prof. francien herlen tomasowa, ph.d.
CLAUSE AS EXCHANGE
Simultaneously with its organization as a message, the clause is also
organized as an interactive event involving speaker/ writer, and
audience.
Types of speech role: GIVING
[inviting to receive]
DEMANDING [inviting to give]
Thus an act of speaking might ppropriately be called AN INTERACT
in which ”giving” implies receiving and “demanding” implies giving
in response.
TWO VARIABLES
DEFINING THE FOUR PRIMARY SPEECH FUNCTIONS
OFFER, COMMAND, STATEMENT, QUESTION
If you say something with the
aim of getting someone to do
something for you, the
exchange commodity is strictly
NON VERBAL.
What is being demanded is an
OBJECT or an ACTION, and
language is brought in to help
the process along.
If you say something with the
aim of getting someone to tell
you something, what is being
demanded is INFORMATION
PRIMARY SPEECH FUNCTIONS
commodity
exchanged
role in
exchange
giving
demanding
goods & services
information
“offer”
would you like
this teapot?
“statement”
he’s giving her the
teapot
“command”
give me that teapot!
“question”
what is he giving
her?
SPEECH FUNCTIONS & RESPONSES
initiation
goods & services
give
offer
demand
command
information:
give
demand
statement
question
expected
response
acceptance
undertaking
acknowledgement
answer
discretionary
alternative
rejection
refusal
contradiction
disclaimer
SEMANTIC FUNCTION OF A CLAUSE
IN THE EXCHANGE OF
INFORMATION
IN THE EXCHANGE OF
GOODS & SERVICES
SUBJECT
May be any nominal
group.
If it is a personal
pronoun, it is simply
repeated each time.
If it is anything else,
then after the first
occurence it is
replaced by the
personal pronoun
corresponding to it.
M
O
O
D
E
L
E
M
E
N
T
S
FINITE
One of a small number of
verbal operators
expressing TENSE or
MODALITY.
In some instances, the
Finite element and the
lexical verb are “fused” into
a single word.
This happens when the
verb is in simple past or
simple present (tense),
active (voice), positive
(polarity) and neutral
(contrast).
SUBJECT and FINITE
IN THE BODY OF THE CLAUSE AND THE TAG
example
Subject
Finite
the duke
the duke
the duke
the duke
has
is
did
didn’t
given away that teapot
giving away that teapot
give away that teapot
give away that teapot
hasn’t
isn’t
didn’t
did
he
he
he
he
the duke
has
Subject
Finite
Mood
given that teapot away
Residue
has
the duke
Finite
Subject
Mood
given that teapot away
Residue
FINITE VERBAL OPERATORS
PAST
LOW
did, was
had, used to
can, may
could, might
PRESENT
does, is
has
MEDIAN
FUTURE
HIGH
will, shall
would, should
will,would, should
is to, was to
must, ought to
need, has to, had to
the duke
has
my aunt
has
that teapot has
Subject
Mood
given my aunt that teapot
hasn’t he
been given that teapot by the duke hasn’t she
been given my aunt by the duke hasn’t it
Finite
Finite
Residue
Subject
Mood tag
Sister Susie
‘s
sewing
Subject
Finite
Predicator Complement
Mood
Residue
shirts
for soldiers.
Adjunct
The function of the Predicator is fourfold. It specifies:
1. time reference
2. various other aspects and phases like seeming, trying,
hoping
3. the voice (active/ passive)
4. the process (action, event, material, mental, relation)
A Complement is an element within the Residue that has the
potential of being Subject but is not.
It is typically realized by a nominal group.
the duke
Mood
gave
my aunt
that teapot
Predicator
Complement 1
Complement 2
Residue
An Adjunct is an element that has not got the
potential of being Subject.
It is typically realized by an adverbial group or a prepositional
phrase.
e.g.:
my aunt was given that teapot yesterday by the duke
adverbial
group
Adjunct
prepositional
phrase
A Conjunctive Adjunct tends
to occur at points in the clause
which are significant for textual organization ,
which means at some boundary or other:
1. clause initial [part of the textual theme]:
However, such men don’t make good husbands.
2. clause final [afterthought]:
Such men don’t make good husbands, however.
3. between Theme and Rheme:
Such men, however, don’t make good husbands.
4. between Mood and Residue:
Such men don’t, however, make good husbands.
Conjunctive Adjuncts have no function in the ckause as exchange.
There are 2 groups of Modal Adjuncts in terms of their place in the
mood structure:
1. MOOD ADJUNCTS specifically relating to the finite verbal
operators, expressing probability, usuality, obligation, inclination
or time, and intensity.
2. COMMENT ADJUNCTS which tend to occur thematically, finally,
between the Theme and Rheme, or between Mood and
Residue; and when medial, they are typically associated with a
boundary between information units.
They typically occur:
a. next to the Finite.
b. before the Finite.
c. after the Finite.
Examples:
She probably hasn’t arrived.
He doesn’t always hear.
You certainly must go.
I’d gladly help.
She’s already arrived.
Principal Items Functioning as Mood Adjuncts
probability/
obligation
usuality
presumption
inclination
time
degree
intensity
certainly, surely, probably, perhaps,
maybe, possibly, definitely, positively
always, often, usually, regularly,
typically, occasionally, seldom, rarely,
ever, never, once
evidently, apparently, presumably,
clearly, no doubt, obviously, of
course
gladly, willingly, readily
yet, still, already, once, soon, just
quite, almost, nearly, totally, entirely,
utterly, completely, literally, absolutely,
scarcely, hardly
just, simply, ever, only, really, actually
unfortunately however
he
can’t
Comment
Adjunct
Subject
Finite Mood
Adjunct
Conjunctive
Adjunct
usually
Mood
hear
clearly
on the telephone
presumption prep.phrase
Predicator Adjunct
Adjunct
Residue
CLAUSE WITH
CIRCUMSTANTIAL, MODAL
AND CONJUNCTIVE ADJUNCTS
who
Subject/ WH-
Mood
killed
(past) kill
Finite Predicator
Residue
Cock Robin
Complement
whose little boy
are
you
Complement / WH-
Finite
Subject
Residue
Mood
what
have
the elephants done
Complement/ WH-
Finite
Subject
Residue
Mood
to the pier
Predicator Adjunct
how neatly
he
Adjunct / WH-
Subject
Residue
Mood
spreads
his claws
‘[present] spread’
Complement
Finite
Predicator
come
into my parlour will
you
Predicator Adjunct
Finite
Subject
Residue
Mood tag
don’t you
believe
it
Finite Subject
Predicator
Complement
Mood
Residue
POLARITY AND MODALITY
God Bless
you !