theme rheme

2. Clause as Message:
Theme and Rheme
A clause has a character of message,
giving it the status of communicative event.
That communicative character comes from one part of the
clause which is known as THEME;
Theme and rheme help us understand how information is
conveyed in clauses.
My sister goes to campus every morning.
Theme Rheme
In the example, the writer
wants to show us My sister
as something she talked
about.
Meanwhile, the rest of the clause, talks
about theme, gives more information about
the theme. This part is called Rheme.

3. Element(s) which come(s)
first in the clause.
What the clause is going
to be about.
looks backwards, relating
the current message to the
previous one.
Theme Rheme
The rest of the clause. Typically contain new
information
What I am saying about.
points both backward and forward by picking up
on information which is already available and
adding to it and by presenting new information.

4. Types of Theme
Theme
Ideational/Topical
Unmarked
Marked
Textual
Continuatives
Conjunctive Adjunct
Conjunction
(structural theme)
Interpersonal
Modal/Comment
Adjunct
Vocatives
Finite Verbal Operator

5. A clause at least has one theme, That is the
topic of the clause, which is called as topical
theme
Based on ideational type, theme can be
identified as marked and unmarked one.
• usually identified as the SUBJECT of the clause
• found in the form of NOMINAL GROUP (pronoun,
proper, or common noun as head) and
NOMINALIZATION.
Unmarked
Topical Theme
• found in the form of COMPLEMENT or
CIRCUMSTANTIAL ADJUNCT
Marked
Theme

6. Unmarked Topical Theme
The coach praised his students for their teamwork
Unmarked Theme Rheme
Nominal Group
(Common Noun)
Susan read the poetry book quietly.
Unmarked Theme Rheme
Nominal Group
(Proper Noun)
What Mona did for Mulan was praiseworthy.
Unmarked Theme Rheme
Nominalization

7. Marked Topical Theme
The students the coach praised [ ] for their teamwork.
Marked Theme Rheme
Complement
Quietly Susan read the poetry book [ ].
Unmarked Theme Rheme
Adjunct
Under the tree Juli and Bryce met.
Unmarked Theme Rheme
Adjunct/Prepositional Phrase

8. usually found in the first string of themes.
include continuatives and/or conjunctive
adjunct, and conjunction
show the logical or temporal relationship
between what has just been said and what is
being said in the current clause.

9. a small set of words that signal a new move is
beginning
usually found in the beginning of the clause.
E.g. yes, no, well, oh, now, OK, right, of course
Continuatives
OK, but, we really should go home now.
Cont. Conj. Topical Rheme
Textual
Theme

10. Conjunctive Adjunct Conjunction
Conjunctive adjunct is freer
to move in a clause, while
Conjunction is more
restricted to being at the
beginning.
Adverbial groups of
prepositional phrases
that relates the clause
to the preceding text
by providing logical
link between
messages.
A word or group that
either links (paratactic)
or binds (hypotactic)
the clause in which it
occurs structurally to
another clause.

11. Type Examples
Additive Moreover, in addition,
besides
Adversative However, conversely
Concessive Nevertheless, despite
that
Causal Therefore, as a result
Conjunctive Adjuncts Conjunctions
In Paratactic In Hypotactic
and, or, nor,
either, neither,
but, yet, so, then,
for, etc
when, while
before, after, until,
because, if,
although, unless,
since, etc

12. Conjunctive
Of course, nevertheless, she is still part of the group [ ]
Cont. Conjunctive Topical Rheme
Theme
Conjunctions
Of
course,
nevertheless, since she is still part of the
group
Cont. Conjunctive Conjunction/
Structural
Topical Rheme
Theme
occur at the beginning of a
clause and carry the hypotactic
relation between clauses
Conjunctive adjunct can be
moved to the end of the clause

13. Usually called comment adjunct express the speaker’s judgment on
or attitude to the content of the message.
Modal adjuncts
include:
Are the ones that indicate something
about the relationship between
speaker and hearer.
probably, usually, obviously, to my mind,
frankly, believe me, seriously, please,
no doubt, presumably, in principle,
understandably, as expected, by chance
Well, as expected, he won the game again.
Cont. Modal Topical Rheme
Text. Interpersonal
Theme

14. are names or other terms of address used to get attention of
the hearer or reaffirm the speaker-hearer relationship.
For instance, personal name, my dear, honey, darling, and
any other address.
Only thematic if they occur before the Topical Theme, a
Finite verb, or a Modal adjunct.
Now, kids, you need to wake
up.
Cont. Voc. Topical Rheme
Text. Interp. Topical
Theme
Kids go to school every
morning.
Topical Rheme
Theme
Here, kids is interpersonal
theme as it is used as vocative
while the topical theme is you.
kids in this clause is the
subject of the clause and
functions as topical theme.

