Cover not available
Article published In:
Language, Context and Text
Vol. 1:2 (2019) ► pp.366–387

Matthiessen on Halliday

An interview with Christian M. I. M. Matthiessen (Part I) [1] 1

| The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
| Sun Yat-sen University
| Guangdong Polytechnic of Science and Technology
Christian M. I. M. Matthiessen was a long-time collaborator and close friend of M. A. K. Halliday, and has co-authored various books with him, some of which have not yet been published. In this interview, he describes Halliday’s wide-ranging linguistic interests, provides details of Halliday’s time in China, discusses the influences of J. R. Firth and Karl Marx on Halliday, reflects on the development of Halliday’s theories, and describes Halliday’s contributions to phonetics, phonology and typology.
Keywords: M. A. K. Halliday, appliable linguistics, Wang Li, J. R. Firth, Marxism, Chomskyan linguistics, phonetics, Chinese phonology, language description, typology
Article outline
  • 1.Introduction
  • 2.Halliday’s research interests and disinterests
  • 3.Halliday in China
  • 4.The Firthian tradition
  • 5.Halliday and Marxism
  • 6.Developing Halliday’s theory in tough times
  • 7.Halliday’s contributions to phonetics and phonology
  • 8.Halliday and language typology
  • 9.Conclusion
  • Notes
  • References
Published online: 22 July 2019
DOI logo
https://doi.org/10.1075/langct.00015.wan
References
Barnwell, Katherine G. L.
1969 A grammatical description of Mbembe (Adun dialect): A cross river language. London: University of London dissertation.Google Scholar
Bod, Rens, Jennifer Hay & Stefanie Jannedy
(eds.) 2003 Probabilistic linguistics. Cambridge: MIT Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Chomsky, Noam & Morris Halle
1991 The sound pattern of English. Cambridge: MIT Press.Google Scholar
Comrie, Bernard
1976 Aspect: An introduction to the study of verbal aspect and related problems. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
1981 Language universals and linguistic typology. Chicago: Chicago University Press.Google Scholar
Douglas, Mary
1984 Purity and danger: An analysis of the concepts of pollution and taboo. London: Routledge.Google Scholar
Firth, John R.
1948 Sounds and prosodies. Transactions of the Philological Society 47(1). 127–152. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
1950 Personality and language in society. Sociological Review 42(1). 37–52. Reprinted in J. R. Firth 1957 Papers in linguistics 1934–1951, 177–189. London: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
1957 Papers in linguistics 1934–1951. London: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
1968a Descriptive linguistics and the study of English. In Frank R. Palmer (eds.), Selected papers of J. R. Firth 1952–59, 96–113. London & Harlow: Longmans.Google Scholar
1968b Frank R. Palmer (ed.). Selected papers of J. R. Firth 1952–59. London & Harlow: Longmans.Google Scholar
Fischer-Jørgensen, Eli
1975 Trends in phonological theory: A historical introduction. Copenhagen: Akademisk Forlag.Google Scholar
Foley, William A. & Robert D. van Valin
1984 Functional syntax and universal grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Greenberg, Joseph H.
(ed.) 1966 Some universals of grammar with particular reference to the order of meaningful elements. In Joseph H. Greenberg (ed.), Universals of language (2nd edition), 73–113. Cambridge: MIT Press.Google Scholar
(ed.) 1978 Universals of human language. Stanford: Stanford University Press.Google Scholar
Halliday, Michael A. K.
