层级链式主位系统

在前面的章节中所讨论的主位和述位是属于句子层次的线性组织过程，进入篇章层次的主位和述位呈现主位化（thematization）^[17]的过程。刘晨诞^[18]认为，篇章作者“必须根据已知、未知和所期望的主位突出去安排信息，放在前面的东西将影响对后面所有信息的解读”。

丁维莉^[19]认为，既然一篇文章是由从大到小的篇章、段落、句子等层次构成的，因此，文章的各个层级单位也存在自己的表述起点和表述核心。一篇文章的表述起点是该篇文章的标题，正文的表述起点是正文的第一段（首段），后续的段落以首段作为为表述的核心进行有层次的论述。作为段落的下级层次句子（包括复合句和小句）也有自己的表述起点和表述核心，即在篇章的各个层次有分属的主位和述位。

丁维莉^[20]总结了运用Mathesius的实义切分法为整个篇章的层级链式主位系统进行主位和述位切分的方法：

第一次切分：在标题（包括副标题、作者等信息）和正文之间进行切分。因为标题是篇章构建的开始，所以从功能角度看标题是篇章的主位，正文是篇章的述位。

第二次切分：在篇章的首段结束的地方和正文的后续部分之间进行切分。丁维莉认为首段是正文的关键，后续段落叙述围绕首段这一篇章的信息出发点展开。同样，在功能上首段是正文的主位，后续段落是正文的述位。

第三次切分：在段落或者句群的首段结束的地方与后续的部分之间进行切分，在功能上首句是段落或语段的主位，后续句子是段落或语段的述位。

第四次切分：在段落中每个复句/小句复合体的第一个分句的起始部分和后面的部分之间进行切分。

第五次切分：在小句的起始部分和后面的部分之间进行切分，切分的方法遵循Halliday 对小句划分主位和述位的方法。

表1-5-1　层级链式主位系统切分

图1-5-1　主位和述位结构系统^[21]

从图1-5-1中可以看出：根据Mathesius的实义切分法，一个篇章总共可分成五个层次单位来划分主位和述位。这样的层级链式主位系统从自上而下（top-down）和自下而上（bottom-up）两方面对一个语篇进行宏观和微观的主位、述位分析。

在标注了这样的结构系统图之后，丁维莉^[22]还评论了层级链式主位系统对教学的重要作用：小句层面的T链作为表述起点表达了交际双方的已知信息，R链传递了说话者关心的事情，是听话者未知的信息，因而帮助听话人了解说话者的意图；除此之外，T位置是篇章扩展的起点，是语用、篇章和句法的借口，分析T链有助于了解整个篇章的衔接特点；不仅如此，将篇章标题、首段、每段的首句、复句的第一个主位以及小句的主位链接起来就可以了解篇章的框架和中心思想。以下文为例，展示层级链式主位系统的具体实施。

Popular Sports in Britain

Sports (T1) play an important part in the life in Britain (R1) and they (T2) are popular leisure activities (R2).

Whether spectating or participating (T1), Britain people are well-known for their love of sport (R1). Wherever you are (T2), you’re never far from the action and the options are huge (R2). There (T3)’s a non-stop calendar of events with many sports played in summer or winter (R3). It (T4) ’s no wonder many British people think in sporting seasons rather than years (R4).

The United Kingdom (T1) has given birth to a range of major international sports including: association football, rugby, cricket, golf, tennis, badminton, squash, hockey, boxing, snooker, billiards and curling (R1). It (T2) has also played a key role in the development of sports such as Sailing and Formula One (R2).

Football (T1) is undoubtedly the most popular sport in England, and has been played for hundreds of years (R1). In the English Football League (T2) there are 92 professional clubs (R2). These (T3) are semi-professional (R3), so most players (T4) have other full-time jobs (R4). Hundreds of thousands of people (T5) also play football in parks and playgrounds just for fun (R5). The highlight of the English football year (T6) is the FA (Football Association) Cup Final each May (R6). The beautiful game (T7) is not only a sport in Britain but a way of life (R7). Players like England ace David Beckham (T8) have turned heads all over the world and made teams like Manchester United and Arsenal household names (R8).

Rugby (T1) is similar to football, but played with an oval ball (R1). Players (T2) can carry the ball and tackle each other (R2). The best rugby teams (T3) compete in the Super League final each September (R3). For many years (T4) Rugby was only played by the rich upper classes (R4), but now (T5) it is popular all over the country (R5).

The world’s most famous tennis tournament (T1) is Wimbledon (R1). It (T2) started at a small club in south London in the nineteenth century (R2). It (T3) begins on the nearest Monday to June 22, at a time when English often have the finest weather (R3). Millions of people (T4) watch the Championships on TV live (R4). It (T5) is traditional for visitors to eat strawberries and cream whilst they watch the tennis (R5).

Horse racing, the sport of Kings (T1) is a very popular sport with meetings being held every day throughout the year (R1). The Derby (T2) originated here (R2), as did the Grand National which is the hardest horse race in the world. Horse racing and greyhound racing (T3) are popular spectator sports (R4). People (T) can place bets on the races at legal off-track betting shops (R5). Some of the best-known horse races (T6) are held at Ascot, Newmarket, Goodwood and Epsom (R6).

Four sports in the United Kingdom (T1) operate high profile professional leagues (R1). Football (T2) is the most popular sport and is played from August to May (R2). Rugby union (T3) is also a winter sport (R3). Cricket (T4) is played in the summer, from April to September (R4). Rugby League (T5) is traditionally a winter sport (R5), but since the late 1990s the elite competition (T6) has been played in the summer to minimize competition for attention with football (R6).

