The notions of text and context in Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL): applications, critique and developments in Latin America

Abstract

SFL is a neo-firthian trend in linguistics originated in Great Britain and led by Michael Halliday. In this article, we claim that, in order to understand the applications, criticism, and developments of SFL, it is important to bear in mind its origins and its relation with other neo-firthian perspectives that have contributed to strengthen British linguistics. We focus on the notions of text and context as they were originally conceived in the classic model (Halliday, 1978; Halliday & Hasan, 1989), and then applied by other researchers, particularly in Australia, who extended the theory (Martin, 1984, 1992; Martin & Rose, 2003, 2008; Martin & White, 2005). The aim is to examine the theory in the light of Halliday’s notions of context of situation and context of culture, and their relation with register and genre. The impact of British linguistics is assessed with focus on its applications, criticism, and developments in Latin America especially in the fields of education and critical discourse analysis.