Misconstruing Ellipsis Of Repetition As Relational Meronymy [3]

Martin (1992: 306):

One set [of collectives] functions in Pre-Numerative position, as with the measure meronymy introduced above.  But here there function is to group together individuals rather than separate them out by parts (thus a member of the flock contrasts with a flock of geese).  Seen from the perspective of English's number system, their function is to reconstruct count nouns as a mass.  Like other items functioning in Pre-Numerative structures, they can be used cohesively between clauses: Did you see the ships? — I saw the whole squadron.

Blogger Comments:

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

[2] In SFL theory, the contrast here is between portion (partitive measure) and aggregate (collective measure).  In partitives, Head < Thing (e.g. member < flock), whereas in collectives, Head > Thing (e.g. flock > geese).

a	member	of	the	flock
Numerative: portion			Deictic	Thing

a	flock	of	geese
Numerative: aggregate			Thing

[3] From the perspective of English's number system, these are all count nouns, not mass nouns.

[4] The cohesive function here is the ellipsis of the potential lexical repetition (ships).

did	you	see	the ships
Finite	Subject	Predicator	Complement

we	saw		the whole squadron of ships
Subject	Finite	Predicator	Complement