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FUNCTIONAL TEXT ANALYSIS OF OATH FOR ENGINEERS: 

ITS METAFUNCTIONS AND LINGUISTIC CHARACTERISTICS 

Rita Darmayanti 

rita.darmayanti@gmail.com 

State Polytechnic of Malang 

 

Abstract 

This study aims at investigating the language structure of the oath for engineers in the 

light of Systemic Functional Linguistics and examining how the oath is textualized to 

accomplish its roles and objectives as the guiding principle which sets the ideals and obligation 

of professional engineers. Hence, the main objective of this study is to identify the pattern of the 

text‟s structure by analyzing its meta-functions comprising the textual, interpersonal, and 

ideational functions. The main data used in this study is the text of oath for engineers as 

subscribed by the members of professional engineers in USA and Canada (Introduction to 

Engineering, 1989: 49-50). The result of data analysis shows that the text has special features 

characterizing the genre of oath and its purpose as indicated by 1) the predominance of 

declarative clauses, 2) the equal usage of marked and unmarked themes representing the setting 

and reaction phases in the text, 3) the typical form of zig-zag pattern of the thematic 

organization, and 4) the dominant use of material processes indicating that the text construes the 

world more in terms of action with engineers at its center, 5) the validity of proposition of the 

oath for the present time when the engineers subscribe to the oath and to the actual situation for 

the future time as indicated by the tense of the clauses in the text. Thus, unfolding the discourse 

of oath in English for engineering class is beneficial to increase learning interactions in which 

reading is treated as the focus of the teaching as well as enhancing students‟ individual 

development as a part of character education. 

Keywords: Systemic Functional Linguistic; Language Meta-functions; Oath for Engineers 

 

Abstrak 

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk menyelidiki struktur bahasa sumpah untuk Insinyur dalam 

Sistemic Functional Linguistic dan memeriksa bagaimana sumpah tersebut di tekstualisasikan 

untuk mencapai peran dan tujuannya sebagai prinsip panduan yang menetapkan cita-cita dan 

kewajiban seorang insinyur profesional. Oleh karena itu, tujuan utama dari penelitian ini adalah 

untuk mengidentifikasi pola struktur teks dengan menganalisis metafunctions yang terdiri dari 

fungsi tekstual, interpersonal, dan ideasional. Data utama yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini 

adalah teks sumpah untuk insinyur seperti yang dilanggan oleh anggota insinyur profesional di 

AS dan Kanada (Pengantar Teknik, 1989: 49-50). Hasil analisis data menunjukkan bahwa teks 

memiliki fitur khusus yang mencirikan genre sumpah dan tujuannya sebagaimana ditunjukkan 

oleh 1) dominasi klausa deklaratif, 2) penggunaan yang sama dari tema yang ditandai dan tidak 

ditandai yang mewakili fase pengaturan dan reaksi dalam teks. 3) bentuk khas pola zig-zag dari 

organisasi tematik, dan 4) penggunaan dominan dari proses material yang menunjukkan bahwa 

teks lebih banyak mengartikan dunia dalam hal tindakan dengan para insinyur di pusatnya, 5) 

validitas proposisi dari sumpah untuk saat ini ketika para insinyur berlangganan sumpah dan 

situasi aktual untuk waktu mendatang seperti yang ditunjukkan oleh tegang dari klausa dalam 

teks. Dengan demikian, mengungkap wacana sumpah dalam bahasa Inggris untuk kelas teknik 

bermanfaat untuk meningkatkan interaksi pembelajaran di mana membaca diperlakukan sebagai 

fokus pengajaran serta meningkatkan pengembangan individu siswa sebagai bagian dari 

pendidikan karakter. 

Kata Kunci: Sistemik Fungsional Linguistik, Metafungsi Bahasa, Sumpah Insinyur 

mailto:rita.darmayanti@gmail.com


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A. INTRODUCTION 

Professional oath can be defined as a solemn sworn formally, publicly and 

submitted to the formulated guidelines for professional ethical conduct for moral 

community. The oath commonly comprises professional, societal, environmental 

responsibilities by holding firmly on honesty, integrity, and moral gravity. National 

Society of Professional Engineers published the oath for engineers in June 1954 to be 

formally sworn by the graduated engineers in America. The oath aims at upholding 

devotion to the standards and dignity of the engineering profession. The text of the oath 

can be categorized as a kind of literate text which is projected to be difficult to be 

understood by novice non-native English speaker as Indonesian students having basic 

proficiency in English. Using the text of the oath for engineers as reading text material 

of the teaching of English for engineering class by unfolding the discourse of oath in is 

beneficial to increase learning interactions in which reading is treated as the focus of the 

teaching as well as enhancing students‟ individual development as a part of character 

education. 

Literate text is characterized by lexical density (the density of information 

resulted from the tightness of the content words in sentences) andbriefsyntactic structure 

and special expressions related to grammar for delivering the message of the text. In 

addition, nominalization as a the actualization of lexical density which is a grammatical 

process that enables the writer to compact a great deal of information into one noun 

phrase (Celce-Murcia,2000: 129) potentially causes reading difficulties. Texts in the 

oath for engineers might share some of these characteristics because they are actually 

written for the native engineers and are appropriate for the intermediate and advance 

foreign language learner so that the characteristics possessed by these texts potentially 

cause difficulties to novice learners. Thus, these texts can be categorized as Indonesian 

students. In fact, language patterns are rarely become the focus of attention of students 

and teachers since, commonly, their attention is on the content of the texts being read 

not on how language interprets and constructs that content (Schleppegrell, 2004: 2). In 

fact, rhetorical awareness of the texts and text purposes, as well as linguistic knowledge, 

provide readers with more „cognitive control‟ in their comprehension process 

(Abdollahzadeh, 2009: 115). 



