Topic–comment

Theme - rheme structure (TRG ) the structure of an utterance in familiar topics ( subject) and new information ( rheme ) is called in linguistics. Other names for this are theme - rheme progression, current parsing, functional sentence perspective or information structure.

The term was introduced by the Prague functionalists. For the first time the concept was formulated by Vilém Mathesius.

Definition

The term TRG is used in the syntax of the functional grammar and text linguistics. In the functional grammar is what the TRG about the dependence of syntactic phenomena, such as the phrase sequence to investigate and identify the familiar - new structure of the utterance. In text linguistics, the TRG is an approach to describe a) the content structure of sentences and texts, and b ) the communicative function of individual parts of an utterance, such as their relevance for the listener or reader. The TRG secures within a text coherence and cohesion, ie the substantive and formal connection between sets. It is assumed that the considered sets can be analyzed in theme and rheme.

The theme (Greek θέμα, theme, " assertion, saying " ) of a sentence is already known, or given by the above-mentioned context information. The Rhema (Greek ῥῆμα, Rhema, such as " statement, sentence subject" ) is the new, inquired or communicatively relevant information. The Rhema carries the main stress of the sentence. Especially in the beginning of a text also sets may occur that contain only rhematisches material. An utterance without Rhema is uninformative and violates conversational maxims.

As a means of expressing the theme - rheme structure used in the German especially the emphasis ( of Rhemas ), the phrase position ( subject at the beginning of a sentence, Rhema at the end of a sentence ) and specific grammatical or lexical means perspectivization such as the passive voice. Both the theme and the rheme can span multiple parts of a sentence. Parts of a sentence with the greatest communication value are usually at the end of the sentence.

Examples

( 1) There was once a king ( Rhema ). The (Theme) had three daughters ( Rhema ).

( 2) In Berlin ( topic) it has rained today ( Rhema ).

(3) I ( topic) just got a call get ( Rhema ).

( 4) question-answer pair:

( 5) By shifting the positions of theme and rheme of the sentence is replaced by a strong emphasis or emotional coloring:

Types of theme - rheme progression

Three types of theme - rheme progression can be distinguished:

• Sentence 1 should read: ". Peter 's pretty cold ," If the text is now so continues: " But his cold is not serious ," the rheme of sentence 1 on the subject of Theorem 2 This case is called simple linear progression.
• Is the subject of Theorem 1 is also the subject of Theorem 2, then there is progression with continuous subject, as if set 2 was: "He can still go to work. " Requirement: "Peter" and "he" are reference identical, refer thus, to the same person.
• A third case is that neither subject nor Rhema be taken of Theorem 1 in Theorem 2, for example: "Peter is pretty cold. The job is poorly heated. "Here lies a thematic leap ahead. That we relate both sets together, is because we are opening up the relationship with the help of our knowledge about the world.

You can do more types of thematic progression differ, but these can be understood as variations of these three basic types.

Related terms

The terms subject and Rhema be based on both the communication function of each set of components as well as their logical content. In addition, various linguists use different criteria for defining theme and rheme. Depending on the use, therefore, find for the theme also the designations "topic ", " background" and " presupposition " and for the Rhema, the terms " Comment ", " focus ", " comment " and " predication " in different pairings.

Molnár proposes a mapping of the different pairs of terms of the three levels of language in the Organon - Model by Karl Bühler ago:

• Transmitter level of expression: focus - background structure (relevant - less relevant)
• Factual level of representation: Topik - comment - structure ( what - what)
• Receiver plane of the appeal: Theme - rheme structure