Modelling Paralanguage Using Systemic Functional Semiotics: Theory and Application

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This book is the first comprehensive account of 'body language' as 'paralanguage' informed by Systemic Functional Semiotics (SFS). It brings together the collaborative work of internationally renowned academics and emerging scholars to offer a fresh linguistic perspective on gesture, body orientation, body movement, facial expression and voice quality resources that support all spoken language. The authors create a framework for distinguishing non-semiotic behaviour from paralanguage, and provide a comprehensive modelling of paralanguage in each of the three metafunctions of meaning (ideational, interpersonal and textual). Illustrations of the application of this new model for multimodal discourse analysis draw on a range of contexts, from social media vlogs, to animated childrens narratives, to face-to-face teaching. Modelling Paralanguage Using Systemic Functional Semiotics offers an innovative way for dealing with culture-specific and context specific paralanguage.

Reviews

This innovative theorizing of meaning-making via the facial expression, gesture, posture, body movement and vocal qualities such as loudness, pitch level and tension, that integrally complement spoken English discourse, provides new analytic frameworks to enhance research in social interaction in multiple disciplinary contexts an indispensable resource for social semiotic research. * Len Unsworth, Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education, Australian Catholic University, Australia *
Modelling Paralanguage Using Systemic Functional Semiotics is a highly relevant and necessary book for researchers in the humanities and social sciences interested in expanding Hallidays multifunctional theory to the study of meaning of the semiotic resources embodied in our voices, gestures, facial expressions and postures in order to enact social relations. * Teresa Oteza, Associate Professor in Linguistics, Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, Chile *
A timely and welcome addition to the field demonstrating robust developments in systemic functional theory and its application. This work draws together some of the leading experts in this domain, offering critical insights and various pathways for further exploration. A must-read for linguists and specialists in non-verbal communication alike. * Luke A. Rudge, Senior Lecturer in Linguistics, University of the West of England, Bristol, UK *

Author Bio

Thu Ngo is Lecturer in Language and Literacy in the School of Education at Australian Catholic University, Australia. Susan Hood is Honorary Associate Professor in the Department of Linguistics, University of Sydney, Australia. J. R. Martin is Professor of Linguistics at the University of Sydney, Australia. Clare Painter is Honorary Associate in the Department of Linguistics, University of Sydney, Australia. Bradley A. Smith is Honorary Associate in the Department of Linguistics, University of Sydney, Australia. Michele Zappavigna is Associate Professor in the School of the Arts & Media at the University of Sydney, Australia.