The Pre-Congress Institute of the 40th International Systemic Functional Congress (ISFC40) officially started on Monday, July 8 at the School of Foreign Languages, Sun Yat-sen University. The Co-Convenors, Professor Huang Guowen and Professor Chang Chenguang gave welcome remarks respectively. The first-day workshop was taught by Professor M.A.K Halliday and Professor Christian Matthiessen. Over 80 participants attended the workshop.

The two linguists explored the theoretical foundations of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL), discussing the implications of each of the three terms "linguistics", "functional" and "systemic" as they relate to the study of language. They considered how linguistics relates to other domains of human knowledge, and how far linguists can recognize a general science of meaning, or "semiotics", with language as the prototype of a semiotic system. They also focused on the critical properties of language which enable it to play such a fundamental part in human life, and the application of our theoretical understanding of language to the solution of human problems. Professor Halliday and Professor Matthiessen finally pointed out that students of linguistics should have a responsibility for developing the public understanding of language, so that it is recognized as central to human knowledge and resources are available for educators and other professionals to exploit the power of language in their everyday working practices.

Tuesday, July 9: Day 2 of Pre-Congress Institute of ISFC40

The 2nd day of Pre-Congress Institute of ISFC40 centered on the introduction and explanation of "context" in SFL. In the first session, Professor Wendy L. Bowcher walks the audience through the development of context in SFL and delivers a vivid lecture on relevant concepts in context in SFL. She illustrates the differences between Malinowski��s original concept and the approaches adopted by Firth and Halliday.

In the afternoon session, Emeritus Professor R. Hasan explicates some of the key theoretical aspects of context, including the relationship between "context" and "register". She explains the meaning of "relevant context" and the importance of a paradigmatic view of context of situation.

Running parallel to the workshop is the course on "Intonation in the Grammar of English", which started today and will last until Saturday July 13. It is taught by Emeritus Professor William S. Greaves and Meena Dabashsish. The course aims to introduce all strata of systemic functional analysis with particular emphasis on the lower end of the realization chain: choices in the English intonation sound system realizing choices in the lexicogrammar.

Wednesday, July 10: Professor M. Cecilia Colombi taught at Pre-Congress Institute of ISFC 40

Professor M. Cecilia Colombi from the University of California at Davis taught the 3rd day workshop of Pre-Congress Institute of ISFC40, which centered on the relationship between Foreign Language Teaching and Systemic Functional Linguistics. Professor Colombi focused on the following aspects in her workshop: SFL and educational linguistics, Oral-Written language continuum, academic language, grammatical metaphor, and second language teaching.

Professor Colombi began by looking at the applicability of SFL in the field of foreign language teaching. She then examined the potential of SFL in a curriculum for Spanish second language learners/heritage speakers, with particular emphasis on the meaning-making of language in the construal of discourse. Professor Colombi also presented examples of activities used in the classroom. The presentation offered many ideas that can be applied to other foreign language teaching situations.