Clause complexing in systemic functional lingustics \u2013 towards an alternative description

Abstract

This article examines Halliday & Matthiessen’s systemic functional description of expanding clause complexing. As a perspective, their description is compared to the Cardiff Grammar’s treatment of clause combining. In particular, the article discusses the Hallidayan approach to the subordinate clause in a hypotactic clause complex: functionally speaking – and contrary to Halliday and Matthiessen’s claims – it is far from convincing that a subordinate clause upholds its functional meanings, i.e. its functions as a ‘move’ (interpersonal meaning), a ‘figure’ (experiential meaning) and a ‘message’ (textual meaning); and systemically speaking, it is problematic to see why all hypotactic clause complexes are agnates with paratactic clause complexes, and why no subordinate clauses in hypotactic clause complexes could be said to be agnate with a prepositional phrase. In the final part of the article, we shall provide principles for a solution to the problematic issues at stake in the Hallidayan approach.