ABSTRACT
lrianti, Yesi. Nim: 055010l89.Tbemes and Rbemes ia Editorial Texts of the .Jakarta Post. Thesis: English Applied Linguistic Study Program Postgraduate School. UNIMED. 20 I 0
THEME AND RHEME
JN EDITORIAL TEXTS OF
Tm:
JAKARTA
POST
A THESIS
Submitted to the English Applie,d Linguistics
Study Program in Partial fuUUlment of
the requirements for the· degree
of Master Humanities
By
ENGLISH
APPL ED
LINGUIS;rieS
STUDY
PROGRAM
I,OSTGRA
DATE SCHOOL
STATE UNIVERSIT.Y OF MEDAN
A Thesis
Theine and Rheme in Editorial Texts of the Jakarta Post
Arranged and Proposed by:
YESIIRIANTI
Reg.
No.
o550t0l89
English Applied Linguistics Study Program
State University of Medan
This Thesis was examined on February 24th 2010
bythe Board of Examiners
APPROVAL
This Thesis was examined on February 241
b 2010 by the Board of Examiners.
Prof. D.P. Tampubolon, Ph.D
Prof. Dr. Busmin Guming, M.Pd
Prof. Tina Mariany Arifin, M.A,. Ph.D.
Prof. Dr. Jawasi Naibaho
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
In writing this thesis, many people have involved. The writer would like,
therefore to acknowledge her deep gratitude for all generous guidance, assistance, suggestions, advice and support which have been rendered to her.
First and foremos she thanks
God.
the Almighty, for all the blessings poured upon her in II her life long, secondly, blessing and, peace be upon the prophet Muhammad SAW who has brought human beings from the darkness and thebrightness.
The writer also wishes to pass her sincere gratitude to
Prof. Dr. D.P. Tampubolon, her first consultant, and Prof. Dr. B. Ouming, M.Pd, her second consultant who have kindly assisted her in correcting, revising and directing the idea of this thesis.
Prof. Tina Mariany Arifin, M.A., Ph.D whohas been so kind and generou encouraging her to fmish her thesis.
3. The Head of the English Applied Linguistics Study Program,
Prof. Dr. B. Guming, M.Pd and his secretary, Prof. Dr. L. Sihombing, M.Pd who
have generously encouraged her in completing her study. 4. All lecturers for the valuable instnlction,
imparted to her during the study.
Her beloved parents for their support and pray during her study.
er special thanks to her beloved husband, Suhermanto, SH, and her children Nabila Salsa. Utami, Fikri Ananda, and Rifki Adrian, who fiave encouraged her
YESI IRIANTI
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page ABSTRACT ... . ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ... , . . .. . .. . . . • .. . .. . . .. . .. • .. . .. . .. ii
CHAPTER I : INTRODUCTION
1.1 The Background of the Study... . . . • . . . 1.2 The Problems ofthe Study ...•... .. ... 1.3 The Objectives of Study ... ... . 1.4 The Scope of the Study ... . 1.5 The Significance of the Study ... .
-
CHAPTER ll : THEORETICAL ORIENTATIONz
?
m
2.1 Text as a Metafunctional Construct ... . 2.2 Theme and Rheme ...•... 2.3 Newspaper Editorial. ... ... 2.4 Pattern of Theme and Rheme ... . 2.4.1 Characteristic of Theme ... . .... . 2.4.2 Other Characteristics of Theme ... .
iii
iii
16
2.5.3 Textual . . .. . .. . . .. . ... . . ... .. . .. . . ... . . . .. . . 19
2.5.4 Multiple Theme .. .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . . .. ... ... .. . .. . .. . .. . . .. . .. 19
2.5.4.1 Textual and Interpersonal Themes . . . .. 22
2.6 Clauses as Themes . . . .. . . .... 23
2.7 Subject, Actor, Theme... 25
2.8 Thematic Development within a text . . . .. . . 26
CHAPTER III : RESEARCH METHOD CHAPTER IV: DATA AND DATA ANALYSIS, FINDINGS, AND DISCUSSIONS 4.1 Data ... . 4.2 Data Analysis ... . 31 3 4.2.1 Identification of Marked and Unmarked Theme . . . .... 34
4.2.2ldentification ofthe Most Domimmt Theme ... •... , ... .. .