15. are small set of finite auxiliary verbs construing primary tense or
modality.
My
dear,
Rue, seriously didn’t we come to agreement
already?
Voc. Voc. Modal Finite Topical Rheme
Interpersonal Topical
Theme

16. More about Theme
In a hypotactic clause complex, if the dependent
clause comes first then the dependent clause is
treated as the Theme for the whole clause complex.
If the dependent
clause
comes
first
Conj. Topical Rheme
Theme
Theme
then it is the theme for
the whole Complex
Conj. Topical Rheme
Theme
Theme

17. These take the form it + be + …
It was those male students {{who helped the grandma.}}
Theme Rheme Theme Rheme
Theme Rheme
It is important {{that the drivers Put on safety
belt.
Theme Rheme Str/Conj. Topical Rheme
Theme Rheme
Theme Rheme

18. Polar: the Finite which precedes the Subject is thematic
if the Subject is also the Topical Theme.
Theme and Mood
Theme in Interrogatives
Did you sleep on the coach last night ?
Fin. Subj. Rheme
Theme
In Marked Topical Theme case, if the finite comes after
the marked topical theme, so it is not thematic.
Last night, did you sleep on the coach?
Topical Rheme
Theme

19. In Wh-Interrogatives, the Wh-element alone is thematic.
Where are you heading to?
Theme Rheme
Theme in Interrogatives
Two ways of treating Theme in Imperative clauses:
either as Rheme
only
or treat the
Process as Theme
Read the instructions carefully
Rheme
Read the instructions carefully
Theme Rheme

20. Theme in Exclamatives
Wh- element +
nominal group
Wh-element +
adverbial group
How fast he drives
Theme Rheme
What an unforgettable
moment
it is
Theme Rheme

21. Theme Patterns
1. Theme Pattern based on Deterding
and Poedjosoedarmo (2001:126-128)
2. Theme Pattern based Paltridge
(2000:140-143)
Type 1 Type 2 Type 3 Type 4
Reiteration
/Constant
Zigzag/
Linear
Multiple/
Split
Theme and rheme are used to highlight information. Based
on the theme and rheme organization in the texts, there are
classifications of theme pattern.

22. Theme 1 Rheme 1
Theme 2 Rheme 2
Theme 3 Rheme 3
The topic found in
the first clause
becomes the
theme in the
second
The theme in the
second clause becomes
the theme in the third.
The most important technological advance of the 20th century is the
computer. Computers now not only sit on desktops in offices and at
home; they also regulate temperature in our homes, control the function
of washing machines and automobiles.
The words in highlight is the topic of each clause.
1. Theme Pattern based on Deterding
and Poedjosoedarmo (2001:126-128)

23. Theme 1 Rheme 1
Theme 2 Rheme 2
Theme 3 Rheme 3
Theme 4 Rheme 4
The topic of the first
clause is introduced in
the first theme
Then becomes
the second, third,
and fourth theme
of each clause
Noam Chomsky, author of Aspects of the Theory of Syntax,
revolutionized linguistics. He also happens to be well-known for
his political views. In fact, he is better-known to laymen for his
political views than he is for his revolutionary linguistic ideas.

24. Theme 1 Rheme 1
Theme 2 Rheme 2
Theme 3 Rheme 3
Theme 4 Rheme 4
The rheme of each
clause becomes the
theme of the next
clause.
The museum is located in the centre of town near the square.
This square is a common destination of tourist buses. The
buses, all belonging to the Island Tour Bus Company, are driven by
the tour guides. These guides get off at each stop with the
passengers and explain the sights to them.

