Misconstruing Ellipsis Of Repetition As Relational Hyp(er)onymy

Martin (1992: 299):

Depending on the field the relationship between hyponym and hyperonym has different names.  These are commonly realised through Pre-Classifier structures (for which see Martin 1988): a class of noun, a make of car, a breed of dogs etc.  And they are used cohesively as well: Like my new car? — Yes, what make is it?  A cohesive relationship between one of these items and the hyponym it relates to a hyperonym will be referred to as relational hyponymy/hyperonymy.  Typical realisations include: class, kind, type, form, breed, make, sort, style, species, order, family, variety, genre, grade, brand, caste, category.

Blogger Comments:

[1] In SFL theory, this nominal group function is termed 'extended Numerative: variety', which is the cross-classification of 'collective' and 'type'.  See Halliday & Matthiessen (2004: 333).

a	make	of	car
Numerative: variety			Thing
Premodifier	Head	Postmodifier

[2] The cohesion in the response includes ellipsis of an entire clause, and anaphoric personal reference of it to my new car.  But most pertinent here is the ellipsis of the potential lexical repetition of car.

do	you	like	my new car
Finite	Subject	Predicator	Complement

yes	I	do	like	your new car
mood Adjunct: polarity	Subject	Finite	Predicator	Complement

what make of car	is	it
Subject	Finite	Complement

[3] The notion of a 'relational hyponymy/hyperonymy' therefore arises from not recognising a cohesive relation.