The text coherence is characterized for having a defined structure and correlation among its sentences and ideas.
Established patterns such as Theme and Rheme and thematic choices are used to give a coherent sense to the text. But these resources are nor the only ones, cohesive ties are other elements which combined with structural ones "give sense", in other words, they give texture to the text.
Texture then is considered what makes a text a real text instead of a group of sentences with no relation among them.
This blog's objective is to explain the different patterns used to order ideas and at the same time excercise the textual function applying and recognizing the Theme and Rheme.
I decided to use this technologic resource to represent this topic in order to call student's atracction and at the same time, make it more interactive and easy to learn
Definitions Of Theme And Rheme
Theme: The main idea that you are talking about and lets the reader or listener know what the clause is going to be about.
Rheme: What you say about the main idea.
Patterns of the thematic progression
Constant-------> A common Theme is shared by Rhemes.
-------> Cohesive ties are very used to replace the subject and not be
repetitive.
-------> Usually found in textbooks, descriptions, etc.
-------> Usually found in textbooks, descriptions, etc.
Linear -------> The Rheme of one clause is taken up as Theme of the
subsequent clause.
Split Rheme -> The Rheme of a clause has two components,
each of which is taken in turn as Theme of a subsequent clause.
Derived Themes -> When two or more Themes alternate within a text.
* Usually found in large texts.
* Usually found in large texts.
Example Text
The text reviews the main characteristics of one of my favourite movies, "Pan's labyrinth"
It is a movie review that I selected from Wikipedia source because I think is one of the most objective reviews that I could found in a set of different comments on the net.
It is a recent movie (2006) based on a fairy tale that mixes Spanish History with the fantasy world of a a girl. Its visual effects were awarded in lost of Film Festivals and even the Oscar awards. Nothing to envy to big Cinematographic films Industry.
Pan's Labyrinth
Movie review
Ofelia and the Faun
Pan's Labyrinth (Spanish: El laberinto del fauno, literally The Labyrinth of the Faun) is a 2006 Spanish language fantasy film written and directed by Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro. It was produced and distributed by the Mexican film company Esperanto Films.
Pan's Labyrinth takes place in a dual setting: Spain in May and June, 1944, after the Spanish Civil War, during the franquist repression, and a
Pan's Labyrinth takes place in a dual setting: Spain in May and June, 1944, after the Spanish Civil War, during the franquist repression, and a
fantasy world experienced by a Spanish girl, Ofelia, who is given three tasks by a mysterious faun.
In the "real world", Ofelia's stepfather, the Falangist Captain Vidal, viciously hunts the Spanish Maquis, guerrillas who continue fighting the Franco regime in the region, while her pregnant mother grows increasingly ill. The "fantasy world" is one that Ofelia enters through an overgrown labyrinth garden, where she meets all manner of strange and magical creatures who become central to her story. The film employs make-up, puppetry, and CGI effects to create its creatures.
One of Deltoro's fantastic creatures in Pan's Labyrinth
Del Toro stated that he considers the story to be a parable, influenced by fairy tales, and that it addresses and continues themes related to his earlier film The Devil's Backbone,[3] a spiritual sequel, though not an actual sequel. The original Spanish title refers to the mythological fauns of Greek mythology, while the English title refers specifically to the faun-like Greek god Pan (intended to help English-speakers differentiate the title from the term fawn). However, del Toro has stated that the faun in the film is not Pan.
The film premiered at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. It was released in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2006. In the United States and Canada, the film was given a limited release on December 29, 2006, with a wide release on January 19, 2007.Pan's Labyrinth has won numerous international awards, including three Academy Awards, the Ariel Award for Best Picture, and the 2007 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form.
Analized Text
1) Identify the different Theme-Rhemes inside the text and recognize the kind of Thematic Pattern they form.
Th: Theme
Rh: Rheme
(TH) Pan's Labyrinth (Spanish: El laberinto del fauno, literally The Labyrinth of the Faun) (RH)is a 2006 Spanish language fantasy film written and directed by Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro. It was produced and distributed by the Mexican film company Esperanto Films.
