TEXTUAL FUNCTION

TEXTUAL FUNCTION

Textual Function: organize message, relevance to context (linguistic and social).  A clause as a unit of message is constituted by THEME and RHEME

THEME—RHEME

Theme: (1) the starting point of the message

             (2) the point of departure of the message

Rheme: the rest of the message

THEME identified by

  (1) ORDER and (2) MARKER

English, Bahasa Indonesia..., by Order

Japanese, Bahasa Batak...,    by Marker

THEME AND RHEME

In English, the Theme is identified as the first order of the clausal elements (i. e. either the Process, Participant or Circumstance)

Rheme: the part of clause after the Theme

THEME        RHEME

-Your reporter repeatedly interrupted her replies

- Repeatedly    your reporter interrupted her replies

- Her replies     were repeatedly interrupted by your reporter. 

- We                  care (for) your health

 Your health    we care