Meaning-to-form mismatches in Functional Discourse Grammar and Systemic Functional Grammar: A case study of the English discourse connective however
Abstract
This chapter investigates quantitative meaning-to-form mismatches with regard to the use of the English discourse connective however within the theoretical frameworks of Functional Discourse Grammar (FDG) and Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG). Rather than being fully transparent, languages usually display varying degrees of opacity between the different levels of linguistic organization. Given that inter-level mismatches can be said to be more difficult to process than transparent relations, this paper aims to answer the question as to why mismatches in language are allowed at all, and how they can be accounted for in the models of FDG and SFG. Based on data from the British National Corpus, the present study shows that however exhibits particular formal (i.e. syntactic) and functional (i.e. discourse-pragmatic) properties which give rise to quantitative mismatches between the levels of function and form. Even though mismatches contribute to a higher degree of opacity in language, it will be argued that in the case of however in English, they are indeed motivated by the speaker’s communicative goals and are therefore allowed and accounted for by the rules of grammar. The present paper eventually proposes an alternative categorization of however in an FDG analysis based on the classification provided in SFG.
Abstract
This chapter investigates quantitative meaning-to-form mismatches with regard to the use of the English discourse connective however within the theoretical frameworks of Functional Discourse Grammar (FDG) and Systemic Functional Grammar (SFG). Rather than being fully transparent, languages usually display varying degrees of opacity between the different levels of linguistic organization. Given that inter-level mismatches can be said to be more difficult to process than transparent relations, this paper aims to answer the question as to why mismatches in language are allowed at all, and how they can be accounted for in the models of FDG and SFG. Based on data from the British National Corpus, the present study shows that however exhibits particular formal (i.e. syntactic) and functional (i.e. discourse-pragmatic) properties which give rise to quantitative mismatches between the levels of function and form. Even though mismatches contribute to a higher degree of opacity in language, it will be argued that in the case of however in English, they are indeed motivated by the speaker’s communicative goals and are therefore allowed and accounted for by the rules of grammar. The present paper eventually proposes an alternative categorization of however in an FDG analysis based on the classification provided in SFG.
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- 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
Kapitel in diesem Buch
- 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