(TH) Pan's Labyrinth (RH)takes place in (RH)a dual setting: (RH)Spain in May and June, 1944, after (RH)the Spanish Civil War, (RH)during the franquist repression, (TH)and a fantasy world (RH) experienced by a Spanish girl, (TH)Ofelia, who is given three tasks by a mysterious faun. (TH) In the "real world", (TH) Ofelia's stepfather, (RH)the Falangist Captain Vidal, viciously hunts the Spanish (RH) Maquis, guerrillas (RH)who continue fighting the Franco regime in the region, while her (TH)pregnant mother (RH)grows increasingly ill. (TH)The "fantasy world" (RH)is one that Ofelia enters through an overgrown (TH) labyrinth garden, (RH) where she meets all manner of (TH)strange and magical creatures (RH)who become central to her story. (TH) The film (RH) employs make-up, puppetry, and CGI effects to create its creatures.
(TH) Del Toro stated (RH)that he considers the story to be a parable, influenced by fairy tales, and that it addresses and continues themes related to his earlier film (TH) The Devil's Backbone, a spiritual sequel, though not an actual sequel. (TH)The original Spanish title refers to the (RH) mythological fauns of Greek mythology, (TH) while the English title (RH) refers specifically to the faun-like Greek god Pan (intended to help English-speakers differentiate the title from the term fawn). However, (TH) del Toro (RH) has stated that the faun in the film is not Pan.
(TH) The film (RH) premiered at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. It was released in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2006. In the United States and Canada, the film was given (TH) a limited release (RH)on December 29, 2006, with a (TH) wide release (RH) on January 19, 2007. (TH) Pan's Labyrinth (RH) has won numerous (TH) international awards, (RH)including three Academy Awards, the Ariel Award for Best Picture, and the 2007 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form.
Patterns observed:
1st Paragraph : a Theme and Rhemes related to it = Constant Pattern
2nd Paragraph: Rheme taken as a Theme of the next clause = Linear Pattern
3rd Paragraph: Rheme taken as a Theme of the next clause = Linear Pattern
4th Paragraph: First, a Theme and Rhemes related to it = Constant Pattern
Second, Rheme taken as theme of the next clause = Linear Pattern
Th: Theme
Rh: Rheme
(TH) Pan's Labyrinth (Spanish: El laberinto del fauno, literally The Labyrinth of the Faun) (RH)is a 2006 Spanish language fantasy film written and directed by Mexican film-maker Guillermo del Toro. It was produced and distributed by the Mexican film company Esperanto Films.
(TH) Pan's Labyrinth (RH)takes place in (RH)a dual setting: (RH)Spain in May and June, 1944, after (RH)the Spanish Civil War, (RH)during the franquist repression, (TH)and a fantasy world (RH) experienced by a Spanish girl, (TH)Ofelia, who is given three tasks by a mysterious faun. (TH) In the "real world", (TH) Ofelia's stepfather, (RH)the Falangist Captain Vidal, viciously hunts the Spanish (RH) Maquis, guerrillas (RH)who continue fighting the Franco regime in the region, while her (TH)pregnant mother (RH)grows increasingly ill. (TH)The "fantasy world" (RH)is one that Ofelia enters through an overgrown (TH) labyrinth garden, (RH) where she meets all manner of (TH)strange and magical creatures (RH)who become central to her story. (TH) The film (RH) employs make-up, puppetry, and CGI effects to create its creatures.
(TH) Del Toro stated (RH)that he considers the story to be a parable, influenced by fairy tales, and that it addresses and continues themes related to his earlier film (TH) The Devil's Backbone, a spiritual sequel, though not an actual sequel. (TH)The original Spanish title refers to the (RH) mythological fauns of Greek mythology, (TH) while the English title (RH) refers specifically to the faun-like Greek god Pan (intended to help English-speakers differentiate the title from the term fawn). However, (TH) del Toro (RH) has stated that the faun in the film is not Pan.
(TH) The film (RH) premiered at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival. It was released in the United Kingdom on November 24, 2006. In the United States and Canada, the film was given (TH) a limited release (RH)on December 29, 2006, with a (TH) wide release (RH) on January 19, 2007. (TH) Pan's Labyrinth (RH) has won numerous (TH) international awards, (RH)including three Academy Awards, the Ariel Award for Best Picture, and the 2007 Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form.
Patterns observed:
1st Paragraph : a Theme and Rhemes related to it = Constant Pattern
2nd Paragraph: Rheme taken as a Theme of the next clause = Linear Pattern
3rd Paragraph: Rheme taken as a Theme of the next clause = Linear Pattern
4th Paragraph: First, a Theme and Rhemes related to it = Constant Pattern
Second, Rheme taken as theme of the next clause = Linear Pattern
Exercises
I) Order the clauses and construct a coherent text.
