Applying Systemic Functional Linguistics to Meet the Challenge of Change
Editors: Vinh To, Lok Ming Eric Cheung, and Jonathan Webster
Book Description
Situated in a constantly changing world, socio-semiotic research needs to reflect the nature of “change”. The Covid-19 pandemic has significantly impacted how we communicate, how we affiliate and bond as well as how we make sense of the goings-on surrounding us. Volatile political situations around the world cause numerous crises, especially those related to immigrants, emigrants, and refugees. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and large language models such as ChatGPT has impacted the ways human interacts with the computer; this raises further questions in application terms such as content creation, teaching and learning, as well as ethical and moral concerns. In light of these ever-changing situations, this volume offers a unique contribution to understanding the way we undertake systemic functional linguistic (SFL) research pertinent to the latest and ongoing issues happening around the world. The topical areas range from its applications under the Covid-19 pandemic and post-pandemic times, education, and healthcare communication, and examining the discourses related to international political conflicts, sustainability, and Artificial Intelligence/Chat GPT.
Our proposal has received a very positive response from Janet Joyce, Managing Director, Equinox Publishing Ltd.
We are inviting scholars, researchers and teaching practitioners to contribute to this volume to share their research, teaching, and meaning-making practices around the globe in relation to the application and advancement of SFL theory. The six subthemes of this volume are:
(1) SFL application in various contexts during and after the COVID-19 pandemic;
(2) SFL theoretical and practical advancements across educational levels;
(3) SFL analysis of discourses related to international political conflicts;
(4) SFL analysis of discourses related to sustainability, and environment, society and governance (ESG),
(5) SFL analysis of discourses related to AI/Chat GPT;
(6) SFL application in healthcare communication.
Adopting SFL as the core linguistic framework, this volume also embraces other relevant conceptual, methodological, and pedagogical frameworks to enhance the explanatory power of the studies, such as Legitimation Code Theory (LCT), Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), Appraisal Framework, Multimodality framework, genre-based pedagogy, and so on. Through these subthemes, this volume seeks to gather significant works from SFL scholars, HDR students, and teachers and engage in timely discussions on current pressing issues in the world via discourse analytic means, and to gain critical insights into developing policies and measures to tackle these issues.
Keywords: SFL theory, SFL advancement, SFL Application during COVID-19 and beyond, politics, AI, Chat GPT, sustainability, environment, society, governance, healthcare communication, Legitimation Code Theory, Critical Discourse Analysis, Appraisal Framework, Multimodality framework, genre-based pedagogy
Timeline
- 15 May 2023 : Abstract submission deadline
- 31 May 2023 : Extended deadline for abstract submission
- 30 November 2023 : Full paper submission deadline
- 1 December 2023- September 2024 : Editorial review and author revisions
- September 2024 : Submission to publisher
Abstract submission to the Redcap system or via email
Abstract submission portal:https://redcap.utas.edu.au/surveys/?s=REJF7RKT3J3Y8ACJ
Email: Vinh To: Vinh.To@utas.edu.au
Eric Cheung: lokmingeric.cheung@cpce-polyu.edu.hk
Jonathan James Webster: ctjjw@friends.cityu.edu.hk
Editors’ Biographies
Dr Vinh To is a Senior Lecturer in English Education at the University of Tasmania, Australia, and the leading organiser of the International Online Systemic Functional Linguistics Interest Group Conferences (SFLIG 2021, SFLIG 2023). She is also the Guest Editor for Linguistics and the Human Sciences, and Co-Editor for Literacy Learning: the Middle Years.
Dr Eric Cheung is a Lecturer in the Division of Languages and Communication, Hongkong Polytechnic University, College of Professional and Continuing Education. He is the Associate Editor for Linguistics and the Human Sciences and Co-Convenor for the 2nd International Online Systemic Functional Linguistics Interest Group Conference (SFLIG 2023).
Professor Jonathan Webster is Honorary Professor at Macquarie University, and Professor at the City University of Hong Kong (retired). He was the Director of The Halliday Centre for Intelligent Applications of Language Studies (2005-2021), and Head of the Department of Chinese, Translation and Linguistics, City University of Hong Kong (2005-2011). Professor Jonathan Webster is the Founding Editor for Linguistics and the Human Sciences published by Equinox, and Managing Editor for WORD. Professor Jonathan Webster is also the Editor of 36 books on topics in Systemic Functional Linguistics.
Systemic Functional Linguistics Interest Group (SFLIG) 