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To overcome problems that might be caused by the language structure of the 

text, seeking the most appropriate approach for analysing text is needed. The notional or 

functional approach at its best is a very fruitful method of bringing together lexical 

items that co-occur naturally in describing the notion of structure of language (Dudley-

Evans, 2001:4). Thus, one of the tools which are appropriate to be used for analysing 

linguistic pattern and the structure of language and text aimed at seeking ways to help 

students in comprehending reading text is in the of light of functional model of grammar 

which is commonly known as systemic functional linguistics (henceforth SFL). 

Halliday (1993: 93) asserts that functional grammar facilitates us to analyse any passage 

and relate it to its context, and also to the general background of the text: who it is 

written for, what is its angle on the subject matter, and so on. Furthermore, he asserts, 

grammatical analysis is a fairly technical exercise, and not something that students can 

be expected to undertake for themselves unless they are specializing in language. In the 

perspective of SFL, the focus is on analysing the forms in which knowledge is 

construed through language. Therefore, functional text analysis can enlighten 

pedagogical practice and enable teachers to explicitly explore and explain the ways in 

which meanings are made.  

Structurally, the text of the oath for engineers aims at presenting and describing the 

ideals and obligation which the engineers intend to subscribe and accomplish in their 

professional careers. The macro organization of this text is organized as a list of 

prescriptive behaviors of a professional engineer as formulated by the society of 

professional engineers. Thus, this text can be further classified into the genre of 

textbook and norm. In terms of the „field‟, this text is categorized as a literate text which 

describes and discusses topic related to the field of engineering. The „tenor‟ of this text 

shows the relationship between the addresser (the writer) and addressee (readers of this 

text – engineers subscribing to the oath). In addition, the „mode‟ shows the contextual 

coherence of the text as it is a written text. Furthermore, it can be categorized as a kind of 

academic discourse since it is written by engineering specialistsaimed to introduce the 

characteristics and responsibilities of professional engineers to the novice engineering 

students. 

If structural analysis of the organization of texts can provide a macro-perspective of 

the texts, lexico-grammatical analysis in the following sections provides a micro-



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perspective of the texts to complete the analysis since the specific purpose of the oath 

characterizes the language of the oath and the usage of structural and lexico-grammatical 

resources in the oath text. Thus, this paper presents the analysis of discourse pattern 

comprising the experiential, interpersonal, and textual functions of the text and the logical 

dependency relation of clauses within the text. 

It is believed that people produce text when they speak and write. To grammarian, 

text is rich and it can be used to reveal language system by relating itto the linguistic 

system as a whole; and equally, we cannot use it as a window onthe system unless we 

understand what it means and why (Halliday andMatthiessen, 2004: 3). Grammar can be 

defined as the principles organization oflanguage. However, along the history, the ideas 

of language have been differed.Some linguists, such as Chomsky and Bloomfield, have 

tried to explain andinterpret the formal aspects of grammar separated from meanings 

and context.Some other linguists who believe language as a social 

communicationsystem have extremely different methods and goals for analyzing 

language. Whorf argued that a society‟s perception of reality is determined by the 

languageof that society (Bloor and Bloor, 1995: 241). Furthermore, Prague School 

linguistsproposed the concepts of Theme and Rheme while Firth and Malinowski 

emphasize on the importance of context of situation and language as action. 

Thoseconcepts are used as a starting point for Halliday in developing theories 

ofFunctional Grammar which was originated by Simon Dik and concerned with 

integration of sociolinguistics factors in the grammar. The detailed concept offunctional 

grammar is presented in the following paragraphs. 

The theory of functional grammar known as systemic functional 

linguistics(henceforth SFL and the “functional” is often omitted) approach emphasizes 

onthe application of contexts and explores how language is used. There are for 

maintheoretical claims about language in systemic approach namely that language 

isfunctional; that its function is to make meanings; that these meanings areinfluenced by 

the social and cultural context in which they are exchanged; andthat the process of using 

language is a semiotic process, a process of makingmeanings by choosing (Eggins, 

1994:2). In short, it can be concluded thatlanguage use is functional, semantic, 

contextual, and semiotic so that systemicapproach is viewed as functional-semantic 

approach to language.This notion of language shows that a full understanding of text is 



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difficultto be obtained without any reference to the context in which it occurs. A text is 

“aharmonious collection of meaning appropriate to its context” (Butt, et al., 2000).There 

are two perspectives of context namely context of culture and context ofsituation. On 

the level of context of culture, the concern is on how people uselanguage to achieve 

culturally appropriate goals through the concept of genre(Eggins, 1994: 25). On the 

other hand, register functions on the level of context ofsituation. In this case, register 

means functional-grammatical varieties of text.The features of social context that 

grammarhelps to represent include what is talked about (field), the relationship between 

thespeaker/hearer/reader (tenor), and expectations for how particular text type should be 

organized (Halliday, 1994 in Schleppegrell, 2004: 18). 

