Misrepresenting Textual Analysis

Martin (1992: 451-2):

In order to simplify the interpretation of New presented here, only the minimal domain of the New will be considered; this will be taken as the highest ranking clause constituent (usually a ranking group or phrase) the tonic syllable falls on the final salient syllable of. This principle determines the following minimal News for [6:38], which can be contrasted with the selections of marked and unmarked Topical Theme in the right-hand column.

minimal new in [6:38]	unmarked topical theme in [6.38]
the only real accident	driver (6)
‘ve ever had	friend (3)
in fog and ice	mini (2)
a big truck…on the side of the road	accident (3)
about three feet	there (2)
away	fog
very thick	it [e]
a mini	about twelve cars
into this truck
the mini
the offside
with its nearside wing
I	marked topical theme in [6.38]
my	when I came along
completely blocked
unfortunately
a four wheel skid
up to this mini
that
to deal
into the mini
sideways on
into me
a friend of ours
along
the lot
into each one
sideways
in daylight
the fog
needless to say
fog
great…now
yes
know
keep happening…in fog
allright
yes
yes
no-one injured

Blogger Comment:

For comparison, presented below are the culminations of New information as given in Halliday (1985: 60), alongside the actual topical Themes — including the one genuine marked topical Theme (overlooked by Martin). Instances where the culmination of New coincides with the Theme are indicated by colour.

culmination of new in [6:38]	topical theme in [6.38]
accident	the only real accident I’ve ever had
had
ice
truck	there
road
feet
(a)way
thick	it
mini	a mini
truck
mini	the mini
offside
wing
	it
I
my
blocked
(un)fortunately	I
skid
mini
that	at that time (marked)
deal	how
mini	I
on	you
me	about twelve cars
ours	a friend of ours
(a)long
lot	he
one	he
sideways
daylight	this
fog
say	I
fog
great
now
yes
know	I
happening	they
fog
right	you
this
yes
yes
injured	there