Article In: Perspectives in Systemic Functional Linguistics: A celebration of the fiftieth international congress
Edited by Tom Bartlett
[Language, Context and Text 8:1] 2026

Modelling context from multiple perspectives

 | Australian Catholic University
This content is being prepared for publication; it may be subject to changes.
Abstract
That language functions in its context of use is one of the fundamental tenets of SFL. This paper reflects upon the modelling of context in SFL. It will view context from multiple perspectives — not in the typical trinocular sense of above, around and below, but in terms of three major dimensions of SFL theory: realisation, instantiation and individuation. Viewing context in this way will allow us to model field, tenor and mode along three distinct contours: in terms of realisation, field, tenor and mode can be viewed as resources for making meaning; for instantiation, they can be viewed as sets of principles for the co-selection and arrangement of choices in language; and for individuation, they can be viewed as spheres of stability, variation, contestation and collaboration. This paper will argue that these different perspectives are complementary, providing a view of a wide-range of things our model of context needs to grapple with.
Article outline
  • 1.Language and context
  • 2.Resources of context
  • 3.Principles of context
  • 4.Spheres of context
  • 5.Modelling context from multiple perspectives
  • Acknowledgements
  • Notes
  • Author queries
  • References
References (78)
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