Registerial cartography: context-based mapping of text types and their rhetorical-relational organization

Department of EnglishInvited conference pape

An introduction to functional grammar. Third edition

Londonx, 689 p.: bibl. ref., index; 25 c

Translations of Representations of Moving and Saying from English into Spanish

ABSTRACT: This paper presents a systemic-functional contrastive analysis of an original English text – a chapter, ‘The Land of Shadow’ from J. R. R. Tolkien’s "The Lord of the Rings" – and its Spanish translation, ‘El País de la Sombra’, focusing on the shifts in translation of representations of motion and of saying. These two realms of experience provide an interesting contrast in terms of experiential complexity, as more transitivity parameters are expected to be involved in construing human experience of motion through three-dimensional space than of speech events. From this we can predict (a) that there will be greater differences in the translation of representations of motion than in the translation of representations of saying, and (b) that the differences in the representation of motion will largely reflect the systemic differences between two languages. Our analysis demonstrates that translation shifts in the area of verbs of saying are relatively insignificant whereas the translation of representations of motion extends over the scale from no shift to considerable shift, depending on the extent to which the systems of English and Spanish differ in their modeling of the experience of motion through space and that there tend to be shifts where systemic differences necessitate such shifts.Depto. de Estudios Ingleses: Lingüística y LiteraturaFac. de FilologíaTRUEpu

Learning how to mean in a second language: uses of system networks in L2 education

While approaches informed by Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) have been widely applied to the field of language education since the 1960s, the idea of the system embodying the meaning potential of language in context, represented as a system network, could be used to make a much more significant contribution to second language (L2) or foreign language education, where despite pioneering efforts the uptake of SFL has been less than in L1 education. In this paper, we will take stock of the ways system networks have been used in studies concerned with L2 education and at the same time we will highlight new opportunities to empower new studies and applications based on system networks as a way of engaging with the central notion of learning how to mean in a second/foreign language. We argue that system networks can make a very significant contribution to L2 education if they are given more attention and their deployment is highlighted. The uses considered in this paper include the following: Tracking language development systemically; diagnosing problems in L2 student texts; supporting sequencing in the curriculum of the learning of the L2 meaning potential; designing exercises based on options in system networks; guiding L2 learners by means of system networks as cartographic tools; contrasting L1 and L2 resources based on multilingual system networks; and supporting advanced L2 learners expanding their L2 uses by adding translation skills drawing on multilingual system networks. We will touch on these uses, highlighting those that have perhaps given the least attention in L2 education drawing on SFL, but which look very promising as we move ahead in the next couple of decades

The International Centre for Communication in Healthcare: Creating Safer and More Compassionate Healthcare Systems around the World

Background: The role of communication in healthcare receives increasing attention, yet little research exists that brings together perspectives from interprofessional healthcare researchers and practitioners with linguists and communication specialists. The International Centre for Communication in Healthcare[1] is a response to increasing recognition of the central role of communication and relationships in the delivery of safe, effective and compassionate healthcare.Objective: To develop a worldwide, multidisciplinary collaborative of internationally recognized healthcare professionals and communication experts working together to translate research into education and practice to improve patient safety, communication and relationships in healthcare.Methods: The International Collaborative for Communication in Healthcare (a precursor to the Centre) began in 2010, and was founded at Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) in March 2011. We initiated research collaborations and presented colloquia, workshops and papers at international conferences.Results: The Centre, co-convened by PolyU and University of Technology, Sydney, was formally launched at PolyU in June 2013 with over 50 members from over 10 countries. The Centre is developing a strategic research agenda for communication in healthcare to improve the quality and safety of patient care, and to mobilize knowledge and expertise gained from research to guide teaching and implementation of communication skills and compassionate care in healthcare education and practice.  In an early initiative in 2011, we created the International Charter for Human Values in Healthcare[2], a collaborative effort involving people, organizations and institutions around the world working together to restore core human values to healthcare. The values of the International Charter inform the Centre’s research, education and practice initiatives.Conclusions: Effective communication is increasingly recognized as integral to safe, effective, and compassionate healthcare. The International Centre for Communication in Healthcare brings together interdisciplinary researchers, educators and practitioners from diverse disciplines to explore and improve communication and relationships in healthcare settings around the world.References1. The International Centre for Communication in Healthcare.  Hong Kong Polytechnic University and University of Technology, Sydney. http://icchweb.org2. The International Charter for Human Values in Healthcare. December 2, 2012. http://charterforhealthcarevalues.or