Misconstruing Ellipsis Of Repetition As Relational Meronymy [2]

Martin (1992: 305):

Alongside this set [of items realising relational meronymy], there are two groups of items which function in what Halliday (1985: 174) calls Pre-Deictic and Pre-Numerative position.  Those in Pre-Deictic position name components with respect to their location in time or space (e.g. the top of the wall): top, inside, side, bottom, edge, middle, outside, environs, start, finish, beginning, end.  These items may function "cohesively" in text: We played well that set.  — Not at the start.

Those in Pre-Numerative position measure out some portion of the whole (e.g. a sip of beer): jar, bottle, schooner, glass, midi, jug, can, loaf, mouthful, spoonful, pound, ounce, kilo, yard, metre.  These are also used "cohesively": Would you like a beer? — Just a midi thanks. 

Blogger Comments:

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

the	top	of	the	wall
Numerative: facet			Deictic	Thing

[2] Not all of these items necessarily represent parts of wholes.

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

we	played		well	that set
Subject	Finite	Predicator	Adjunct	Complement

not	at the start of the set
mood Adjunct: polarity	circumstantial Adjunct

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

a	sip	of	beer
Numerative: quantum			Thing

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

would	you	like	a beer
Finite	Subject	Predicator	Complement

I	would	like	just	a middy of beer
Subject	Finite	Predicator	mood Adjunct: intensity	Complement