The Dramatic Arc of the Theory of FSP: A Tentative Diachronic Excursion

ADAM, Martin. The Dramatic Arc of the Theory of FSP: A Tentative Diachronic Excursion. Prague Journal of English Studies. Prague: Charles University, 2017, vol. 6, No 1, p. 127-149. ISSN 1804-8722. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.1515/pjes-2017-0008.

Basic information

• Original name: The Dramatic Arc of the Theory of FSP: A Tentative Diachronic Excursion
• Name in Czech: Dramatický oblouk teorie FSP: přibližný diachronní exkurz
• Authors: ADAM, Martin (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Prague Journal of English Studies, Prague, Charles University, 2017, 1804-8722.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 60203 Linguistics
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• WWW: URL
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14410/17:00097235
• Organization unit: Faculty of Education
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.1515/pjes-2017-0008
• Keywords (in Czech): FSP; Firbas; funkční větná perspektiva; informační struktura
• Keywords in English: FSP; Firbas; functional sentence perspective; information structure
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

The theory of functional sentence perspective (FSP) and its research methods have been considered one of the prominent tools of discourse analysis and information processing. It is widely known that, combining the approaches adopted both by formalists and functionalists, the theory of FSP draws on the findings presented by the scholars of the Prague Circle. The father of FSP himself – Jan Firbas – drew on the findings of his predecessor, Vilém Mathesius, who formulated the basic principles of what was to be labelled FSP only later. Apart from the principal FSP representatives and more recent followers (as a rule associated with Prague or Brno universities), this homage paper overviews somewhat less familiar – yet significant – pioneers in the field of theories of information structure, viz. Henri Weil, Sámuel Brassai, Georg von der Gabelentz and Anton Marty. It will discuss some of their writings and achievements that were forming (and inspiring) the theory of FSP.

Abstract (in Czech)

Teorie funkčního větné perspektivy (FSP) a její výzkumné metody jsou považovány za jeden z významných nástrojů diskurzní analýzy a aktuálního členění věty. Tento odborný článek se zabývá principy FSP, jak je formulovali poněkud méně známí, a přesto významní průkopníci v oblasti teorie informační struktury, jako např. Henri Weil, Sámuel Brassai, Georg von der Gabelentz, či Anton Marty. Sleduje též vývoj této teorie v novějším bádání.