A systemic functional analysis of the “ngp1 + vgp + ngp2 + ngp3” construction in English

Guowen Huang,Ruihua Zhao

doi:10.1515/jwl-2021-0014

Abstract

Abstract The literature to date features two very different approaches to the study of syntax, the formal or structure-based approach and the functional or semantics-based approach, both of which have advantages and disadvantages. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the “ngp1 + vgp + ngp2 + ngp3” construction in English by identifying the relationship between the clausal elements in terms of clause types. The theoretical support is Systemic Functional Linguistics which is semantics-based and which regards form/structure as the realization of meaning/semantics. Specifically, the paper discusses the issue by keeping in mind questions such as “What kind of process is it?”, “How many participants can/must be involved in the process?”, and “What roles can/must those participants play?”. By analyzing three pairs of clauses that share the same “ngp1 + vgp + ngp2 + ngp3” structure, it is found that the clause types SVOO, SOVA, SVOC, and SVO all exhibit the same “ngp1 + vgp + ngp2 + ngp3” structure. The identification of the clause types is conducted by examining the Process in the Transitivity system of the clause. The implication of the present study is that a functional-syntactic analysis should start from meaning and consider how the meaning is realized and that although syntactic analysis at the level of form is necessary, the focus of a good functional-syntactic analysis should be based on semantic analysis at the level of meaning.

Highlights

In the description of clauses in English, one important step is to distinguish between central and peripheral elements of the clause. Quirk et al (1985: 49) This workHuang and Zhao distinguish the following elements of clause structure as necessary to describe the constituency of clauses: Subject (S), Verb (V), Object (O), and Adverbial (A)
The implication of the present study is that a functional-syntactic analysis should start from meaning and consider how the meaning is realized and that syntactic analysis at the level of form is necessary, the focus of a good functional-syntactic analysis should be based on semantic analysis at the level of meaning
When we identify a number of word classes or group classes which form an identifiable structure, we can ask what functions each plays in the clause structure

Summary

Introduction

Huang and Zhao distinguish the following elements of clause structure as necessary to describe the constituency of clauses: Subject (S), Verb (V), Object (O), and Adverbial (A). According to their description (Quirk et al 1985: 49–55), the verb is the most central element and the adverbial is the most peripheral element of the clause. The classification of clauses into types such as SV, SVO, SVOO, and SOVC helps to identify the different elements in the clause, and to say that a certain slot, e.g. the Subject slot, is expected to be filled by a certain word class or group class is to match the relationship between function and form. When we identify a number of word classes or group classes which form an identifiable structure, we can ask what functions each plays in the clause structure

Objectives

Discussion

Conclusion