Grammar is the central processing unit of language, the powerhouse 

wheremeanings are created; it is natural that the systems of sound and of writingthrough 

which these meanings are expressed should reflect the structuralarrangement of the 

grammar (Halliday and Matthiessen, 2004:21).From this point of view, grammar 

becomes a study of how meanings are built upthrough the use of words and other 

linguistic forms and this may seem fairly tomost people since it accords with 

commonsense view of language, but not alllinguist have been concerned with meaning 

in such a direct way as Halliday(Bloor and Bloor, 1995:1-2). More specifically, SFL 

(Systemic FunctionalLinguistic) and/or functional grammar describe grammar as a 

resource of tools touse rather than a set of rules. It describes language structure as the 

outcomes ofchoices made by the language users, and it describes the relationship 

between textand their context of use. The concern is on the real language use, not 

languagewhich is made as examples of language that can be found in exercises, 

worksheetsor traditional grammar books. 

In Functional Grammar, clause is the central resource for makingmeanings and 

the logical functions enables us to produce more complexconfigurations in which two or 

more clauses are joined into a larger whole(Thomson, 2004: 195). Thus, analyzing 

clause structure is important since itprovides the „frame of reference for interpreting our 

experiences of what goes on(Halliday, 1985: 101). In addition, it is concerned with 

resources for combiningclauses into clause complexes (sentences). The technical term 

of “clausecomplex” in functional grammar is identical with „sentence‟ in the 

formalgrammar. In addition, functional grammar looks closely at the 



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differentcontributions made by clause, phrase and group and word structure to a text.In 

functional grammar, there are three aspects reflecting the three mainfunctions, namely 

ideational, interpersonal and textual. These three functionsalways exist in each 

sentence. Ideational function refers to the use of language torepresent experience and it 

is influenced by field. The sub functions of ideationalfunction comprise the 

experiential, which is concerned with content and ideas,and the logical, which is 

concerned with the relationship between ideas. Next, theinterpersonal function which 

refers the use of language to enact socialrelationships and it is influenced by tenor. The 

textual function, in addition,enables people to construct and organize text which is 

relevance to its context andit is influenced by mode. 

Language reflects our view of the world consisting of going-on (verbs)involving 

thing (nouns) which may have attributes (adjectives) and which go onagainst 

background details of place, time, manner, etc. (adverbials) (Thompson,2004:86). 

Experiential function focuses on the content of discourse covering theactivities and the 

participants in the activities being described. The term used inhere is transitivity, a way 

to distinguish not only between verbs that have object ornot, but also it refers to a 

system for describing the whole clause. In FunctionalGrammar, the content of clauses 

that we have said is located in the processeswhich contain participants in certain 

circumstances.The analysis of clause structure involves identifying the representation of 

the three components of processes: „the process itself; participants in the process; and 

circumstances associated with the process‟ (Halliday, 1985: 101). Briefly,participants 

identify the „who or what of the process‟. Processes identify „what isgoing on‟, that is, 

the doing (action/material process), sensing (mental process),and being (relational 

process) (Halliday,1985: 102-130). Finally, circumstancesprovide information about 

where (place), when (time), how (manner), whyreason/cause), with whom 

(accompaniment) in relation to the process (Halliday,1985: 137). 

Interpersonal function deals with communication and that language evolves to 

serve the functions that we need.Its concern is on the use of language to exchange 

meanings, thus some units of grammar of the clause are labelled based on their role 

toexchange meaning. Grammar provides us with the basic resource for 

expressingspeech functions, in the form of a highly generalized set of clause 

systemsreferred to as MOOD (Matthiessen and Halliday, 1997). In functional 



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grammar,the composition of clause consists of Mood and Residue. In detail, clause 

structure comprises the subject, complement, finite, predicator,and adjunct. However, in 

Mood-Residue analysis, each Adjunct is treateddifferently.  

Textual function deals with the structure and organization of message 

inlanguage used by the speaker and how the thematic organization contributes to 

thecohesive development of text. In functional grammar, clause is a unit whichserves 

the structure of message in the text consisting of a Theme which is accompanied by a 

Rheme. These two terms are borrowed fromthe terminologyproposed by Prague School 

of Linguistics. Theme is the element functioning asthe point of departure for the 

message and it carries the previous information intext which gives the background 

knowledge of the text. The new informationabout the point of departure in which Theme 

is developed is called Rheme. It hasfunction to describe and explain the context or topic 

presented by Theme. Themeis located at the initial position in the clause while Rheme is 

at the position following the initial position. Analyzing Theme and Rheme provides the 

frame for analyzing the text structure as well as interpreting the rest of the message. 

 

B. RESEARCH METHOD  

To describe how the text is structured, the qualitative approach is used in this 

study rather than the quantitative approach. It is believed that the result of analysis using 

qualitative approach is more holistic since it is not isolated from context and this will 

give a comprehensive description of language as a means of communication covering its 

meaning, purpose, function in academic context and indicates varieties on how language 

items and structures relate to each other in creating the communicative value. This study 

requires the identificationof groups, phrases, and clauses, the special characteristics of 

which are describedthrough inferences. By employing content analysis, this study 

identified the pattern of text structure beginning from the smallest to largest part of the 

contentof text namely word rank, group rank, and clause rank.Thus, from this 

perspective, content analysis facilitates the analysis ofwords of the text and gives better 

understanding from the perspective of theproducer of the words. Content analysis will 

involve the specific and basic contentcharacteristics of texts of the oath for engineersand 

the application ofexplicit rules based on functional grammar for identifying and, next, 

recordingthese characteristics. In this content analysis, the researcher is the key 



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Volume 4 Nomor 1- Februari 2019 
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78 
 

instrumentfor analyzing and collecting the data. The text of the oath for engineers was 

obtained from the oath published by the National Society of Professional Engineers 

published in 1954.  

