2.2 Overview of Interpersonal Meaning SFL, based on a view of how language functions as a system of human communication (Thompson, 1996/2000:1), is construed by Halliday under the influence of some scholars from different domains, such as Malinowski, Whorf, Firth and Hjemslev, whose essences are assimilated and integrated into his insights. He embraced the view from Malinowski that meaning is function in context and language is multifunctional. Malinowski identified three major functions