Functional Grammar: theme vs rheme
Maybe this question is too "techical", but can someone explain from a practical point of view the difference between "theme" and "rheme" according to Hallidayan functional grammar? I know that "theme" is the "topic" and "rheme" something like a comment about the topic, but is there any useful clue for distinguishing them in a clause?

I would be very grateful for any help you could give me!

Question

Functional Grammar: theme vs rheme
Maybe this question is too "techical", but can someone explain from a practical point of view the difference between "theme" and "rheme" according to Hallidayan functional grammar? I know that "theme" is the "topic" and "rheme" something like a comment about the topic, but is there any useful clue for distinguishing them in a clause?

I would be very grateful for any help you could give me!

Answer

The easiest way to distinguish them is to see which part of the sentence is introduced first. This would be the theme. A rheme basically continues the idea that a theme starts.

Theme: The seven dwarfs...
Rheme: ... found snow white passed out in the Woods.

Theme: Out in the woods...
Rheme: ... the seven dwarfs found Snow White passed out.

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