The English ‘Time-measurement construction’ as a case of gradience: A Functional Discourse Grammar approach
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Carmen Portero Muñoz
Abstract
The aim of this chapter is to show the adequacy of Functional Discourse Grammar (FDG) to account for a case of gradience in English, a time- measurement construction that expressions like three months (maternity) leave instantiate. These expressions pose a challenge to linguistic theories, as they show the overlap between different categories concerning the interface between two Levels of the architecture of FDG, the Representational and the Morphosyntactic Levels (and/ or articulation). Firstly, these cases resemble compounds, such as a six-day week, where the absence of number marking on day and hyphenation indicate that it is a specific type of unit in which ‘six-day’ modifies the head noun. In addition, they are similar to the so-called measure genitive (e.g. a ten days’ absence), in which the temporal noun is expressed as a genitive with an apostrophe and typically in plural form and which are usually interpreted in a similar way to compounds. By contrast, expressions like three months maternity leave are quantifying, used to measure the amount of the entity denoted by the second noun. By means of the architecture of the theory of FDG the distinctions between the different cases can be accounted for adequately at the different levels of linguistic representation. In addition, FDG’s refined typology of entities will be shown to be crucial to provide an accurate account of the construction.
Abstract
The aim of this chapter is to show the adequacy of Functional Discourse Grammar (FDG) to account for a case of gradience in English, a time- measurement construction that expressions like three months (maternity) leave instantiate. These expressions pose a challenge to linguistic theories, as they show the overlap between different categories concerning the interface between two Levels of the architecture of FDG, the Representational and the Morphosyntactic Levels (and/ or articulation). Firstly, these cases resemble compounds, such as a six-day week, where the absence of number marking on day and hyphenation indicate that it is a specific type of unit in which ‘six-day’ modifies the head noun. In addition, they are similar to the so-called measure genitive (e.g. a ten days’ absence), in which the temporal noun is expressed as a genitive with an apostrophe and typically in plural form and which are usually interpreted in a similar way to compounds. By contrast, expressions like three months maternity leave are quantifying, used to measure the amount of the entity denoted by the second noun. By means of the architecture of the theory of FDG the distinctions between the different cases can be accounted for adequately at the different levels of linguistic representation. In addition, FDG’s refined typology of entities will be shown to be crucial to provide an accurate account of the construction.
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Functional Discourse Grammar: Blueprint and interfaces 1
- Interfaces, mismatches, and the architecture of Functional Discourse Grammar 15
- Grammar in 5D: The interface design of a mismatching grammar 59
- Phonology and phonetics in Functional Discourse Grammar: Interfaces, mismatches, and the direction of processing 101
- Noun incorporation in Functional Discourse Grammar 127
- A Functional Discourse Grammar typology of reflexives, with some notes on reciprocals 175
- Serial verb constructions, interface mismatches and Functional Discourse Grammar 229
- A Functional Discourse Grammar account of voice in Plains Algonquian Languages 259
- The English ‘Time-measurement construction’ as a case of gradience: A Functional Discourse Grammar approach 303
- Inter-level mismatches in English coordinated partitives 337
- A Functional Discourse Grammar account of postnominal modification in English 369
- Meaning-to-form mismatches in Functional Discourse Grammar and Systemic Functional Grammar: A case study of the English discourse connective however 399
- Subject Index 433
- Name Index 437
- Language Index 445
Chapters in this book
- Frontmatter I
- Contents V
- Abbreviations VII
- Functional Discourse Grammar: Blueprint and interfaces 1
- Interfaces, mismatches, and the architecture of Functional Discourse Grammar 15
- Grammar in 5D: The interface design of a mismatching grammar 59
- Phonology and phonetics in Functional Discourse Grammar: Interfaces, mismatches, and the direction of processing 101
- Noun incorporation in Functional Discourse Grammar 127
- A Functional Discourse Grammar typology of reflexives, with some notes on reciprocals 175
- Serial verb constructions, interface mismatches and Functional Discourse Grammar 229
- A Functional Discourse Grammar account of voice in Plains Algonquian Languages 259
- The English ‘Time-measurement construction’ as a case of gradience: A Functional Discourse Grammar approach 303
- Inter-level mismatches in English coordinated partitives 337
- A Functional Discourse Grammar account of postnominal modification in English 369
- Meaning-to-form mismatches in Functional Discourse Grammar and Systemic Functional Grammar: A case study of the English discourse connective however 399
- Subject Index 433
- Name Index 437
- Language Index 445
