| Summary: | Modern lingusitics consist of several schools of thought with diverse
approaches. The Systemic School consists of a group of linguists who primarily
study language within the social context. They thus have an interpersonal
approach. This approach within British Linguistics originated in the work of
Malinowski in the twenties. In the sixties it was M.A.K. Halliday in particular
who gave direction to this approach by placing it within a more scientific
theoretical framework. In the seventies Systemic Linguistics developed
in a generative direction. This development led to several generative models,
and, eventually, to Fawcett's divergence from the existing school to an
intrapersonal approach which approximated some of Chomsky's views.
The historical background and development of Systemic Linguistics is outlined
briefly in the first three chapters of the thesis. The specific variation of
the Scale and Category model that is used in chapters 4 and 5 to describe
aspects of Afrikaans grammar is also explained. This description of aspects
of Afrikaans grammar indicates that, in respect of surface grammar, the Scale
and Category model does not contribute much to the existing descriptions of
Afrikaans within other theoretical frameworks. In respect of the deep grammar,
on the other hand, the systemic approach has been shown to be a gain. It
illustrates interesting underlying differences between clauses, and offers a
wide field of research into Afrikaans. The last chapter of the thesis is an evaluation of the advantages and weaknesses
of the Scale and Category model, as well as aspects of Systemic Theory
in general. Practical applications of Systemic Grammar are indicated, and
research possibilities in respect of a systemic description of Afrikaans are
identified. Systemic Linguistics has its strong points and weak points . Because of their
specific view on the language phenomenon, the systemicists' approach is, in
my opinion, a very fruitful way to study language. Because of the growing
influence of Systemic Linguistics on English Linguistics, it can no longer
be ignored. This thesis, amongst other things, attempts to contribute to
the introduction of Systemic Theory to Afrikaans Linguistics. === Thesis (Ph.D.) - University of Natal, Durban, 1986.
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