Semiotic Grammar

by McGregor, William B.

• ISBN13: 9780198236887
• ISBN10: 0198236883
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1997-12-04
• Publisher: Clarendon Press

Summary

McGregor proposes and develops a new theory of grammar based on the notion of the linguistic sign. In interpreting language and its structure as a semiotic system consisting of signs, he provides a range of new analyses of well established syntactic and morphological relations, categories, and roles. This book constitutes an important and valuable contribution to linguistic theory, drawing on the author's extensive knowledge of Australian Aboriginal languages, as well as discussing data from more familiar languages, such as English.

Table of Contents

List of Figures	xix	(1)
List of Tables	xx	(1)
Abbreviations and Conventions	xxi
1 Introduction	1	(20)
1.1 Why semiotic grammar?--grammar as a semiotic system	1	(2)
1.2 Formal and functional theories of grammar	3	(4)
1.3 Goals and aims of semiotic grammar	7	(3)
1.4 Methodological issues	10	(8)
1.4.1 Primary methods and data	10	(4)
1.4.2 Criteria of adequacy	14	(4)
1.5 Structure of this book	18	(3)
2 Basic Concepts of Grammatical Theory	21	(33)
2.1 Constituency	21	(11)
2.1.1 Basic notions	21	(7)
2.1.2 Constituency, units, and functions	28	(4)
2.2 Parts of speech	32	(6)
2.3 Signs	38	(7)
2.4 Syntagmatic and paradigmatic relations	45	(3)
2.5 On meaning	48	(6)
3 Syntagmatic Relations: A Classification of Signs	54	(34)
3.1 The inadequacy of constituency	54	(4)
3.2 Other types of syntagmatic relationship	58	(15)
3.2.1 Dependency relations	59	(5)
3.2.2 Conjugational relations	64	(6)
3.2.3 Linking relations	70	(3)
3.3 A classification of signs	73	(7)
3.4 Types of linguistic unit	80	(4)
3.5 Overview of semiotic grammar	84	(4)
4 Constituency: The Experiential Semiotic	88	(49)
4.1 Fundamental units and relationships	88	(5)
4.2 The clause	93	(26)
4.2.1 Transitivity: an experiential classification of clauses	93	(13)
4.2.2 Another experiential classification of clauses	106	(7)
4.2.3 Participant roles	113	(2)
4.2.4 Non-participant roles	115	(3)
4.2.5 Uniqueness of roles	118	(1)
4.3 The phrase	119	(8)
4.3.1 The Nominal Phrase	119	(3)
4.3.2 The Verb Phrase	122	(4)
4.3.3 Other types of phrases	126	(1)
4.4 Rankshifting and embedding	127	(10)
5 Dependency: The Logical Semiotic	137	(72)
5.1 Types of dependency relationships	137	(3)
5.2 Dependency relations within clauses	140	(35)
5.2.1 Relational clauses	140	(15)
5.2.1.1 Elaborating relational clauses	143	(6)
5.2.1.2 Enhancing relational clauses	149	(2)
5.2.1.3 Extending relational clauses	151	(4)
5.2.2 Situation clauses with inherent logical relationships	155	(13)
5.2.2.1 Situation clauses with an inherent relationship of elaboration	156	(9)
5.2.2.2 Situation clauses with an inherent relationship of enhancement	165	(1)
5.2.2.3 Situation clauses with an inherent relationship of extension	166	(2)
5.2.3 Non-inherent logical relationships in situation clauses	168	(7)
5.2.3.1 Enhancement	168	(3)
5.2.3.2 Elaboration	171	(4)
5.2.3.3 Extension	175	(1)
5.3 Dependency relations within phrases	175	(12)
5.3.1 NPs	176	(7)
5.3.1.1 Elaboration in NPs	176	(4)
5.3.1.2 Extension in NPs	180	(2)
5.3.1.3 Enhancement in NPs	182	(1)
5.3.1.4 Concluding remarks	182	(1)
5.3.2 VPs	183	(4)
5.3.2.1 Elaboration in VPs	183	(3)
5.3.2.2 Extension in VPs	186	(1)
5.3.2.3 Enhancement in VPs	186	(1)
