An analysis of thematic progression of written Islamic discourse on Liberal Islam Network (LIN) website

ABSTRACT

Thematic Progression is crucial in the study of coherence and cohesiveness of texts and so is in Systemic Functional Linguistics. Thus, the study concerning Thematic Progression is widely conducted. However, the study of Thematic Progression focusing on online written Islamic discourse which is the focus of this research is never done. Therefore, this study is projected to investigate the Theme types and Thematic Progression patterns of Liberal Islam Network website texts which further are related to the level of coherence of the texts.

This study is qualitatively designed as the aim of this research is for getting a comprehensive understanding on the phenomena pertaining to the Thematic Progression pattern realized in the texts. This study is also descriptively analyzed since the results of this research are based on the writer’s interpretation in form of description regarding the types of Theme, the Thematic Progression pattern and the coherence level of the texts.

Furthermore, this research yields that the commonest type of Theme is topical and the commonest type of Thematic Progression pattern are constant Theme and simple linier Theme. Moreover, out of the seven patterns of TP, this research also yields two more new patterns that seem to be never propounded by other researchers. However, it is also found that there is an indication of the over- use of constant theme in four texts which further implies that the texts are monotonously written. Furthermore, following Eggins’ concept of coherence level of text, it bears that the texts of Column section of LIN website is fair coherent. In relation to academic writing, based on the high occurrences of textual Theme found, the five texts analyzed are academically written. However, based on the finding on simple linear theme which is the characteristic of academic text, it is revealed that it is only one text which is dominantly structured by this type of TP. Therefore, the results of this study are projected to deepen and broaden the study on thematic progression and be facilitative for the journalists and EFL students in writing a well-governed article.