Martin (1992: 195-6):
Contingent relations make a distinction between conjunctions incorporating negative polarity (unless and lest) and those which don't. The relevant proportionalities and relevant paradigm are as follows:
UNLESS : IF…NOT ::LEST : SO THAT…WILL + NOT
unless Ben plays you'll lose :if Ben doesn't play you'll lose ::
Ben'll play lest you lose :Ben will play so that you won't lose
But the opposition between "positive" and "negative" values has a different meaning in the context of conditional relations from that in purposives. … With purposives, the opposition is between [desire] and [fear]. So that encodes a inclination to achieve the Effect, lest an inclination to avoid it:
DESIRE[4:62] He went that wayso that he'd get there by six.
FEAR[4:63] He went that waylest he lose his way. (less archaically: for fear of losing his way.)
Blogger Comments:
[1] Because it is a category error to construe the logical meaning of purpose, because intention P, so action Q as 'desire (for Effect)', it is also a category error to construe the negative agnate as 'fear (of Effect)'.
[2] This confuses the logical and interpersonal metafunctions. Just as the logical relation of purpose is distinct from the interpersonal feature inclination, so too is the negative agnate.
[3] Compounding the previous confusion, the terms 'achieve' and 'avoid' distinguish the positive and negative poles of inclination in terms of conation, instead of dis/inclination.
[4] The logical meaning of purpose does not include the relation of cause and effect. In the 'purpose' nexus she cast a spell to ward off evil spirits, warding off evil spirits is the purpose, but not the effect of casting a spell. Cause and effect appear in complexes where clauses are related by cause: reason (or cause: result).
[2] This confuses the logical and interpersonal metafunctions. Just as the logical relation of purpose is distinct from the interpersonal feature inclination, so too is the negative agnate.
[3] Compounding the previous confusion, the terms 'achieve' and 'avoid' distinguish the positive and negative poles of inclination in terms of conation, instead of dis/inclination.
[4] The logical meaning of purpose does not include the relation of cause and effect. In the 'purpose' nexus she cast a spell to ward off evil spirits, warding off evil spirits is the purpose, but not the effect of casting a spell. Cause and effect appear in complexes where clauses are related by cause: reason (or cause: result).
