Formal and Functional Features of English (nuova edizione)

Formal and Functional features of English presents an integrated approach to English within the general framework of socio-systemic linguistics. This approach to linguistics involves interpreting language as a system of meanings accompanied by forms through which the meanings can be realised in context. The notion of context is fundamental to language as communication takes place not in isolation but in relation to events, actions and participants. Using language also implies a continual choice among the various options offered by the system. The focus of the book is thus on language as a set of interrelated networks of semantic and pragmatic options which are expressed by formal and structural features. The book is divided into ten Chapters each dealing with an aspect of the English language. The Introductory Chapter is followed by a Chapter that presents an overview of the functional approach to language. Chapter 3 delves into the socio-cultural aspects of English with specific regard to text and context while Chapter 4 discusses varieties of English in relation to register and dialect. Chapter 5 focuses on the concepts of discourse and genre. The following 3 chapters cover various aspects of textuality: Chapter 6 addresses the features of coherence and cohesion, Chapter 7 deals with thematisation and thematic progression and Chapter 8 explores segmentation, sequencing and salience in relation to parataxis and hypotaxis. The last two chapters investigate aspects of lexis and lexicography within the framework of corpus linguistics.