5.4 Complex sentences involving dependency relationships	187	(15)
5.4.1 Dependency between clauses	189	(9)
5.4.1.1 Parataxis and hypotaxis	189	(5)
5.4.1.2 Expansion: Elaboration, extension, and enhancement	194	(4)
5.4.2 Dependency between clauses, phrases, and words	198	(4)
5.5 Interphrasal relationships of dependency	202	(7)
5.5.1 NPs in logical relationships	202	(3)
5.5.2 VPs in logical relationships	205	(4)
6 Conjugation: The Interpersonal Semiotic	209	(75)
6.1 Fundamental properties of conjugational relationships	209	(4)
6.2 Intra-clausal interpersonal modification	213	(20)
6.2.1 Illocutionary modification	213	(8)
6.2.2 Attitudinal modification	221	(1)
6.2.3 Rhetorical modification	222	(11)
6.2.3.1 Expectation and presupposition modification	223	(1)
6.2.3.2 Status modification	224	(8)
6.2.3.2.1 Polarity	224	(3)
6.2.3.2.2 Modality	227	(4)
6.2.3.2.3 Mood	231	(1)
6.2.3.3 Authorizational modification	232	(1)
6.2.3.4 Reactional modification	233	(1)
6.3 Interpersonal classification of clauses	233	(6)
6.3.1 Minor clauses	234	(2)
6.3.2 Major clauses	236	(3)
6.4 Scoping clauses	239	(12)
6.4.1 Scopal relationships of the illocutionary type	240	(1)
6.4.2 Scopal relationships of the attitudinal type	241	(2)
6.4.3 Scopal relationships of the rhetorical type	243	(6)
6.4.3.1 Complementation	243	(1)
6.4.3.2 Tagging	244	(5)
6.4.4 Scoping relationships in which a clause modifies a word or phrase	249	(1)
6.4.5 A construction in which an N has scope over a clause	250	(1)
6.5 Framing clauses	251	(19)
6.5.1 Represented speech	252	(6)
6.5.2 Represented thoughts	258	(7)
6.5.3 Interpersonal types of framing	265	(1)
6.5.4 Framing of and by units other than clauses	266	(3)
6.5.5 Concluding remarks	269	(1)
6.6 Information packaging	270	(11)
6.6.1 Information packaging as an interpersonal phenomenon	270	(8)
6.6.2 What is information?	278	(3)
6.7 Concluding remarks	281	(3)
7 Linking Relationships: The Textural Semiotic	284	(63)
7.1 Linking relations in grammar and discourse	284	(4)
7.2 Theme	288	(19)
7.2.1 Problems with the SFG notion of Theme	288	(2)
7.2.2 SG classification of types of theme	290	(12)
7.2.2.1 Types of theme in declarative clauses in English	291	(10)
7.2.2.2 Theme in non-declarative moods	301	(1)
7.2.3 Theme and text connectivity	302	(3)
7.2.4 Negative themes	305	(1)
7.2.5 Concluding remarks	306	(1)
7.3 Presentative clauses	307	(4)
7.4 Reference	311	(17)
7.4.1 Types of reference relationships	311	(3)
7.4.2 Direct reference	314	(8)
7.4.3 Indirect reference	322	(1)
7.4.4 Bound reference relationships	323	(5)
7.5 Ellipsis	328	(5)
7.6 Substitution	333	(3)
7.7 Conjunction	336	(4)
7.8 Grammatical marking	340	(7)
7.8.1 Relating	340	(3)
7.8.2 Category marking	343	(4)
8 Enough Ain't Enough: The Grammar of Nominal Tautologies in English	347	(30)
8.1 Preliminary remarks	347	(1)
8.2 Two approaches to nominal tautologies	348	(8)
8.3 Grammatical characteristics of nominal tautologies	356	(13)
8.3.1 Grammatical distinctiveness	356	(4)
8.3.2 The meaning of nominal tautologies in English	360	(7)
8.3.3 Grammatical structure of nominal tautologies in English	367	(2)
8.4 Interpersonal modification of nominal tautologies	369	(4)
8.5 Conclusion	373	(4)
9 Grammar and Beyond	377	(15)
9.1 Grammatical categories in language use	377	(7)
9.2 Grammar and sociolinguistics	384	(4)
9.3 Future prospects	388	(4)
References	392	(15)
Author Index	407	(3)
Language Index	410	(2)
Subject Index	412