Confusing Instantiation With Axial And Stratal Realisation

Martin (1992: 531):

Poynton's realisation principle for contact needs to be considered from the point of view of both system and process.  From the perspective of system, the relevant principle is proliferation; the degree of contact determines the predictability of meanings at risk — the less contact, the fewer the choices available and conversely, the more contact, the more options available to be taken up.  Alongside this is the process oriented principle of contraction; less contact means that the realisation of meanings selected has to be more explicit, whereas more contact means that more can be left unsaid.

Blogger Comments:

[1] In SFL theory, the term 'system' is shorthand for 'system-&-process'.  Halliday & Matthiessen (1999: 507):

As we conceive of it, … the term “system” is a shortened form of “system–&–process”, there being no single word that encapsulates both the synoptic and dynamic perspectives … .

Previously, as demonstrated here, with regard to 'process', Martin has confused the instantiation process, both with the realisation relation between system and structure, and with structure itself.

[2] This is asserted without supporting evidence.  Such matters are decided by empirical research.

[3] The exact nature of the risk that meanings face is never actually specified.  To be clear, risk is the potential of gaining or losing something of value.

[4] This confuses realisation with instantiation.  The axial realisation of meaning is as semantic structure; the stratal realisation of meaning is as wording.  The selection of meaning is the instantiation process, at the level of semantics, during logogenesis (the unfolding of the text).