On linguistic philosophy of mikhail bakhtin and hallidayan systemic functional linguistics

Abstract

It is noteworthy that florid descriptions of interaction between linguistics and the philosophy of language are regularly inspired. In this paper, parallels have been drawn between Bakhtin’s philosophical perspectives and Hallidayan theoretical claims of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL). Through the analysis of Bakhtin’s theory of dialogism, heteroglossia, chronotope and metalinguistics, I argue that Hallidayan Systemic Functional Linguistic theory is compatible with Bakhtin’s philosophical perspectives to a great extent in terms of the close relations between speech genre and register, heteroglossia and appraisal theory as well as metalinguistics and metafunctions. It is safe to say that as a precursor, Bakhtin has a profound influence on socio-semioticians like Halliday who has expounded in linguistics.