Lecture 5
Main Issues
Grammaticality, meaningfulness and
acceptability
Variables in the function of sentence
meaning
Types of process
Types of participant
Types of circumstance
The interpersonal meaning
The
representational
meaning
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Sentence
A string of words put together by the
Grammaticality
Aceptability
Sentence
Meaningfulness
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Grammaticality
A grammatical sentence is one which is
formed according to the rules of grammar.
I love you - Grammatical
I am love you Ungrammatical
Meaningfulness
The meaningfulness of a sentence is
conditioned by how well-informed that sentence
is semantically.
Meaningful sentence
Scott is a lazy, stupid, disagreeable, stubborn
guy.
Meaningless sentence
Acceptability
In grammatical sense
In semantic sense
In grammatical sense
Some sentences are unacceptable
because it is not grammatically possible.
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In semantic sense
Suitable to social etiquette
After the battle, the enemies all passed
away.
Unacceptable
You are my dog
Acceptable in Britain
Unacceptable in Greece
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In semantic sense
Unacceptable
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Structural meaning
Structural meaning is the kind of meaning
that results from a particular arrangement
of the parts of the sentence.
E.g.:
- The mantte wernnted a yob
Representational meaning
Can be defined in terms of experiential
and logical functions.
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Representational meaning
The experiential function: is to communicate ideas
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Interpersonal function
1. To establish and maintain social relations.
- I am sorry
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Interpersonal function
2.
Interpersonal function
3. To express the speakers feelings, attitudes
Textual function
The textual function or meaning is to create
texts. It is this function that helps to give texts
coherence and cohesion.
When Bill Gates was in the sixth grade, his parents
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Textual
Processes
Participants
Mr. Haliday
Circumstance
A transitivity network
going through, extending to another entity
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Types of process
Material processes: express our outer experiences
Mental processes: express our inner experiences
Relational processes: connect our experiences
Behavioral processes (between material processes
and mental processes): represent outer manifestations
of our inner workings
Verbal processes (between mental and relational
processes): represent symbolic relationship
constructed in human consciousness and enacted in
the form of language.
Existential processes (between the material and
relational processes): concerning with existence
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Material processes
If there are two entities, they are the ACTOR and
the GOAL. In this case:
e.g.
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Material processes
- Material processes are not necessarily
concrete, but can be abstract
e.g.
Mental processes
Definition: Mental processes are those that
express our inner experiences. Mental
processes involve two entities: a SENSER
(the conscious being that feels, sees or
thinks) and a PHENOMENON (that which is
sensed, felt, thought or seen.
e.g. Mary liked the gift
No-one believed his story
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Characteristics
1. In a clause of mental process, there is
always one participant who is human or
human-like. This is the SENSER, the one
who senses, feels, thinks or perceives.
- On the contrary, in material process, no
participant is required to be human, and
the distinction between conscious and
non-conscious beings simply plays no
part.
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Mental processes
2.
3.
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Mental processes
4.
Please type
It pleases me
It frightens me
I wonder at it
I dont understand it
I enjoy it
I mind it
I admire it
It amazes me
It puzzles me
It delights me
It upsets me
It impresses me
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Mental processes
5.
Relational processes
Definition: Relational processes are those that
connect our experiences. They are processes of
being.
Characteristics: In a relational clause, there are
two parts to the being: something is being said to
be something else. In other words, a relation is
being set up between two entities.
e.g.
Jane is beautiful
Tomorrow is my birthday
Peter has a piano
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Relational processes
1. Intensive:
x is a
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Behavioral processes
Definition: Behavioral processes are those
describing physiological and psychological behavior
like coughing, breathing, smiling, dreaming, and
staring. They are partly like the material and partly
like the mental processes.
Characteristics:
The participant who is behaving, labelled
BEHAVER, is typically a conscious being, like the
Senser, but the Process is grammatically more like
one of doing.
e.g.
Jane is smiling
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Verbal processes
Definition: verbal processes are processes of
saying. They represent symbolic relationships
constructed in human consciousness and enacted
in the form language.
Characteristics:
Verbal processes are Processes of saying (tell,
insult, praise, slander, abuse, flatter, promise, etc.)
SAYER - The participant who is speaking, TARGET
- addressee to whom the process is directed is,
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Existential processes
Definition: existential processes are those that are
concerned with existence.
Characteristics:
Represents something that exists or happens
Intermediate between material and relational
processes
Two entities: the EXISTENT and the process
e.g.:
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Existential processes
Verbs that commonly occur in existential
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The participants
The participants are those roles involved in the
process (expressed by the predicator), the
number of which varies from linguist to linguist.
The possible roles include:
1. Argentive, including agent and actor - the
creator of the process
2. Instrumental - the instrument involved in the
process
3. Factitive, the entity which is the result of the
process
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The participants
4. Locative - indicates the position or direction of
the action or state expressed by the verb
5. Owner and possession
6. Benefactive - the entity that benefits from the
action expressed by the verb, also called
beneficiary
7. Comitative - the participant that accompanies
the subject involved in a process or action
expressed by the verb
8. Source - the point of original of where the
process comes from
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The participants
9. Goal - the target, to which an action is directed
10.Undergoer (senser or experiencer) - just the
participant the undergoes or experiences a
process
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The circumstances
This component is related to the process. They
can occur in all types of processes. Most are
realized by prepositional phrases; however,
they can be clauses as well. The main types of
circumstances are:
1. Time:
e.g.
She arrived home at 9 oclock
2. Place:
e.g.
I met her at a small restaurant
3. Condition:
e.g.
If she comes, Ill go
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The circumstances
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
Concession:
e.g.
In spite of her parents objection
Result:
e.g.
I was caught in a sudden shower, so I
was soaked
Manner:
e.g.
She beat her son with a ruler
Attending circumstances:
e.g.
As everyone is here, lets start
Cause:
e.g.
Because of the rain, the train was late.
Purpose:
e.g.
She is out for lunch now.
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Grammaticalization of modality
Mood and modality:
- Indicative:
I was absent yesterday -> report
Will she marry me? -> doubt
- Imperative: Be quiet!/ take a seat! -> request
- Subjunctive:
I wish I could fly -> wish (epistemic)
It is necessary that he be here -> obligation
Modality in subordinate clause: I order that he
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Lexicalization of modality
Modal verbs: may, might, will, would, should, etc.
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Process
Participant Circumstance
Behavioural
Behaver
Manner
- Place
Material
Actor Manner
Goal
Material
Actor Place
Goal
Material
Actor Manner
Goal
- Place
Existential
Material
Existent
Actor BeneficiaryGoal
Place
Circumstance
Condition