The data analysis process of the study was carried out by analysing the groups, 

phrases, and clauses complexes were analyzed in terms of their structures and functions 

covering the experiential function (the use of language to represent experiences), 

interpersonal functions (language used to enact social relationships), and textual 

functions (language used to construct logical and coherent texts).In analysing groups, 

phrases, and clause complexes, the first focus is on studying how groups, phrases, and 

clauses are structured and linked to one another. The next focus is on the various 

methods of combining clauses together, and how they are used to establish the 

relationship between ideas, issues, and event in a text. 

Data analysis was started by reading the data and the relation between 

categoriesand checking research question and, next, followed by establishing criteria 

forselection in order to build explicit coding rules and marks for each category ofgroup, 

phrase, and clause. At this stage, the coding system is developed based onthe research 

questions of this study. Afterward, each group/phrase is labelledaccording to their each 

type of function at each rank. The data are sortedaccordingly to classify clauses into 

clause simplexes and clause complexes. Thetally sheets with the specific categories are 

listed at the top of each sheet, then theclauses are read and each time the clauses fit the 

criteria of clause simplexes andclause complexes, their location will be recorded. At the 

subsequent step, each structure of groups, phrases and clauses inclause simplexes, and 

clause complexes will be identified. Their each pattern ofstructure will be considered as 

minimum three occurrences of types of clausecomplexes. Next, the pattern of logical 

dependency used in clause complexeswill be identified. Each categorical pattern of 

group, phrases, and clausecomplexes will be explained and interpreted by consulting to 

the pattern offindings in light of functional grammar theories and previous studies. 

Finally,conclusion on the structure of text will be drawn by noting patterns and making 

comparison, contrast, and clustering. 

 

 



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C.  FINDINGS AND DISCUSSIONS 

Findings 

This section aims at presenting the findings of the language structure of the oathfor 

engineers inscribed in Ideals and Obligation of Professional Engineers in the light of 

Systemic Functional Linguistics and examining how the oath is textualized to 

accomplish its roles and objectives as the guiding principle which sets the ideals and 

obligation of professional engineers. Hence, the main objective of this study is to 

identify the pattern of the text‟s structure by analyzing its meta-functions comprising the 

textual, interpersonal, and ideational functions. 

Textual Function 

Textual function of the text deals with the organization of messages in the 

clauses in order to form a coherence text as well as to develop the interpersonal and 

experiential functions. The message of this text is structured in such a way to fulfill its 

aim as it belongs to the genre of oath. The message organization of the text is developed 

through a series of phases representing the ideals and obligations of professional 

engineers. Phases in text illustrate the wave of information consisting of one or more 

messages and variable segments which afterward realize the generic stage of the text 

(Rose, 2006:2). The analysis of stages, phases, and themes of the text is presented in the 

following table. (Note: marked themes are in bold and textual themes are in italic). 

 

Table 1. Phases and Themes in the Oath Text for Engineers 

Clause Stage/ Phase Theme Rheme 

1.1 Orientation / 

setting 

As a professional 

Engineer 

I dedicate my professional knowledge and skill to the 

advancement and betterment of human welfare. 

1.2 Orientation/ 

reaction 

I pledge: 

 To give the utmost of performance 

 To participate in none but honest enterprise 

 To live and work according to the laws of man and 

the highest standards of professional conduct. 

 To place service before profit, the honor and standing 

of the profession before personal advantage and the 

public welfare above all other considerations. 

1.3 Orientation/ In humility and with I make this pledge 



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setting need for Divine 

Guidance 

2.1.1 Orientation/ 

Event 

 

I AM AN ENGINEER. 

2.1.2a Orientation/ 

Setting 

In my profession I take deep pride, but without vainglory 

2.1.2b  Orientation/ 

Setting 

to it  I owe solemn obligations 

2.1.2c Orientation/ 

Reaction 

that, I am eager to fulfill. 

2.2.1 Orientation/ 

Setting 

As an engineer I will participate in none but honest enterprise 

2.2.2  Orientation/ 

Setting 

To him that has 

engaged my services 

, as employer or client, I will give the utmost of 

performance and fidelity. 

2.3.1a Orientation/ 

Setting 

When, (it) (is ) needed 

2.3.1b Orientation/ 

Reaction 

my skill and knowledge shall be given without reservation for the public good 

2.3.2a Orientation/ 

Setting 

From special capacity springs the obligation to use it well in the service to 

humanity;  

2.3.2b Orientation/ 

Reaction 

and, I accept the challenge  

2.3.2c Orientation/ 

Reaction 

that, this implies. 

2.4.1a Orientation/ 

Reaction 

Jealous of the high 

repute of my calling 

I will strive to protect the interests and the good name of 

any engineer 

2.4.1b Orientation/ 

Reaction 

that, I know to be deserving 

2.4.1c Orientation 

Reaction / 

but, I will not shrink, 

2.4.1d Orientation/ 

Reaction 

(what) should duty dictatefrom disclosing the truth regarding 

anyone  

2.4.1e Orientation/ 

Reaction 

that; but unscrupulous 

act 

has shown himself unworthy of the profession. 

2.5.1 Orientation/ 

Event 

Since the age of stone human progress has been conditioned by the genius of my 

professional forebears. 

2.5.2 Orientation/ By them have been rendered usable to mankind Nature‟s vast 



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Event resources of material and energy 

2.5.3 Orientation/ 

Event 

By them have been vitalized and turned to practical account the 

principles of science and the revelations of technology. 