1) Anthropology is the study of humankind,
It is the study of how our species evolved from more primitive organisms;
It is the study of how culture evolved and diversified
And finally, it is the study of how culture, people and nature
especially of Homo sapiens,
the biological species to which we human beings belong.
___________________________________
___________________________________
2) The play A young man and a young woman
didn’t pay any attention to me. was interesting,
didn’t enjoy it. I
But I But they
turned round and looked at them,
____________________________________
____________________________________
3) Whales are facing extinction. The few whales which are left
The whales Whales
They travel along the coastlines of many countries.
travel in large groups. are large mammals
have a layer of skin, blubber, meat, then their bones.
____________________________________
____________________________________
II) Recognize the different patterns and identify the Themes and Rhemes included.
1) Hemp's environmental credentials are indisputable. It grows better in
organic systems than in conventional ones. It smothers weeds and
controls pests, clearing the land for other crops. It improves the
structure of the soil, with strong roots to prevent erosion. If
processed in the field, it returns nutrients to the land and purports to
'clean up' soil contaminated with heavy metals. It is one of a minority
of textile-fibre crops that can be grown in temperate climates. So why,
given its potential, is so little hemp used today?
It is the study of how our species evolved from more primitive organisms;
It is the study of how culture evolved and diversified
And finally, it is the study of how culture, people and nature
especially of Homo sapiens,
the biological species to which we human beings belong.
___________________________________
___________________________________
2) The play A young man and a young woman
didn’t pay any attention to me. was interesting,
didn’t enjoy it. I
But I But they
turned round and looked at them,
____________________________________
____________________________________
3) Whales are facing extinction. The few whales which are left
The whales Whales
They travel along the coastlines of many countries.
travel in large groups. are large mammals
have a layer of skin, blubber, meat, then their bones.
____________________________________
____________________________________
II) Recognize the different patterns and identify the Themes and Rhemes included.
1) Hemp's environmental credentials are indisputable. It grows better in
organic systems than in conventional ones. It smothers weeds and
controls pests, clearing the land for other crops. It improves the
structure of the soil, with strong roots to prevent erosion. If
processed in the field, it returns nutrients to the land and purports to
'clean up' soil contaminated with heavy metals. It is one of a minority
of textile-fibre crops that can be grown in temperate climates. So why,
given its potential, is so little hemp used today?
Pattern: __________________________
2) Japan kills around 600 whales per year. When the Japanese hunters
arrived in boats tokill some whales Greenpeace went into action. Greenpeace went in
inflatable boats closetowards the Japanese boat to prevent the killing. Greenpeace managed to
save 60 whales,but unfortunately the Japanese did kill 24. The Japanese claim that
whale meat is apart oftheir culture.
Pattern: __________________________
3) There are four basic types of clowns. Whiteface clowns cover their face with white make-up and they do a lot of physical stunts like leaping andtumbling. Auguste clownswear colourful, ill fitting clothing andoversized shoes. They also have bulbous noses and brightlycoloured wigs. Character clowns make fun of the human condition and they may impersonate characters such as acowboy, fireman, tramp or policeman. The more recent “New Vaudeville”clowns involve the audience in the show.
Pattern: __________________________
4) the textual Theme is any combination of continuative, structural and
conjunctive, in that order. A continuative is one of a small set of discourse
signalers, yes, no, well, oh, OOW, which signal that a new move is beginning: a
response to dialogue, or a nove to the next point if the same speaker is continuing.
A structural Theme is any of the obligatory thematic elements...
Pattern: ___________________________
IV) Create a coherent text, applying the patterns of the thematic progression with the following concepts and ideas:
* Park * little boy *at home *joke *football *study grammar lesson
*have dinner at Grandma's home
GOOD LUCK!
Bibliography and resources:
* Halliday, M.A.K G Hasan, R 1976. 1985. Language, context and text: aspects of language in a social-semiotic perspective. Oxford University Press, Hong Kong. Caps. 1 - 3 126 p.
* Alonso Belmonte, Isabel, McCabe-Hidalgo, Anne: Theme and Rheme patterns in L2 writing
* Introducing functional Grammar, compilation by Lyle Walker http://www.mourass.eq.edu.au/Documents/Functional%20Grammar%20Introductory%20Booklet.pdf
