This study argues that the domain traditionally covered by
'coordination' and 'subordination' in English can be subdivided into
four distinct construction types. The constructions are defined on the
basis of differences in their 'interpersonal' structure, i.e. the
grammatical encoding of speaker-attitude and speaker-interlocutor
interaction. It is shown that the four types constitute syntactically,
semantically and pragmatically coherent categories, with differences
in interpersonal structure defining and motivating distinct syntactic
behaviour, distinct pragmatic functions and distinct semantic classes
of clause linkage. The validity of the analysis is demonstrated in
three ways. First, it is shown that the analysis can make sense of the
wide range of apparently conflicting criteria found in the literature
on complex sentences, which can now be explained as reflections of
four different construction types rather than as alternative
perspectives on one single contrast between coordination and
subordination. Second, it is shown how the analysis can deal with two
specific problems in the more general area of clause combining, viz.
the syntactic basis of the distinction between 'content', 'epistemic'
and 'speech act' levels of clause linkage, and the distinct discursive
functions associated with initial and final position of adverbial
clauses. Finally, it is also shown that the proposed analysis is
useful beyond the analysis of English, with parallels in a number of
cross-linguistically recurrent phenomena of clause linkage. The book
is mainly of interest to linguistics researchers in the areas of
syntax, semantics and pragmatics as well as to graduate students with
a focus on these fields.
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Interpersonal Grammar and the Analysis of Adverbial Clauses in English
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9783110918199
Publisert
2015
Utgave
1. utgave
Utgiver
Vendor
De Gruyter Mouton
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Digital bok
Forfatter