2.5.4 Orientation/ 

Setting 

Except for this heritage 

of accumulated 

experience 

 

my effort would be feeble 

2.5.5 Orientation/ 

Reaction 

I dedicate myself to the dissemination of engineering 

knowledge, and especially to the instruction of younger 

members of my profession in all its arts and traditions.    

2.6.1a Orientation/ 

Setting 

To my fellow I pledge, in the same full measure, 

2.6.1b Orientation/ 

Reaction 

I ask of them, integrity and fair dealing, tolerance and 

respect, and devotion to the standards and the dignity of 

our profession; 

2.6.1c Orientation/ 

Setting 

with the consciousness always, that our special expertness carries with it the 

obligation to serve humanity with complete sincerity. 

From the result of analysis in the above table, the theme choices of the text 

shows the equal usage of topical and both marked and unmarked themes by employing 

the circumstantial element and the participant serving as the subject of the clause as the 

themes. The themes organization in the text is in the form of zig-zag pattern which is 

indicated by the changing topics from the marked themes presenting contextual 

framework of the clauses to the unmarked themes pointing out the engineer as the center 

of message departure. The marked themes in the text realize the circumstances or 

settings which will be encountered by the engineers in their future career and they are 

followed by the reaction to the setting in the subsequent clauses. The themes develop 

the organization of the text which is divided into some stages − predictable segments in 

genre − and phases – variable segments within each stage − representing hierarchy of 

periodicity of message in the text (Rose, 2006:2). Analyzing stages and phases enable 

the unfolding of ideation of clauses − the interpretation of sequences activity in text. 

The orientation stage in this text develops the organization of message in the whole text 

by involving the setting and reaction phases as the pattern which is expected to be 

repeated at the all level of orientation stages. The boundary of stages in this oath text is 

indicated by the placement of clauses into one paragraph and sub-paragraph.  



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The marked themes functioning for specifying the contextual framework for the 

interpretation of the clauses in the text indicate the setting phases which present the 

contexts comprising identities, purposes and activities. The unmarked themes, on the 

other hand, carry out the behavioral/attitudinal outcome as reaction which will be done 

in accordance to the specific setting presented by the previous clauses. According to 

Rose, 2006:2, on the scale of phases, the first and final sentences in a paragraph/ phase 

of written text may function as its hyperTheme and hyperNew, that predict and distil the 

field of the paragraph whereas, on the scale of the genre, the first and last paragraphs of 

a written text may function as its macroTheme and macroNew, predicting and distilling 

the field of the text. 

The first paragraph of the oath text serves as the macro Theme since it contains 

the main content of the oath for engineers and shows the purpose of making this pledge. 

On the other hand, the second paragraph has a role to present the macro New describing 

further detail information related to the macro Theme – the special qualities owned by 

the professional engineer. The first clause – as a professional Engineer, I dedicate my 

professional knowledge and skill to the advancement and betterment of human welfare 

– functions as the Hyper Theme which signifies the main field of the paragraph 

emphasizing on the actions which have to be done by the engineer in the framework of 

being a professional engineer. On the other hand, the final clause − in humility and with 

need for Divine Guidance, I make this pledge − serves as the Hyper New carrying new 

information related to the Hyper theme. In addition, this clause presents the 

circumstance of making this engineering pledge comprising the information that the 

engineer declares and commits to this pledge with the absence of any feelings of being 

better than others and the essential necessity for godly direction in bringing the 

messages included in this pledge into reality.  

In terms of stage, the orientation stage in the first paragraph begins with a setting 

phase pointing out the identities of the engineer as a professional engineer. This setting, 

as shown in clause 1.2, is followed by the expected range of activities and behavioral 

attitude of the engineer covering the pledge to give the highest and greatest degree of 

performance, the commitment to take part merely in honest enterprise, the commitment 

to obey the laws of man and the highest standards of professional conduct in living and 

working, and the pledge for setting the priority and placing the highest concern for 



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public benefit. The next setting in the first paragraph gives certain emphasize on the 

circumstance of the subscription of this oath in addition to the first setting as has been 

mentioned in the previous paragraph.  

In addition, the second paragraph specifies the further detail description of 

actions to be completed by the engineers. In this paragraph, the Hyper Theme of the 

statement subscribed by the engineers – I AM AN ENGINEER – gives an emphasis on 

the identity of the oath subscribers as an engineer while the Hyper New in clause 2.6.1 

provides the description of the engineer‟s attitude toward his fellow concerning with the 

appraisal of integrity, fair dealing, tolerance and respect, and devotion. Furthermore, 

event in clause 2.1.1 at the beginning of the second paragraph presents the transition 

between the first and the second orientation since it provides information that the 

following orientation stages describe the faith of the engineering as the detail 

continuation of the main oath presented in the previous paragraph and gives emphasize 

on the succeeding events pointing out the subscriber‟s identity as being an engineer.  

This event is followed by two settings which extend the reaction for the 

following phase as shown in clause 2.1.2 which consists of three sub-clause complexes. 

The first two sub-clause complexes pointing out the settings by marking the themes “in 

my profession” and “to it” and the usage of “that” as conjunction which represents 

sequences of phases within one clause complexes and indicate the changing phases from 

setting to reaction. This clause complex provides new information that in the engineers 

are really proud with the engineering profession but without arrogance, self admiration 

and egotism as shown in clause 2.1.2a and they have moral obligation to be fulfilled in 

their profession. The next sub-paragraph of the second paragraph is intended to give 

emphasize on the settings which are continued in the next orientation indicated by the 

conjunction of “when” followed by the reaction in the subsequent clause.  

