A Conceptual Model Of Selfhood Viewed Through Systemic Functional Linguistics

Edelman (1992: 131-2):

How does one become "conscious of being conscious"? In order to acquire this capacity, systems of memory must be related to a conceptual representation of a true self (or social self) acting on an environment and vice versa. A conceptual model of selfhood must be built, as well as a model of the past.  A number of steps of developmental learning that alter the individual's relation to the immediate present are necessary for this to take place.

Brain repertoires are required that are able to delay responses. (Repertoires of this type are known to be present in the frontal cortex.) These repertoires must be able to categorise the processes of primary consciousness itself. This is achieved largely through symbolic means…

Long-term storage of symbolic relations, acquired through interactions with other individuals of the same species, is critical to the self-concept. This acquisition is accompanied by the categorisation of sentences related to self and nonself and their connection to events in primary consciousness.

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From the perspective of Systemic Functional Linguistic theory, the ontogenesis of the social self relates to the interpersonal dimension of language, in which the self and intersubjective relations are enacted as meaning.  In terms of Edelman's TNGS, this suggests a correlation of systems of linguistic meaning potential with the systems of value-weighted perceptual potential that enable primary consciousness.