Global Journal of Human Social Science, G: Linguistics and Education, Volume 22 Issue 9

c) Theme in clause complexes and reported clauses Thematic choices in Myanmar clause complexes and reported clauses are investigated in this study following Halliday (1985, 1994, 2004, 2014). In a Myanmar clause complex, the dependent clause always precedes the clause on which it depends. In such case, the dependent clause is analyzed as the Theme for the whole clause complex. As every clause has a Theme, the dependent clause and the dominant clause are further analyzed into Theme-Rheme structure as in Example (14). According to Thompson (2004/2008: 161), “Reporting or projection has a different kind of relationship between clauses than other types of clause complex; this is reflected in the uncertain status of projected Themes in the text; and in the case of quotes, the analysis is usually straightforward in such a way that the reporter makes a thematic choice in the projecting or reporting clause and also recycles the original speaker ’ s thematic choice in the quote.” Both Themes typically play an essential role in the development of the text, and they are analyzed separately in the reporting clause and quote, as shown in Examples (15) and (16). Construction of the THEME System of Myanmar © 2022 Global Journals Volume XXII Issue IX Version I 60 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2022 G continuative vocative topical textual interpersonal experiential Rheme Theme „Oh Thet Thet, will you sell your car?‟ (SEAlang Library Burmese Corpus) (14) က က က thuedagar nannetsar sarr=pyeehma htaminnzabwe-thot yauk-i. everyone breakfast eat=after. CONJ dining.table- ALL arrive- PRS.DECL.SENTSUF Theme-1 Rheme-1 topical Rheme-2 topical Rheme-3 Theme-2 Theme-3 „After everyone has eaten breakfast, he arrives at the dining table.‟ (SEAlang Library Burmese Corpus) (15) က ' က က က ' အ က က hwantawmat- ga ‘bethuega taikkhaik-tarle’=hu ayaye:dagyee maye:-laiki. Juan.Tomas- SBJMARK who attack- PFV.INT.SENTSUF=COMP quickly ask- PFV.DECL.SENTSUF Theme-1 Rheme-1 topical Theme-2 Rheme-2 „“Who attacked?” asked Juan Tomas quickly.‟ (Htin Lin 1999: 126)