information processing

Question 1

information processing

information units

Answer 1

discourse is made up of a sequence of information units

in spoken discourse information units typically coincide with tone units - Well, let me tell you, maybe, I wasn’t the best friend

in written discourse, information units often correspond to grammatical units and are marked by punctioatoon - While waiting for the bus, he realized that he had forgotten his luggage

Question 2

communicative dynamism

Answer 2

variation in the communicative value of the different parts of an information unit

Question 3

distribution of communicative dynamism

Answer 3

unmarked - linear progression from low information at the beginning to the high information at the end of the information

principle of end-focus - items carrying high communicative dynamism are placed in final position

end weight - long weighty elements are at the end

Question 4

theme and focus

Answer 4

theme - the initial part of the structure which may be regarded as the point of reference

topical
textual
interpersonal

focus/rheme - the part which carries the highest communicative dynamism and is highlighted by the sender

Question 5

types of theme

Answer 5

topical

• to set a scene for what follows
  1. nominal elements - nouns and pronouns which are usually participants - names, he, she they
  2. complex non-finite clauses -Me being late she was furious
  3. adverbials and prepositional phrases - secretly
  4. clauses - After the lunch ….

textual theme 
- element of cohesion
-linking the text
-frequently conjunctions or conjuncts 
- followed by topical theme 
additionally, further more, in order to 

interpersonal
- relationships between speakers
perhaps, unfortunately, John (in vocative)

Question 6

Quirk & Greenbaum

Answer 6

theme - the first element of a clause, typically subject

focus - end item

Question 7

Firbas

Answer 7

nucleus - rheme - jádro the basis, what pushes