4.2.3 The analysis of Thematic development within a text ... .4.2.4 The implication of the Use of
Theme and Rhemein
the editorial text ofthe Jakarta Post... . ... 414.3 Findings... 42
CHAPTER V: CONCLUSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
5.1 Conclusions . . .. . .. . .. . .. . . .. . .. . . .. . .. . ... . .. . .. .... .. . . .. . ... 45
5.2 Suggestions ... . 46
REFERENCES . ... ... ... ... .. .... .. . ... .. ... .. ... . ... . ... . 47
APPENDIX .... .. ... .. ... ... 49
LIST OF TABLES
Table Page
13
15
16
2.4 Multiple Themes . . . 20
2.5 Theme in Declarative Clause ... .
2.6 Exclamatory \',':!!",:Jements as a Theme ... .
2.7 WH-Interrogative Theme ... .
2.8 The Yes/No Interrogative Theme ... .
2.9 Components of a Multiple Theme ... .
4.1 The identification of Marked and Unmarked Theme ... .
4.2 The Identification of the Most Dominant Theme... 37
4.3 The Identification of Thematic Development between
a
text ... .LIST OF FIGURES
Figure. Page
2.8.1 Thematic Development of Theme 1 as the Signpost to the next Theme ... 27
2.8.2 Thematic Development ofRheme I as the Signpost to the lbeme 2 then
2.8.3 Thematic Development of Rheme 1 as the Signpost to the next Theme ... 2
-
z
?
m
CHAPTERV
CONCLUSSIONS AND SUGGESTIONS
5.1 Conclusions
Having analyzed the data, conclusions are drawn as the following.
The Marked Theme is dominantly used because of the use o colloquialism
or spoken language. Specifically, the text is spoken mode
rath
one. It should be borne in mind that the medium is written.
The use of spoken language is contextually motivated with three reasons.
They are: real life situation, English is a foreign language and news source
and objectivity
3. The Unmarked Theme is dominantly used when starting a new paragraph.
-
4 Simple Theme is always used in Unmarked Theme while Multiple Theme isz
always used in Marked Theme.5. Thematic development type 5 is the most dominant thematic development
signpost to the Rheme provided that the text only consists of one clause but
complex.
46
5.2 Suggestions
In relation to the conclusions, suggestions are staged as the following
I. The findings of this research gn be used to fulfill a better understanding for the readers ofUie Jakarta Post editorial.
2. It is suggested for other researchers to make a detail analysis of the textual
Language in newspaper editorial is greatly influenced by the mission or voice
of the newspaper itself, so, it is suggested for the editorial writer to propose a
balance argumentation to a certain sociai issue.
The newspaper editorials should use a simple Thematic development in order
to avoid misunderstanding between the editorial writers and its readers.
5. It is suggested to write the "Editorial" on the top of the editorial's headline as
-
the identification of the editorial in order it will be easier for the reader toz
find its editorial.?
REFERENCES
Ary, D., Lucy, C. J., R., Holt, Rinehart and Winston. 1979. Introduction to Research in Education. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston.
Bell Discourse. Massachussets Blackwell
Bloor, T & Bloor, M. 1995. The Functional Analysis of English. LonEdward Arnold Butt, D. & Rhondda, F. & Sue, S. & Colin, Y. 1995. Using Functional Grammar.
Sydney : Macquirie University.
Cook, G. 1989. Discourse. Oxford : Oxford University Press.
Fillmore, C.J. 1977. Topics in Lexical Semantics. Bloomington : Indiana University Press
Gee, J. Paul. 1999. An Introduction to Discourse Analysis.
London : Routledge.
Gerot, L., Wignell, P. 1994. Making Sense of Functional Grammar. Sydney: Gerd Stabler.
Halliday, M.A.K. 1994. An Introduction to Functional Grammar, London; Edward Arnold.
Halliday, M.A.K. & Hasan, R. 1985. Language ,
language in a social semiotics perspectives.
Press.
Iedema. R. 1995. Media Literacy Report. Sydney : Metropolitan East Di vantaged schools program.
Martin, J.R. 1992. English Text System and Structure. Sydney John Benjamin Publi ing Company
Martin, J.R. Mattheinsen, C & Painter, C. 1997. Working witli Functional Grammar. Great Britain : Edward Arnold.
---.1997. Deploying Functional Grammar: Sydney University Press.
48
Sydney
Mattheinsen, C. 1992. Lexicogrammatical Cartography : English Systems. Sydney : University of Sydney.
Saragih,
A.
1999. Deploying Functional Grammar. Medaii : FPBSIKIP
Neg. Medan. Sudaryanto.1988.
Metode Linguistik.Yogyakarta
:Duta Wacana Unibversity Press. Tomlin. Russel. S. 1987. Coherence and Grounding in Discourse. Amsterdam :Benjamin Publishing Company
Wetherell M., Stephanie T., and Simon. J.Y. 2001. Discours Theo1JI. and Practices a Reader. London : SAGE Publications.
~
~
~
;::,.
