Dutch subordínators and P1 in a Functional Grammar word order template

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Braecke
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
Functional Grammar

A systemic typology of existential and possessive constructions

2013 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yong Wang ◽  
Jie Xu
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
Semantic Features ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Systemic Functional Grammar ◽  
Relational Processes ◽  
Case Marking ◽  
Possessive Constructions ◽  
Systemic Network ◽  
Definiteness Effect

In this article, we examine locational constructions (including existentials, locatives, and possessives) in a number of languages. Morpho-syntactically, locationals resemble or are related to one another in word order, in case marking, and in the choice of verbs. In semantics, the relatedness lies in the definiteness effect, in the locative feature, and in the mutually defining relationship between the semantic elements within each construction. As is recognized by Heine (1997), Stassen (2001) and others, the existential is one of the major sources from which possessives are derived. Basically, possessive constructions are existentials whose locative elements are prototypically human. We argue that locational constructions are relational processes and that they can be integrated into a systemic network with respect to two semantic features, i.e., the definiteness of the existent element and the humanness of the locative element. This systemic relationship between locationals has implications for the description and comparison of languages within the Systemic Functional Grammar framework, particularly where locationals are concerned.

scholarly journals Revisiting the configurationality issue in Old Icelandic

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hannah Booth
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Old Icelandic ◽  
Modern Language ◽  
Lexical Functional Grammar ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The Status ◽  
Corpus Data

The status of Old Icelandic with respect to (argument) configurationality was subject to debate in the early 1990s (e.g. Faarlund 1990; Rögnvaldsson 1995) and remains unresolved. Since this work, further research on a wide range of languages has enhanced our understanding of configurationality, in particular within Lexical Functional Grammar (e.g. Austin & Bresnan 1996; Nordlinger 1998) and syntactically annotated Old Icelandic data are now available (Wallenberg et al. 2011). It is thus fitting to revisit the matter. In this paper, I show that allowing for argument configurationality as a gradient property, and also taking into account discourse configurationality (Kiss 1995) as a further gradient property, can neatly account for word order patterns in this early stage of Icelandic. Specifically, I show that corpus data supports part of the original claim in Faarlund (1990), that Old Icelandic lacks a VP-constituent, thus being somewhat less argument-configurational than the modern language. Furthermore, the observed word order patterns indicate a designated topic position in the postfinite domain, thus reflecting some degree of discourse configurationality at this early stage of the language.

scholarly journals HETEROGLOSSIA: ANOTHER SFG-BASED APPROACH TO TREATMENT OF WORD ORDER AS A MEANS FOR EXPRESSING MODALITY IN VIETNAMESE

2020 ◽  
Vol 36 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nguyen Van Hiep
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
Systemic Functional Linguistics ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Systemic Functional Grammar ◽  
Functional Linguistics

The paper first introduces heteroglossia – a development of Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG) in Hallidayan Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) school before suggesting possible uses of heteroglossia in present-day studies of language, with particular focus on the role of word order in sentences of Vietnamese, a typical isolating language. The change of word order is considered a means for expressing modality, as shown in several interesting examples in Vietnamese, which proves that SFG and heteroglossia as its variant is an effective approach for exploring the role of word order in Vietnamese.

Discourse relations across genres and contexts

2018 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-231
Author(s):  
Anita Fetzer ◽  
Augustin Speyer
Keyword(s):  
Representation Theory ◽  
Word Order ◽  
Personal Narrative ◽  
Methodological Framework ◽  
Discourse Representation ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Discourse Representation Theory ◽  
Systemic Functional Grammar ◽  
Discourse Relations ◽  
Discourse Units

Abstract This paper presents an analysis of the linguistic realization of discourse relations across and within English and German discourse, comparing the genres of newspaper editorial and personal narrative. It concentrates on Continuation, Narration and Contrast, and Elaboration, Explanation and Comment. Particular attention is given to (1) their overt realization with textual themes and pragmatic word order, and (2) the (non)adjacent positioning of discourse units realizing the relations. The methodological framework is an integrated one, supplementing Systemic Functional Grammar with Segmented Discourse Representation Theory. In the English and German narratives, there is a strong tendency to realize discourse relations overtly. The overall overt realization is significantly higher for narratives in both languages with editorials being significantly less overt. There are also significant differences in the overt realization of non-adjacently positioned units realizing discourse relations with significant distributions in all cases, although the distribution in the narratives is less significant.

The Position of satellites in Latin word order

2005 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilke Ros
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
Relative Position ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Latin Word ◽  
Main Verb

SummaryThis paper investigates in which positions satellites can occur in the Latin clause. The theory of Functional Grammar (FG) assumes that four types of satellites are to be distinguished and that these types differ, amongst other things, in their formal behavior. In the following, predictions about the position of satellites in the clause will be checked with regard to a corpus of letters by Cicero (Ad Atticum, book I-II). The relative position of satellites, arguments and the verb will be examined with particular interest in the position of satellite clauses. It will be shown that predicate satellite clauses prefer to be placed ad the end of the sentence, while illocutionaiy and prepositional satellite clauses tend to occur at the beginning of the sentence. The type of predication satellites should be split into two groups: purpose, consequence and causative clauses predominantly occur after and temporal, conditional and concessive clauses before the main verb. These observations are discussed in view of some general principles of Functional Grammar.

The Oxford Latin Syntax

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harm Pinkster
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
English Translation ◽  
Information Structure ◽  
Relative Clauses ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Main Text ◽  
Complex Sentences ◽  
Subordinate Clauses ◽  
Secondary Predicates ◽  
Grammatical Framework

Volume II of the Oxford Latin Syntax deals with the syntax and pragmatics of complex sentences in Latin and other topics that transcend the simple clause (which is the content of Volume I). The volume starts with a chapter on subordination in general, followed by chapters on subordinate clauses that function as argument or as satellite in their sentence. Separate chapters are devoted to subordinate clauses governed by nouns and adjectives and to relative clauses. In addition there are chapters on coordination, comparison, secondary predicates, information structure of clauses and sentences including the use of emphatic particles, word order, and various discourse phenomena such as sentence connection. As in Volume I, the description of the Latin material is based upon texts from roughly 200 BC to AD 450. The Latin texts that are discussed are provided with an English translation. Supplements contain further examples to illustrate the main text. The grammatical framework used is mainly that of Functional Grammar but the description is accessible for readers without a modern linguistic background.

Processing cost and its consequences

2016 ◽  
Vol 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
William O'Grady
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
Proximity Effects ◽  
Processing Cost

AbstractI focus on two challenges that processing-based theories of language must confront: the need to explain why language has the particular properties that it does, and the need to explain why processing pressures are manifested in the particular way that they are. I discuss these matters with reference to two illustrative phenomena: proximity effects in word order and a constraint on contraction.

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