图1-5-2　《英国的流行运动》中的主位和述位结构系统

第一层级主位、述位：篇章的主位是“Popular Sports in Britain”，篇章的述位是第一自然段到第七自然段。篇章的构建以及叙述的起点从“Popular Sports in Britain”开始，后续的段落不出意外应该说明的是英语流行的体育运动。

第二层级主位、述位：第一自然段是第二层级的主位，第二自然段到第七自然段是述位。

第三层级主位、述位：每一自然段的首句是第三层级的主位，其余后续的句子是述位。篇章中较特别的是第一段一句话构成一个段落，后半个并列句“and they（T2）are popular leisure activities（R2）”作首句的主位；在第四层级主位、述位中，两个并列句有各自的主位和述位。

每一段的首句：Sports (T1) play an important part in the life in Britain (R1) and they (T2) are popular leisure activities (R2); Whether spectating or participating (T1), Britain people are wellknown for their love of sport (R1); The United Kingdom (T1) has given birth to a range of major international sports including: association football, rugby, cricket, golf, tennis, badminton, squash, hockey, boxing, snooker, billiards and curling (R1); Football (T1) is undoubtedly the most popular sport in England, and has been played for hundreds of years (R1); Rugby (T1) is similar to football, but played with an oval ball (R1); The world’s most famous tennis tournament (T1) is Wimbledon (R1); Horse racing, the sport of Kings (T1) is a very popular sport with meetings being held every day throughout the year (R1); Four sports in the United Kingdom (T1) operate high profile professional leagues (R1).

通过快速地略读每段的首句，读者很容易发现这些首句实则是每段的主题句。即使不再往下划分主位、述位的层级单位，仅仅根据前三层的主位链也可以判断出篇章的话题，从而轻松掌握篇章的框架。在后面的章节中，将具体结合语篇分析主位、述位推进对篇章发展的作用。

第四层级和第五层级主位、述位：第四层级主位、述位在每个自然段落的每小句复合体中的第一个分句中的起始部分和后面的部分进行切分；在第四层级的基础上划分第五层级，即小句的主位和述位，根据主位推进的模式（在本章的第六小节介绍和描述）分析每一自然段的主位推进的模式，从而可以知道说话者的意图。

刘晨诞^[23]也认为，篇章的题目会左右读者对整个篇章的理解，第一段第一个句子同样会限制对后面段落乃至整个语篇的解读方式。每个篇章中的每一个句子都是一个发展中的、累加的组成部分，指示作者和读者建构连贯的语篇模式。

【注释】

[1]布拉格学派，亦称为功能语言学派，主张从结构和功能两方面研究语言，注重形式与功能的联系和强调语言成分的相互依存性。该学派于1926年成立，捷克语言学家Mathesius是该学派的创始人之一。

[2]朱永生，严世清. 系统功能语言学多维思考[M]. 上海：上海外语教育出版社，2001：97.

[3]Mathesius，V. A Functional Analysis of Present Day English on a General Linguistic Basis [M]. Prague：Academia，1975.

[4]Halliday，M. A. K. An Introduction to Functional Grammar [M]. 北京：外语教学与研究出版社，2000.

[5]朱永生，严世清. 系统功能语言学多维思考[M]. 上海：上海外语教育出版社，2001：97.

[6]胡壮麟，朱永生，张德禄，等. 系统功能语言概论[M]. 北京：北京大学出版社，2005.

[7]功能语言学派把主位分为三种类型：主题（topical）主位、人际（interpersonal）主位和篇章（textual）主位。主题主位与篇章传达的信息相关；人际主位揭示作者和读者的某种态度；篇章主位把一个小句或句子与篇章的其他部分连接在一起；语篇成分、概念成分和人际成分实则等同于主题主位、人际主位和篇章主位。

[8]庞中兰. 对英语小句的主位、述位结构分析[J]. 山西大同大学学报（社会科学版），2007，21（3）：86.

[9]胡壮麟，朱永生，张德禄，等. 系统功能语言学概论 [M]. 北京：北京大学出版社，2005.

[10]庞中兰. 对英语小句的主位、述位结构分析[J]. 山西大同大学学报：社会科学版，2007，21（3）：85-89.

[11]有的功能语言学家将直陈语气称之为指示性语气。

[12]庞中兰. 对英语小句的主位、述位结构分析[J]. 山西大同大学学报（社会科学版），2007，21（3）：87.

[13]转引自胡壮麟，朱永生，张德禄，等. 系统功能语言学概论[M]. 北京：北京大学出版社，2005：165.

[14]庞中兰. 对英语小句的主位、述位结构分析[J]. 山西大同大学学报（社会科学版），2007，21（3）：87.

[15]同上：87.

[16]Mathesius，V. A Functional Analysis of Present Day English on a General Linguistic Basis [M]. Prague：Academia，1975.

[17]刘晨诞.教学篇章语言学[M].上海：上海外语教育出版社，1999：59.

[18]同上：59-60.

[19]丁维莉 .篇章理论与英语阅读教学[M].北京：世界图书出版公司，2009：61.

[20]同上：62.

[21]丁维莉 . 篇章理论与英语阅读教学[M]. 北京：世界图书出版公司，2009：63.

[22]丁维莉 . 篇章理论与英语阅读教学[M]. 北京：世界图书出版公司，2009：64.

[23]刘晨诞.教学篇章语言学[M].上海：上海外语教育出版社，1999：60.