Topic-prominent Clause in Chinese: an SFL Perspective

摘要

This paper investigates into textual and experiential features of the TP-clauses from the SFL perspective. The conclusions include: (1) The Pt-element in TP-clause is neither the Subject of the Mood structure nor the Participant in the Transitivity System; It functions textually as Theme and experientially as Circumstantial element of Matter; (2) The TP-clause thematizes the experiential element of Matter and realizes a textual option of Theme-Focusing; (3) Theme-focusing is a semantic potential to all language systems, but its grammatical configuration varies among languages. The paper further probes into the unique grammatical features of Chinese TP-clauses and tentatively establishes a system of Theme-Focusing in Chinese.