Discourse Analysis in the 21st Century: Theory and Practice (II)

Abstract

This paper explores some aspects of the problem of categorizing attitudinal relations in Eng- lish, as part of a description of evaluation informed by systemic functional linguistics (SFL) — APPRAISAL. It reviews paradigmatic and syntagmatic orientations to lexis within this tradition, and the development of typological and topological representations of systemic relations. Corpus based argumentation is con- sidered in relation to work on evaluation by Bednarek 2008; and proposals for continuing the study of lexis are suggested, focusing on resources for negotiating sadness and negative reactions to behavior (e.g. em- barrassed, ashamed) and the affordances of topological representation. The paper highlights the possibilities and challenges involved in continuing the study of lexis in descriptions using SFL as their informing theory. Keywords: