Abstract
This paper reports some results from a bigger project analysing the relevance of Theme, i.e. clause initial position, in Present-day English (PresE). Our aim is to explore the formal features, the communicative properties and the frequencies of one thematic device, It-extrapositions of the type It is strange that the duke gave my aunt that teapot, in the Lancaster Spoken English Corpus (henceforth LSEC). 105 tokens of these constructions were studied, which represented 2.6% of the overall Themes in LSEC. It is argued that the use of It-extrapositions obeys three different, though interrelated, phenomena: (i) the principle of End Weight; (ii) the Given-Before- New principle; and (iii) Theme. As a conclusion, it is suggested that the raison d'être of this device is to act in two capacities: (1) an objective one, expressing an 'objectified', or depersonalised, modality or modulation, and (2) a subjective one, infusing the speaker's angle, or point of view, with thematic highlighting.
Highlights
It is argued that the use of /f-extrapositions obeys three different, though interrelated, phenomena: (i) the principie of End Weight; (ii) the Given-BeforeNew principie; and (iii) Theme
Huddleston 451-2; McCawley 95; Collins, 2): It is strangethat the duke gave my aunt that teapot
In some cases the extraposition is obligatory as in constructions with it is a fact or when the extraposed clause itself contains a subordínate clause and the type of subordination is the same at both levéis (e.g. *To avoid the speculation thatfor Richard Gardiner Casey to approve his son 's wish to serve in what was expected to be a short war while using his own influence to minimise the dangers to be faced by his son would have been in character is difficult, Collins ibid.)
Summary
In LSEC /í-extrapositions typically right-shifted finite nominal íteí-clauses (54%), of which 93% were declaratives with or without that (e.g. (3: i, ii)) and a minority interrogatives (e.g. (3: iii)). I noted that in LSEC matrix predicates of Subject extrapositions displaying the pattems Subject-Predicator and Subject-Predicator-Complement normally involved some sort of projection or modulation of finite extraposed clauses. The latter tended to express facts, and so their factual nature made them liable to be projected or judged. When these two matrix predícate patterns extraposed infinitival clauses, they concerned different valúes of thematic modality (2.4: 46) above ( ). Some of these texts were in principie intended to be objective such as some (A) Commentaries (17.1%) or (B) News reports (13.3%), but others were purposely subjective such as (G) Fiction (12.4%) (and some (A) Commentaries)
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