Next, the clause complex 2.3.2 carries setting and reactions phases in one clause 

complexes by employing the marked themes in setting phase and conjunction and 

unmarked theme in reaction phases. However, clauses 2.2.1 to 2.3.2 primarily provide 

further new information describing the main oath in paragraph one by providing more 

detail engineer‟s action and attitude and reason for obeying the obligation in setting and 

reaction phrases. This fact indicates the importance of clause 1.2 and the emphasizing 

on it for presenting the main essential action and behavior of professional engineer. 



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Clause 2.4.illustrates another pattern of themes characterizing phases. This clause 

complex consists of five clauses marked with conjunction at the beginning of each 

clause which indicates the sequences of reaction phases. Having the clause jealous of 

the high repute of my calling as the marked theme, this clause presents the actions to be 

done by the engineers in that particular context and circumstance by giving additive 

addition realized by conjunction that and adversative addition in clause complex 2.4.1.  

Furthermore, the combination of event, setting, and reaction phases is presented 

in the fifth sub-paragraph of the second paragraph. The clause 2.5.1, 2.5.2, and 2.5.3 

provide truthful information or events addressing the fact concerning with the role of 

professional engineers since the age of stone. These clauses are followed by setting and 

reaction phases dealing with the action that the engineer should accomplish in 

accordance to the setting. The clause complex in the last sub-paragraph employs marked 

themes to signify the setting or framework for interpreting the following clause 

containing unmarked theme which indicate the reaction phase. However, clause 2.5.4 

serves as the main point this sub-paragraph since it gives a mark that event in clause 

2.5.1, 2.5.2, and 2.5. They present new information that the engineer‟s effort would be 

weak and deficient without any inherited experience acquired from the predecessor 

heritage of accumulated experience. Thus, it can be concluded that the patterns of 

themes and phases discussed in this section show the characteristic of organization of 

clause as message within a text in the genre of oath.  

 

Interpersonal Function 

In this section, the profound discussion dealing with the functional text analysis 

of the interpersonal meaning is presented. The focus of interpersonal meaning is on 

language as a way of acting and how the writers interact with readers through the 

construction of Mood and Residue comprising Subject, Finite, Predicator, Complement 

and Adjunct. In terms of Mood, all the clauses in this text are construed in positive 

polarity of declarative Mood which has a speech role as statements declared by the 

engineers and concerning with the ideals and obligations of professional engineers. 

Based on the analysis of Mood in the text, the Subjects of the clauses are dominantly in 

the form of NGs (nominal groups) which employ only the Thing element referring to I 

or the engineer who present him/herself in the oath. Some of the subjects in the clauses 



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are in the form of pronoun and empty noun, but these subjects still refer to the 

proceeding NGs. This fact shows that although the Finite and Residue have moved on to 

some new proposition and new claims, the Subject remains the same since I (the 

engineer) is the central subject who is subscribing to the oath and will take the action 

based on the new proposition and claims stated in the oath. By employing declarative 

clause, the clause in the oath introduces an entity (Subject), shows certain claim about 

the entity and indicates the degree of validity of claim and proposition through the 

Finite of the clause (Thompson, 2004: 53). From this perspective, it can be concluded 

that the oath text is making claim about the dominance Subject − „I‟ referring to the 

engineer. In addition, when subscribing to the pledge, the readers (the engineers) are 

expected to give agreement, acceptance, commitment, and undertaking to realize the 

content of the oathso that the statements in the oath can be categorized as claims 

although it may seem unusual to categorize statement as claim.  

In terms of Finite, the clauses in the text are dominantly in present tense 

indicating that the propositions in the text are valid for the present time and actual 

situation in the present and the future as shown by the usage of will in some clauses. 

The Mood analysis of this text reveals the equal usage of explicit Finite by employing 

auxiliary am, has and have been and implicit Finite which is embedded in lexical verb. 

It is assumed that the underlying reason for the usage of explicit Finite is based on the 

necessity to explicitly show the negotiation which is done by the Subject and Finite in 

the Mood element in building, developing and presenting the proposition in clause. 

Implicit Finite, on the other hand, shows that the Finite is being attached in the lexical 

item in Residue and it indicates that the writer makes the validity claims implicit as in 

all clauses of the first paragraph and clauses 2.1.2, 2.3.2, 2.5.5, and 2.6.1. In addition, all 

clauses in the oath text have positive polarity which indicates that the structure of finite 

has a role to prove the positive validity of propositions and claims existed in the text as 

well as to show positive attitude of writer and the intended reader toward the existing 

propositions and claims.  

Table 2. Mood Choices in the text of Oath for Engineers 

Clause Mood Speech 

role 

Subject Finite 

1.1 DEC statement I (Pronoun) present (dedicate) 



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1.2 DEC statement I (Pronoun) present (pledge) 

1.3 DEC statement I (Pronoun) present (make) 

2.1.1 DEC statement I (Pronoun) present: AM 

2.1.2a DEC statement I (Pronoun) present: (owe) 

2.1.2b DEC statement I (Pronoun) present (take) 

2.1.2c DEC statement I (Pronoun) present: am 

2.2.1 DEC statement I (Pronoun) present: will  

2.2.2 DEC statement I (Pronoun) present: will 

2.3.1a DEC statement It (Pronoun) present: is 

2.3.2a DEC statement - present (springs) 

2.3.2b DEC statement I (Pronoun) present (accept) 

