Monday 12 March 2018

Characterisation As Happening

How are you doing?


From above, this is a demand for specific information: a characterisation of the self; a congruent realisation of the meaning would be how are you?.  So, from above, this clause is attributive relational.

how
are
you
doing
circumstantial Attribute: quality
Process:
Carrier
attributive

From roundabout, the lexical choice of the verb, and from below, the 'present in present' tense, both locate the clause more materially: as construing an ongoing happening.

how
are
you
doing
Manner: quality
Process:
Actor
material

The clause then realises a characterisation as an ongoing happening, thereby providing both of the complementary perspectives on change: the inert stability of 'being' and the active change of 'doing-&-happening'; see Halliday & Matthiessen (1999: 136, 159-65).

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