The Semantics of MOOD and the Syntax of the Let’s-construction in English: A Corpus-based Cardiff Grammar Approach

Abstract

This study investigates the semantics of MOOD and the syntax of the let’s-construction in English from a Cardiff Grammar approach. After reviewing previous studies and specifying basic notions in Cardiff Grammar, the study analyzes and discusses the semantics of MOOD and the syntax of the construction with linguistic data from COCA. The study shows that semantically the let’s-construction realizes [proposal for action], where three choices could be made: [by self and addressee], [by self] and [by addressee], with [by self and addressee] having the highest frequency. Dependent on these choices, more delicate choices could be made with different probabilities, such as [firm proposal], [statement of assumption], [statement of wish], [suggestion], [offer], [self-deliberation] and [request]. Syntactically, in most cases the study analyzes let in the construction as a direct element of the clause, i.e. Let Element (L), ‘s as the Subject and the lexical verb following let’s as the Main Verb. In highly specialized cases, let’s as a whole is analyzed as L, and the nominal group following let’s as the Subject. The basic syntactic forms to realize MOOD meanings of the construction are ‘L^S’ and ‘O^L’. This unique clause element of L plays an important role in MOOD selection of the construction.