2.3.2b DEC statement this (Pronoun) present (implies) 

2.4.1a DEC statement I (Pronoun) present: will 

2.4.1b DEC statement I (Pronoun) present (know) 

2.4.1c DEC statement I (Pronoun) present: will 

2.4.1d DEC statement (what) (Pronoun) present:should 

2.4.1e DEC statement Unscrupulous act (NG) present: has  

2.5.1 DEC statement Human progress (NG) present: has been 

2.5.2 DEC statement them (Pronoun) present: have been  

2.5.3 DEC statement them (Pronoun) present: have been  

2.5.4 DEC statement My effort (NG) present: would be 

2.5.5 DEC statement I (Pronoun) present (dedicate) 

2.6.1a DEC statement I (Pronoun) present (pledge) 

2.6.1b DEC statement I (Pronoun) present (ask) 

2.6.1c DEC statement Our special expertness (NG) present (carries) 

 

Furthermore, the dominant usage of active clauses in almost all clauses shows 

that the oath text gives a high degree of emphasize on the engineer as the subject of the 

clause who does the action. On the other hand, passive clauses as in clause 2.3.1 and 

2.5.3 indicate that the clauses give emphasize on the action which is done by the 

Subject. It should be noted that there is one clause, clause2.3.2a, From special 

capacitysprings the obligation, having no subjects but the circumstantial adjuncts, 

realized in the form of prepositional phrase, and it is placed at the subject position of the 

clause. In this case, it assumed that the speaker is making a claim about the obligation 

which is valid for the present time and actual situation if it is examined from the special 

capacity owned by the engineers. The passive clauses 2.5.2 and 2.5.3, repeat the same 



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“them” twice to give an emphasizing on the role of engineers in utilizing natural 

resources and developing technology since the age of stone. In the Residue, clause 

predicators which express the action, happening etc in this text has function to specify 

the active and passive voice of the clause and half of them serve as secondary tense 

since the element of finite are attached in the predicators. In addition, frequent usage of 

circumstantial Adjunct explains the circumstance of propositions and claims made in 

the Mood.  

In terms of appraisal, many clauses in the text show Affect focusing on the 

emotive feeling of the appraiser as in eager to fulfill and my effort would be feeble and 

Appreciation aimed to demonstrate the qualities owned by the appraised thing, action 

and event as shown by deep pride, solemn obligations, the utmost of performance, from 

special capacities, unscrupulous act, the genius of my professional forebears andspecial 

expertness. From the dominance appraisal in the text, the writer shows his/her thinking 

and attitude towards the appraised thing, action, and event which is appraised for having 

good values and qualities. Finally, the discussion of interpersonal analysis of the oath 

text in this section comes into conclusion that the oath is primary functioned for 

guaranteeing the truth and efficacy of language. The oath, then, seems to be a linguistic 

act intended to confirm a meaningful proposition (a dictum), whose truth or 

effectiveness it guarantees, and whose correctness and implications we must verify 

(Agamben, 2011: 15). 

 

Experiential Function 

Language reflects our view of the world consisting of going-on (verbs) 

involving thing (nouns) which may have attributes (adjectives) and which go on 

against background details of place, time, manner, etc. (adverbials) (Thompson, 

2004:86). Experiential function focuses on the content of discourse covering the 

activities and the participants in the activities being described through the structure 

of transitivity −processes, participants, and circumstances. The transitivity structure 

of clause express representational meaning: what the clause is about, which is 

typically some processes, with associated participants and circumstances (Halliday 

and Matthiessen, 2004: 309). Here is the extract of text oath taken from Introduction 



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to Engineering book. (Note: Participants underlined; Processes in bold; 

Circumstantial in italics; clauses are numbered for later reference). 

(1.1)As a professional Engineer, Idedicatemy professional knowledge and 

skillto the advancement and betterment of human welfare. 

(1.2) Ipledge: 

To give the utmost of performance 

To participate in none but honest enterprise 

To live and work according to the laws of man and the highest standards 

of professional conduct 

To place service before profit, the honor and standing of the profession 

before personal advantage and the public welfare above all other 

considerations. 

(1.3)In humility and with need for Divine Guidance, Imake this pledge. 

(2.1.1) IAMAN ENGINEER. (2.1.2a)In my profession, Itakedeep pride, but 

without vainglory; (2.1.2b) to it Iowesolemn obligations (2.1.2c) that Iam 

eager to fulfill. 

(2.2.1)As an engineer, Iwill participate in none but honest enterprise. 

(2.2.2)To him that has engagedmy services, as employer or client, Iwill 

givethe utmost of performance and fidelity. 

(2.3.1a)When needed, (2.3.1b)my skill and knowledgeshall be given 

without reservation for the public good. (2.3.2a)From special capacity 

springs the obligation to use it well in the service to humanity; (2.3.2b) and 

Iacceptthe challenge(2.3.2c) that thisimplies. 

 (2.4.1a) Jealous of the high repute of my calling, Iwill strive to protect the 

interests and the good name of any engineer (2.4.1b) that Iknow to be 

deserving; (2.4.1c) but Iwill not shrink, (2.4.1d) should duty dictate, from 

disclosing the truth regarding anyone (2.4.1e) that, but unscrupulous act,has 

shown himself unworthy of the profession. 

(2.5.1)Since the age of stone, human progresshas been conditioned by the 

genius of my professional forebears. (2.5.2)Bythemhave been rendered 

usable to mankind Nature’s vast resources of material and energy. 