-
a
z
~
':)
~
m
m
CHAYfERI
INTRODUCfiON
The tlleme is the element which serves as th~ point of departure of the message; it is that with which the clause is concerned. The reminder of the message,
the part in which the theme is developed, is called e Rheme. This organization
depends on the context of using language that is the purpose of the text. Editorial
texts are typically means to voice missions of the newspaper. Thus, a newspaper has
its own way of organizing the editorial texts. This study is aimed at exP.loring the
types of Theme and describing the patterns of Theme and Rheme, namely
development of Theme and Rheme in the editorial texts of The Jakarta Post. The Thematic structures are problematized because their patterns highlight why The
Jakarta Post editorial texts mean what they do.
According to Halliday (2004 : I), "Language has three functions, they are :
Ideational, Interpersonal, and Textual FI.IDCtions" respectively. The Ideational
metafunction divides into experiential function. where language is used
ex rience and logical function. where language is used to relate experience. As
function equals meaning it is said that language conveys four kinds o meaning,
2
meanings. This implies that the grammar or rather lexicogrammar of one language is constituted by the experiential, logical, interpersonal, and textual (lexico) grammar.
In this study the research is concerned to the use of theme and rheme in
Editorial text of the akarta Post. There are some reasons Why the use of Theme and
Rheme made as the focus of this research; Theme and Rheme are common used in
every text, but how to identify the Theme and Rheme in a clause, howto label the
elements of clause with references and how to analyze complex theme in texts will be
discussed in this study.
Obviously, we need some specialized language to describe texts. Our
specialized language will allow us to know exactly where we are and where e. are
going as explore texts for meaning. Butt, Fahey, Spinks, and Yallop (1995:13) defiiie
that Metalanguage is used to explain differences between any texts: between spoken
and written texts, or scientific and literary ones, to investigate why one teacher seems
to get the message across better than another, to interpret advertisements as well
lyrics, to look for similarities and differences between newspaper reports, to define
the style of an individual barrister and to uncover the likeness between authors of the
Further, Butt, et all (1995:93) assert that being unmarked means the most
expected, common and remarkable case. Whereas being marked means tha it is
3
Applying this concept to Theme, the typical and expected patterns can be
separated from the typical and unexpected. Marked theme is a way of seeing the
purpose behind the speakers' patterning: it may be to draw the addressee's attention
to a particular group or phrase; more often it is to buila a coherent text which is easy
to follow.
One of the various structures when mapped on to each other inakes up a
clause. We will consider first the one which gives the clause its character as a
messag-e.
Understanding Theme and Rheme in an editorial newspaper will helP. the
reader to see whether the voice of the newspaper itself argues against or just agree to
a certain social issue.
As a gentle guide, the Theme can be identified as an element which comes in
first position in the clause. Theme is the starting point for the message; it is the
ground from which the clause is taking off. So, part of the meaning of any clause lies
in which element is chosen as its Theme. First position in the clause is no wliat
defmes the Theme; it is the means where the function of Theme is realized in the
grammar of English
A Theme that is something other than the subject, in a declarativ
4
Through this study, the writer wants to assure if a certain newspaper which
agrees to a certain issue always uses unmarked 'Theme, and uses marked Theme if it
does not agree to that issue.
Newspaper is media of communication. for example: The Jakarta Post. The '
Jakarta Post is an English newspaper published in every morning. The Jakarta Post
has some columns such
as :
headline, national, international, features, art and culture and entertainment news and also one of the column is editorial. In this case, inpresenting the editorial, editors often use styles and variations of language. The scyle
and variation of language are used to attract the reader's attention, and to inform the
English grammar. They should make the editorials clearly and easy understandable.
- 1.2 The Problems of the Study
Based on the background the research problems are formulated as follows
Jakarta Post?
2. What is the pattern of Theme and Rheme in the texts?
5
1.3 The Objectives of the Study
Basically, the objectives of this study are to answer the problems as
whathave
been mentioned in the previous points. Specifically to apply Halliday's theory about
Theme and Rheme in Iooonesian editorial newspaper written in English about Theme
that if they agree to a certain social case or problem they tend to use Unmarked
Theme, but if they do not agree to a certain social problem they tend to use Marked
1.4 The Scope of the Study
As a theoretical assumption that Meta language is a social semiotic, a
system of encoded meanings, motivated by choice and use, to look for similarities
and differences between newspaper reports, the writer emphasizes her analysis
Theme and Rheme with reference to Halliday.s theory about Theme and Rheme and
Thematic development within the text. In this case, the writer chooses The Jakarta
ost because she wants to see the Indonesian Newspaper written In English from the
Indonesian Semiotic perspective and that is
why thescope of
this
studyis limited to
6
1.5 The Significance of the Study
The findings of this study are significant in two respects, theoretically and
practically. Theoretically, the findings enrich theories of Systemic Functional
Linguistics (SFL.), particularly on the use of English in Indonesian media and
Indonesian context of culture. Practically, the fmdings 'are helpful for the readers of
