J.R. Martin is Professor in the Department of Linguistics at the University of Sydney, Australia, where he is also Deputy Director of the LCT Centre for Knowledge-Building.

Y.J. Doran is Lecturer in the Department of Linguistics and Research Fellow at the LCT Centre for Knowledge-Building at the University of Sydney, Australia.

Giacomo Figueredo is a Researcher and Senior Adjunct Professor of Linguistics at the Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil.

Table of contents

1. Describing languages, understanding language: Systemic Functional theory and description




Y.J. Doran and J.R. Martin





Part I: Understanding grammar




2. Axial argumentation below the clause: The verbal group in Khorchin Mongolian




Dongbing Zhang




3. Axial argumentation and cryptogrammar in interpersonal grammar: A case study of Classical Tibetan mood




Pin Wang




4. Experiential cryptotypes: reasoning about process type




Beatriz Quiroz




5. Axial argumentation and cryptogrammar in textual grammar: theme in Brazilian Portuguese




Giacomo Figueredo




6. Arguments for seeing Theme-Rheme and Topic-Comment as separate functional structures




Randy J. LaPolla





Part II: Contextualising grammar




7. Functional language typology: A discourse semantic perspective




J.R. Martin and Beatriz Quiroz




8. Construing relations between scientific activities through Mandarin Chinese




Jing Hao




9. The Baboon and the Bee: Exploring register patterns across languages




David Rose




10. Language shift: Bilingual exchange structure in classroom interactions




Harni Kartika Ningsih




11. Academic formalisms: Toward a semiotic typology

Y.J. Doran