1956 Grammatical categories in Modern Chinese. Transactions of the Philological Society 55(1). 177–224. Reprinted in M. A. K. Halliday, Studies in Chinese language, volume 8 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 209–248. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Continuum 2005.Google Scholar
1957 Some aspects of systematic description and comparison in grammatical analysis. In John R. Firth (ed.), Studies in linguistic analysis, 54–67. Oxford: Blackwell. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, On grammar, volume 1 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 21–36. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Continuum 2002.Google Scholar
1959 The language of the Chinese Secret History of the Mongols. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, Studies in Chinese language, volume 8 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 5–174. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Continuum 2005.Google Scholar
1961 Categories of the theory of grammar. Word 171. 241–292. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, On grammar, volume 1 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 37–94. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Continuum 2002.Google Scholar
1963 Intonation in English Grammar. Transactions of the Philological Society 62(1). 143–169. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
1964a The linguistic study of literary texts. In Horace Lunt (ed.), Proceedings of the ninth international congress of linguistics, 302–307. The Hague: Mouton. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, Linguistic studies of text and discourse, volume 2 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 5–22. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Continuum 2003.Google Scholar
1964b Syntax and the consumer. In Christopher I. J. M. Stuart (ed.), Report of the fifteenth annual (first international) round table meeting on linguistics and language studies, 11–24. Washington DC: Georgetown University Press. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, On language and linguistics, volume 3 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 36–49. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Continuum 2003.Google Scholar
1966 Some notes on “deep” grammar. Journal of Linguistics 2(1). 57–67. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, On grammar, volume 1 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 106–117. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Continuum 2002.Google Scholar
1967 Intonation and grammar in British English. The Hague: Mouton. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
1970 A course in spoken English: Intonation. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
1971 Linguistic function and literary style: An inquiry into the language of William Golding’s The Inheritors . In Seymour B. Chatman (ed.), Literary style: A symposium, 330–365. London & New York: Oxford University Press. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, Linguistic studies of text and discourse, volume 2 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 88–125. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Continuum 2003.Google Scholar
1978 Language as social semiotic: The social interpretation of language and meaning. London: Edward Arnold.Google Scholar
1984 Linguistics in the university: The question of social accountability. In James E. Copeland (ed.), New directions in linguistics and semiotics, 51–67. Houston, Texas: Rice University. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
1985 An introduction to functional grammar. London: Arnold.Google Scholar
1990 New ways of meaning: The challenge to applied linguistics. Journal of Applied Linguistics, 61 7–16. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, On language and linguistics, volume 3 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 139–174. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Continuum 2003.Google Scholar
1992a A systemic interpretation of Peking syllable finals. In Paul Tench (ed.), Studies in systemic phonology, 98–121. London & New York: Pinter. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, Studies in Chinese language, volume 8 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 294–320. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Continuum 2005.Google Scholar
1992b How do you mean? In Martin Davies & Louise Ravelli (eds.), Advances in systemic linguistics: Recent theory and practice, 20–35. London: Pinter. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, On grammar, volume 1 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 352–368. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Continuum 2002.Google Scholar
1993 Towards a language-based theory of learning. Linguistics and Education 5(2). 93–116. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
1994a An introduction to functional grammar (2nd edition). London: Edward Arnold.Google Scholar
1994b Language and the theory of codes. In Alan Sadovnik (ed.), Knowledge and pedagogy: The sociology of Basil Bernstein, 124–142. Norwood, N.J.: Ablex. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, Language and society, volume 10 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 231–246. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Continuum 2007.Google Scholar
1995 On the grammar of pain. Functions of Language 5(1). 1–32. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
1998 Language and knowledge: The “unpacking” of text. In Desmond Allison, Lionel Wee, Zhiming Bao & Sunita A. Abraham (eds.), Text in education and society, 157–178. Singapore: Singapore University Press.Google Scholar
2000 Phonology past and present: A personal retrospect. Folia Linguistica XXXIV(1–2). 101–111.Google Scholar
2004 On grammar as the driving force from primary to higher-order consciousness. In Geoff Williams & Annabelle Lukin (eds.), The development of language: Functional perspectives on species and individuals, 15–44. London: Continuum. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, Halliday in the 21st century, volume 11 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 159–189. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Bloomsbury 2013.Google Scholar
2005 Jonathan J. Webster (ed.). Studies in Chinese language. London & New York: Continuum.Google Scholar
2008a Complementarities in language. Beijing: The Commercial Press.Google Scholar
2008b Working with meaning: Towards an appliable linguistics. In Jonathan J. Webster (ed.), Meaning in context: Implementing intelligent applications of language studies, 7–23. London & New York: Continuum.Google Scholar
2009a The gloosy ganoderm: Systemic functional linguistics and translation. Chinese Translators Journal [中国翻译] 11. 17–26. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, Halliday in the 21st century, volume 11 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 105–126. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Bloomsbury 2013.Google Scholar
2009b Mountains of the word: Construing the architecture of nature into meaning. Presented to the Indonesian international systemic congress, The University of Brawijaya, Malang, East Java, 5–7 December 2009. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, Halliday in the 21st century, volume 11 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 215–236. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Bloomsbury 2013.
2010a Pinpointing the choice: Meaning and the search for equivalents in a translated text. In Ahmar Mahboob & Naomi K. Knight (eds.), Appliable linguistics, 13–24. London: Continuum. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, Halliday in the 21st century, volume 11 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 143–154. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Bloomsbury 2013.Google Scholar
2010b Language evolving: Some systemic functional reflections on the history of meaning. Presented to the 37th international systemic functional congress, University of British Columbia, July 2010. Reprinted in Michael A. K. Halliday, Halliday in the 21st century, volume 11 in the collected works of M.A.K. Halliday, 237–253. Edited by Jonathan J. Webster. London & New York: Bloomsbury 2013.
2015 The influence of Marxism. In Jonathan J. Webster (ed.), The Bloomsbury companion to M.A.K. Halliday, 94–100. London & New York: Bloomsbury.Google Scholar
Halliday, Michael A. K. & Christian M. I. M. Matthiessen
2004 An introduction to functional grammar (3rd edition). London: Hodder Arnold.Google Scholar
2006 [1999] Construing experience: A language-based approach to cognition. London & New York: Continuum.Google Scholar
2014 Halliday’s introduction to functional grammar (4th edition). London & New York: Routledge. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
in prep. Outline of systemic functional linguistics.
Halliday, Michael A. K. & Edward McDonald
2004 Metafunctional profile of the grammar of Chinese. In Alice Caffarel, James R. Martin & Christian M. I. M. Matthiessen (eds.), Language typology: A functional perspective, 305–393. Amsterdam & Philadelphia: John Benjamins. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Hu, Zhuanglin
1981 Textual cohesion in Chinese. Sydney: University of Sydney MA thesis.Google Scholar
Huddleston, Rodney
1965 Rank and depth. Language 411. 574–586. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
1984 Introduction to the grammar of English. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Huddleston, Rodney, Richard A. Hudson, Eugene O. Winter & Alick Henrici
1968 Sentence and clause in scientific English: A report of the research project on the linguistic properties of scientific English. Mimeo.Google Scholar
Hudson, Richard A.
1972 Complex symbols dominating branching structures in Beja. Folia Orientalia 141. 37–51.Google Scholar
1973a An “item-and-paradigm” approach to Beja syntax and morphology. Foundations of Language 91. 504–548.Google Scholar
1974 A structural sketch of Beja. African Language Studies 151. 111–142.Google Scholar
1976a Arguments for a non-transformational grammar. Chicago & London: University of Chicago Press.Google Scholar
1976b Beja. In M. Lionel Bender (ed.), The non-Semitic languages of Ethiopia, 97–132. East Lansing: African Studies Center, Michigan State University.Google Scholar
Lamb, Sydney M.
1965 Outline of stratificational grammar. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.Google Scholar
Long, Rijin
1981 Transitivity in Chinese. Sydney: University of Sydney MA thesis.Google Scholar
Mann, William C.
1985 An introduction to the Nigel text generation grammar. In James D. Benson & William S. Greaves (eds.), Systemic perspectives on discourse (volume 1), 84–95. Norwood: Ablex.Google Scholar
Mann, William C. & Christian M. I. M. Matthiessen
1985 Demonstration of the Nigel text generation grammar. In James D. Benson & William S. Greaves (eds.), Systemic perspectives on discourse (volume 1), 50–83. Norwood: Ablex.Google Scholar
Martin, James R.
2015 Halliday the grammarian: Axial foundations. In Jonathan J. Webster (ed.), The Bloomsbury companion to M.A.K. Halliday, 257–290. London & New York: Bloomsbury.Google Scholar
Matthiessen, Christian M. I. M.
1985 The systemic framework in text generation: Nigel. In James D. Benson & William S. Greaves (eds.), Systemic perspectives on discourse (volume 1), 96–118. Norwood: Ablex.Google Scholar
2012 Systemic functional linguistics as appliable linguistics: Social accountability and critical approaches. D.E.L.T.A. 281. 435–471.Google Scholar
Matthiessen, Christian M. I. M. & Michael A. K. Halliday
2009 Systemic functional grammar: A first step into the theory. Beijing: Higher Education Press.Google Scholar
Meillet, Antoine
1921 Linguistique historique et linguistique générale (tome I). Paris: H. Champion.Google Scholar
1936 Linguistique historique et linguistique générale (tome II). Paris: C. Klincksieck.Google Scholar
Mock, Carol C.
1969 The grammatical units of the Nzema language: A systemic analysis. London: University of London dissertation.Google Scholar
Newmeyer, Frederick
1980 Linguistic theory in America: The first quarter century of transformational generative grammar. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Ochs, Elinor, Emanuel A. Schegloff & Sandra A. Thompson
(eds.) 1996 Interaction and grammar. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Palmer, Frank R.
(ed.) 1970 Prosodic analysis. London: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Peng, Xuanwei
2015 Halliday in China: Legacies and advances from LUO, WANG and beyond. In Jonathan J. Webster (ed.), The Bloomsbury companion to M.A.K. Halliday, 62–71. London & New York: Bloomsbury.Google Scholar
Pierrehumbert, Janet
2003 Probabilistic phonology: Discrimination and robustness. In Rens Bod, Jennifer Hay & Stefanie Jannedy (eds.), Probabilistic linguistics, 177–228. Cambridge: MIT Press.Google Scholar
Robins, Robert H.
1958 The Yurok language: Grammar, texts, lexicon. Berkeley & Los Angeles: University of California Press.Google Scholar
1962 The third person pronominal prefix in Yurok. International Journal of American Linguistics 281. 14–18. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
1967 Yurok. Lingua 171. 210–229. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
1985 A rule restatement of Yurok allomorphy. International Journal of American Linguistics 51(4). 559–561. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Robins, Robert H. & Norma McLeod
1956 Five Yurok songs: A musical and textual analysis. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 181. 592–609. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
1957 A Yurok song without words. Bulletin of the School of Oriental and African Studies 201. 501–506. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Rose, David & James R. Martin
2012 Learning to write, reading to learn: Genre, knowledge and pedagogy in the Sydney School. London: Equinox.Google Scholar
Sapir, Edward
1921 Language: An introduction to the study of speech. New York: Harcourt, Brace & Company.Google Scholar
Seuren, Pieter A. M.
1998 Western linguistics: An historical introduction. Oxford: Blackwell. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
2004 Chomsky’s minimalism. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Sugeno, Michio
1993 Intelligent fuzzy computing. Paper presented to the Pacific conference on computational linguistics. Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada: The Harbour Centre Campus of Simon Fraser University, April 21–24 1993.
Thompson, Sandra A., Barbara A. Fox & Elizabeth Couper-Kuhlen
2015 Grammar in everyday talk: Building responsive actions. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Wang, Li [王力]
1928 On the sounds in both Yue regions [两粤音说]. Tsing Hua Journal [清华学报] 5(1). 1519–1565.Google Scholar
Wang, Li [王力] & Qian Songsheng [钱淞生]
1949 The sounds in the Dialect of Dongguan [东莞方音]. Lingnan Journal of Chinese Studies [岭南学报] 10(1). 119–150.Google Scholar
Wang, Li [王力] & Songsheng Qian [钱淞生]
1950a An overview of the sounds in the dialects of the Pearl River Delta [珠江三角洲方音总论]. Lingnan Journal of Chinese Studies [岭南学报] 10(2). 57–66.Google Scholar
1950b The sounds in the dialect of Taishan” [台山方音]. Lingnan Journal of Chinese Studies [岭南学报] 10(2). 67–104.Google Scholar
Webster, Jonathan J.
2015 (ed.). The Bloomsbury companion to M.A.K. Halliday. London & New York: Bloomsbury.Google Scholar
Williams, Geoff
2015 Halliday as an international educator. In Jonathan J. Webster (ed.), The Bloomsbury companion to M.A.K. Halliday, 327–347. London & New York: Bloomsbury.Google Scholar
Zhu, Yongsheng
1985 Modality and modulation in English and Chinese. Sydney: University of Sydney MA thesis. DOI logoGoogle Scholar
Cited by

Cited by 1 other publications

Matthiessen, Christian M. I. M., Bo Wang, Yuanyi Ma & Isaac N. Mwinlaaru
2022. Systemic Functional Language Typology. In Systemic Functional Insights on Language and Linguistics [The M.A.K. Halliday Library Functional Linguistics Series, ], ► pp. 197 ff. DOI logo

This list is based on CrossRef data as of 29 november 2023. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.