Tuesday 16 June 2015

Misconstruing A Dependent Clause As A Postmodifier In An Adverbial Group

Martin (1992: 198):
Consequence is also commonly realised referentially, through esphoric comparison as in [4:78]:
[4:78]  We prepared so well [[that we won]].

Blogger Comments:

[1] The clause that we won is not embedded.  Instead, it is a ranking dependent clause in a nexus where the logical relation is cause: result; because P (we prepared so well), so result Q (we won).

we
prepared
so well
that
we
won
a
x b (cause: result)
Actor
Process: material
Manner: quality

Actor
Process: material


[2] The wording so well that we won does not construe comparison (for which, see Halliday & Matthiesen 2004: 357-8).  Adverbial groups with an embedded clause as a Post-modifier which do construe comparison are those like the following:

better
 [[than we needed]]
Head
Post-modifier

as in:

we
prepared
better [[than we needed]]
Actor
Process: material
Manner: quality


[3] Consequence is not realised referentially in the instance intended to demonstrate same.  Instead, cause: result is realised as a logical relation between two ranking clauses.