Wednesday, 16 May 2018

Nested Paratactic Extension vs Nested Hypotactic Enhancement With Ellipsis


He used coloured chalk whenever it was available and whenever it helped. 

He used coloured chalk
whenever it was available
and whenever it helped
α
x β

1
+ 2

He used coloured chalk sporadically and whenever it helped.

He used coloured chalk sporadically
and he used coloured chalk
whenever it helped
1
2

α
x β

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).

Thursday, 8 March 2018

Condition Marked By Subject–Finite Inversion


were
concerns about the health of global trade
to become
more elevated
Finite
Subject
Predicator
Complement
Mood
Residue
Process:
Carrier
attributive
Attribute
interpersonal
topical


Theme: unmarked
Rheme


The subjunctive MODE of the verb marks the irrealis of the condition.