(2.5.3)Bythemhave been vitalized and turned to practical account the 



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principles of science and the revelations of technology. (2.5.4) Except for this 

heritage of accumulated experience, my effortwould be feeble. 

(2.5.5)Idedicatemyself to the dissemination of engineering knowledge, and 

especially to the instruction of younger members of my profession in all its 

arts and traditions.    

(2.6.1a) To my fellow Ipledge, in the same full measure, (2.6.2b)Iask of 

them, integrity and fair dealing, tolerance and respect, and devotion to the 

standards and the dignity of our profession; (2.6.1c) with the consciousness, 

always, that our special expertnesscarries with it the obligation to serve 

humanity with complete sincerity. 

From the analysis above, the most frequent process type is material process apart 

from the two relational clauses and two mental clauses. The material processes in the 

text are realized by such processes namely dedicate, pledge, make, take, owe, will 

participate, give, shall be given, accept, implies, will strive, will not shrink, and should 

duty dictate. In addition, the material processes in the text are dominantly employed by 

Actor and Goal as the participants of each clause. However, some materials processes, 

namely give, shall be given, and accept indicates the employment of Agent and 

Recipient as the participants. The most frequent participant of the text is I which refers 

to the engineer who subscribes to the oath. Since material process involving physical 

action, the dominant usage of material process indicates that the text construes the world 

more in terms of action or action oriented with engineers as its central Actor by 

depicting engineer as someone who fulfill and bring the action into the reality.  

In addition, there are two attributive relational and identifying relational 

processes. The attributive relational process represents the attributive relation between 

the Carrier and Attribute as the participants while identifying relational process showing 

the identification of the both participants which carry Token and Value as the 

participants. The attributive relational process in clause 2.3.2a employs Attribute 

(obligation) as participant with the absence of Carrier which is left unidentified. 

However, the clause indicates that there is a relationship between the Attribute (the 

obligation) and Circumstance (from special capacities) by employing springs as a 

process which signifies the causal relation between Circumstance and Attribute. The 

relational process (springs) characterizes the aspect that the obligation is as the outcome 



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of the special capacity owned by the engineer. Thus, “spring” has a role to make a 

distinctive contribution of the identification of the both participants – token and value. 

By means of attributive processes, in this clause, the writer provides the information 

related to the specific attributes and the characteristics of the absence Carriers. Thus, it 

can be concluded that the function of attributive relational clause is mainly for 

describing condition. Furthermore, the identifying relational process employs Token 

and Value as in clause 2.1.1. Clause 2.1.1, I AM AN ENGINEER, identifies that the most 

frequent participant, I, is an engineer objectively and identifiable by not attaching 

subjective attribute to the Carrier (I). In short, identifying relational in this particular 

clause has a role to sum up the known condition or value depicted in the text to identify 

the participant serving as the Token. Furthermore, the mental clauses encode the 

meaning of thinking and feeling and employ Senser and Phenomenon as the 

participants. There are two types of mental clauses existed in the oath text, cognitive 

and perceptive. According to Halliday and Matthiessen (2004: 210), cognitive is 

realized through verb representing thinking, knowing, and understanding, for example 

in clause 2.4.1b while perceptive is realized through verbs of seeing and hearing, for 

example in clause 2.4.1e. In terms of Circumstances, the text employs circumstantial 

elements to enhance and extend the clause by providing additional information related 

to the process and participant and employing the circumstance of time place, quality, 

condition, comitative and guise as listed in the following table.   

Table 3. Types of Circumstances in the Text of Oath for Engineers 

(Adopted from Halliday and Matthiessen, 2004: 262) 

 Types  wh-item Examples of Realization 

enhancing 1 

 

 

 

Location 

 

 

 

place where? [there, 

here] 

in the service of profession 

time when?  

[then, now] 

when it is needed 

2 Manner quality how? [thus] in humility, according to the laws of 

man, without vainglory, in none but 

honest enterprise,  

extending 3 Accompaniment condition why? jealous of high repute of my calling 

   comitative who/what 

with? 

with need for devine guidance, 

without reservation 

guise what as? as an engineer 



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D. CONCLUSIONS 

From the discussion presented in this paper, it is clear that the oath text for 

engineers utilize various language resources to achieve its objectives. Textually, the zig-

zag pattern of themes organization indicates the changing topics from the marked 

themes presenting contextual framework of the clauses to the unmarked themes pointing 

out the engineer as the center of message departure which later represent the movement 

of stages and phases in the text. Interpersonally, the oath has a primary role for 

guaranteeing the truth and efficacy of language. Experientially, the dominant usage of 

material process indicates that the text construes the world more in terms of action or 

action oriented with engineers at its center.  

The results of functional text analysis which unfolds the structure of the oath for 

engineers and reveals the pattern of the text is essential to be utilized as one important 

consideration in designing and developing English course syllabus and teaching material 

for the teaching of English in engineering class. This is based on the idea that teaching 

reading requires a focus on intermediate patterns of discourse between stages and clause 

grammar, since learners cannot comprehend a text as a string of clauses, any more than we 

understand a clause as a string of words, or a word as string of letters (Rose, 2006:2). This 

oath text has a good quality and potential to be used as one of the teaching material of 

English in Engineering class in which reading is treated as the main focus of the teaching 

since this text can promote character education by providing detail description on the 

ideals, obligations and special qualities which have to be possessed by professional 

engineers.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



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Cerce-Murcia, Marianne and Olshtain, Elite. 2000. Discourse and Context inLanguage 

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