25. Theme 1 Rheme 1
Theme 2 Rheme 2
Theme 3 Rheme 3
Theme 4 Rheme 4
The topic of every
clause is found in
the rheme.
Everybody likes Mamma Mia. Kids like Mamma
Mia. Teenagers love Boogie Burgers. Parents love
Boogie Burgers. Grandparents love Boogie
Burgers.
usually found in
advertisement,
which emphasizes
on the repetition in
the rheme to make
the topic easier to be
memorized.

26. Theme 1 Rheme 1
Theme 1 Rheme 1
Theme 1 Rheme 1
Theme 1 Rheme 1
Theme 1 Rheme 1
Theme 1 Rheme 1
2. Theme Pattern based Paltridge
(2000:140-143)

27. Theme Rheme
The bat is a nocturnal animal.
It lives in the dark.
There are long nosed bats and moused
eared bats.
Bats hunt at night.
They sleep in the day and very shy.
It shows that the bat as the theme becomes the
theme in the second, third, fourth, and the fifth.

28. Theme 1 Rheme 1
Theme 2 Rheme 2
Theme Rheme
The American Psychological specifies a documentation format
required
by most psychology, sociology,
communication, education and
economics instruction.
This format includes parenthetical documentation
in the text that refers to an alphabetical
reference at the end of the chapters.
It shows that
the rheme 1
becomes the
theme 2

29. Theme 1 Rheme 1
Theme 1 Rheme 2
Theme 2 Rheme 3
Theme 3 Rheme 4
Theme 4 Rheme 5
Theme 5 Rheme 6
(Theme 5) Rheme 7
Theme 6 Rheme 8

30. Theme Rheme
When Japanese people write their language
they use a combination of two
separate alphabets as well as
ideograms borrowed from Chinese.
The two alphabets are called hiragana and katakana.
The Chinese ideograms are called kanji.
Hiragana represents the 46 basic sounds that are
made in the Japanese language.
Katakana represents the same sounds as hiragana
but is used mainly for words borrowed
from foreign languages and for sound effects.
Kanji are used to communicate an idea rather
than a sound.

31. Practice,
let’s Get Started!
Correct (C) He told Start and Finish Incorrect (I)
Marked Theme Rheme
Based on the analysis of theme and rheme, identify if
the clauses are correct (C) or incorrect (I).
Correct the errors.
He in the clause is the pronoun that has position of subject in
the clause. As a result, He is categorized as unmarked topical
theme instead of marked topical theme.

32. Correct (C) and they were free to go Incorrect (I)
Conj. Adj Marked Theme Rheme
Interp. Topical Theme Rheme
Theme Rheme
Correct (C) that the case was dismissed Incorrect (I)
Conj./Str Unmarked Theme Rheme
Text. Topical
Theme
that is one of the conjunctions (also known as structural theme included
as textual theme. Following the textual theme, the case is common noun
functions as subject and thus becomes unmarked theme in the clause
and is not conjunctive adjunct. Instead, it is conjunction which is
categorized as textual theme. Also, pronoun they belongs to unmarked
theme as the pronoun becomes subject of the clause.

33. Correct
(C)
"Oh Jack,
Jack,
you have been
gone all day,
Incorrect (I)
Cont. Unmarked Unmarked Rheme
Text. Topical
Theme Rheme
Correct (C) did you get the job, Jack? Incorrect (I)
Finite Unmarked
Theme
Rheme
Interp. Topical
Theme
Oh is continuative which is part of textual theme. However, Jack, Jack
here is not an unmarked theme, this is supposed to be vocatives (Voc.)
which is part of interpersonal theme.
did is auxiliary verb which becomes interpersonal theme in yes/no
interrogative.

34. Correct
(C)
“Well then, Jack, maybe you have got
your
pottle of
brains
Incorrect
(I)
Cont. Conj.
Adj.
Voc. Modal
Adjunct
Unmar
ked
Rheme
Textual Interpersonal Topical
Theme
Correct
(C)
With the milk
{{we get from
the cow}},
we will be able to keep some and
sell some and never want for
anything again."
Incorrect
(I)
Marked Theme Rheme
Adjunct
Well, then are both textual theme and Jack, maybe are
interpersonal theme. Maybe functions as modal adjunct here to
express speaker’s attitude to the content of message.
The first clause with milk we get from the cow is an adjunct
from the following clause which is why we can call is as a
marked theme.