Analysing the Role of Language in Personal Growth: A Systemic Functional Study on Akeelah’s Discourse
Abstract
This study analyzes the metafunctions of language (ideational, interpersonal, and textual) in Akeelah's discourse in the film Akeelah and the Bee (2006) and how they relate to her personal growth in an educational context. A gap was found, namely the lack of research that pays attention to the social and personal functions of language in the learning process. This is where the novelty of this study lies, the Systemic Functional Linguistics approach is applied in depth in the analysis of film media as a representation of language learning. Using a qualitative approach and Systemic Functional Linguistics (Halliday), 20 discourses were purposively selected for analysis. The findings show that the ideational metafunction reflects her thoughts and identity development. Akeelah's use of language serves as both a mirror and a driver of her transformation as a learner. This insight contributes to English language teaching by emphasizing the role of language in supporting motivation and identity.
Keywords
Full Text:
PDFReferences
Block, D. (2007). Second Language Identities. Continuum. https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/second-language-identities-9781472526045/
Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2024). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing Among Five Approaches (5th ed.). SAGE Publications. https://uk.sagepub.com/en-gb/asi/qualitative-inquiry-and-research-design-international-student-edition/book289715
Deci, E. L., & Ryan, R. M. (2000). The “what” and “why” of goal pursuits: Human needs and the self-determination of behavior. Psychological Inquiry, 11(4), 227–268. https://doi.org/10.1207/S15327965PLI1104_01
Eggins, S. (2004). Introduction to Systemic Functional Linguistics (2nd ed.). Continuum. https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/introduction-to-systemic-functional-linguistics-9780826457868/
Emilia, E. (2016). Pendekatan berbasis teks (genre-based approach) dalam pengajaran bahasa Inggris: Petunjuk untuk guru. Rizqi Press. https://opac.perpusnas.go.id/DetailOpac.aspx?id=1246828
Fairclough, N. (2013). Critical discourse analysis the critical study of language, second edition. In Critical Discourse Analysis The Critical Study of Language, Second Edition (2nd ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315834368
Gee, J. P. (2000). Identity as an analytic lens for research in education. Review of Research in Education, 25(1), 99–125. https://doi.org/10.3102/0091732X025001099
Gee, J. P. (2025). How to Do Discourse Analysis: A Toolkit, Third Edition. In How to Do Discourse Analysis: a Toolkit, Third Edition (3rd ed.). Taylor & Francis. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003537991
Halliday, M. A. K., Matthiessen, C. M. I. M., Halliday, M., & Matthiessen, C. (2014). An Introduction to Functional Grammar. In An Introduction to Functional Grammar (4th ed.). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9780203783771
Hasan, R., & Halliday, M. A. K. (1989). Language, Context, and Text: Aspects of Language in a Socio-semiotic (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. https://cir.nii.ac.jp/crid/1130282270791427712
Humphrey, S. (2017). Academic Literacies in the Middle Years: A Framework for Enhancing Teacher Knowledge and Student Achievement. Routledge. https://www.routledge.com/Academic-Literacies-in-the-Middle-Years-A-Framework-for-Enhancing-Teacher-Knowledge-and-Student-Achievement/Humphrey/p/book/9781138649965
Martin, J. R., & Rose, D. (2007). Working with Discourse: Meaning Beyond the Clause (2nd ed.). Continuum. https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/working-with-discourse-9780826488503/
Miles, M.B., Huberman, a. m., & Saldana, J. (2015). Qualitative Data A Methods Sourcebook. In Etika Jurnalisme Pada Koran Kuning : Sebuah Studi Mengenai Koran Lampu Hijau (3rd ed., Vol. 16, Issue 2). SAGE Publications. https://www.google.co.id/books/edition/Qualitative_Data_Analysis/p0wXBAAAQBAJ
Norton, B., & De Costa, P. I. (2018). Research tasks on identity in language learning and teaching. Language Teaching, 51(1), 90–112. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0261444817000325
Norton, B., & Kramsch, C. (2013). Identity and Language Learning: Extending the Conversation. In Identity and Language Learning: Extending the Conversation (2nd ed.). Multilingual Matters. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781783090563
Ryff, C. D. (1995). Psychological Well-Being in Adult Life. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 4(4), 99–104. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.ep10772395
Schleppegrell, M. J. (2012). Academic language in teaching and learning: Introduction to the special issue. The Elementary School Journal, 112(3), 409–418. https://doi.org/10.1086/663297
Swe Dberg, R. (1980). Mind in Society: The Development of Higher Psychological Processes. In Science & Society: A Journal of Marxist Thought and Analysis (Vol. 44, Issue 1). Harvard University Press. https://doi.org/10.1177/003682378004400121
Toohey, K. (2018). Learning English at School: Identity, Social Relations and Classroom Practice (2nd ed.). Multilingual Matters. https://www.multilingual-matters.com/page/detail/learning-english-at-school/?SF1=work_id&ST1=CVIEW-1103
Ushioda, E., & Dörnyei, Z. (2009). Motivation, Language Identity and the L2 Self. Multilingual Matters. https://doi.org/10.21832/9781847693731-004
Young, T. J., & Sachdev, I. (2011). Intercultural communicative competence: exploring English language teachers’ beliefs and practices. Language Awareness, 20(2), 81–98. https://doi.org/10.1080/09658416.2010.540328
DOI: https://doi.org/10.31004/jele.v11i1.1976
Refbacks
- There are currently no refbacks.
Copyright (c) 2026 Lisa Anna Nasution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
