A tribute to M.A.K. Halliday (13 April 1925- 15 April 2018)

Abstract

This April, the international linguistic community lost a great scholar, a unique mind, Michael
Alexander Kirkwood Halliday, best known for creating the Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) school of
thought. Over his long and prolific life, he has developed a comprehensive and cohesive theory of
language, social interaction and social action that challenged most accepted ways of thinking about
language up to his time. His theoretical pieces have contributed to expanding language education, and
have broadened our understanding of the central role of language in social contexts and human life.
Halliday’s ideas and publications, as well as his students, left an immeasurable impact on the world of
linguistics and beyond.