the general question of the function that theme performs in press
headlines, one function of theme which is seen is the organisation of the message.
Importantly, it can be concluded that theme choice is governed by the combined forces of
the following concerns: writer's and reader's roles (e.g. informational vs. interactional)
and grammatical constraints (e.g on word order).
Finally, from the analysis, the view on thematic structure that different themes (different
types of information in thematic position, realized as different constituents of the clause)
create different contexts for the message in the clause and the different expectations in
the reader or hearer, is absolutely confirmed.

3. Limitations and suggestions

For further studies, to analyse thematic structure comprehensively, the object of study
could be converted to text, that is news including headlines and news itself. Moreover,
news could be seen on different views on theme: Theme as topic, Theme as given or
known, Theme as having the least degree of communicative dynamism, and Theme as
message onset. References

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