Systemic Functional Linguistics: Accessibility and Visibility Across Languages, Academic Profiles and Disciplines

This paper explores the accessibility and visibility of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) in academic and professional contexts across languages, academic profiles, and disciplines through a questionnaire-based study. Developed by M.A.K. Halliday, SFL offers a unique, appliable approach to linguistics, positioning language as a resource for meaning-making. Despite its growing global influence, SFL faces visibility challenges, especially in contexts dominated by generative linguistics. Through responses from over 150 participants, the study reveals a geographical divergence: Chinese scholars exhibit stronger perceptions of SFL’s accessibility and cross-disciplinary visibility, arguably due to translations and institutional support. Conversely, respondents outside China indicate limited SFL visibility in neighbouring disciplines. This study highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaboration, broader translation efforts, and increased training opportunities. By enhancing these aspects, SFL can expand its relevance and accessibility within diverse linguistic and professional contexts.