1

The meaning of sentence

Lecture 5

2

Main Issues

Grammaticality, meaningfulness and acceptability

Variables in the functions of sentence meaning

Types of process Types of participants Types of circumstances

3

Grammaticality

Meaningfulness

Aceptability

Sentence

4

Are you love me? The farmer has killed the house.My father died last night.

5

A grammatical sentence is one which is

formed according to the rules of grammar.

Grammaticality

6

Meaningfulness The meaningfulness of a sentence is

conditioned by how well-informed that sentence is semantically.

• Meaningful sentence

Scott is a lazy, stupid, disagreeable, stubborn guy.

• Meaningless sentence

Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.

Thursday is in bed with Friday

7

Grammaticality vs. Meaningfulness Most sentences we produce are grammatical

and meaningful

Nothing is gonna change my love for you.

A sentence which is grammatically correct is not necessarily meaningful

It asks a pile of rubbish to clean the ant.

8

Acceptability

In grammatical sense

In semantic sense

9

In grammatical sense

Some sentences are unacceptable

because it is not grammatically possible.

e.g. I love speak but I think it is so difficult

to get fluency.

10

In semantic sense

Suitable to social etiquette After the battle, the enemies all passed

away. Unacceptable You are my dog Acceptable in Britain Unacceptable in Greece

11

In semantic sense

Rationality/ logical coherence

She died even though she fell down from the 100th floor.

Unacceptable

12

Variables in the function of sentence meaning

1. Structural meaning

2. Representational meaning

3. Interpersonal meaning

4. Textual meaning

13

Structural meaning

Structural meaning is the kind of meaning that results from a particular arrangement of the parts of the sentence.

E.g.:

- The mantte wernnted a yob

- My fueak liauded me to doen

14

Can be defined in terms of experiential and logical functions.

Representational meaning

15

Representational meaning

The experiential function: is to communicate ideas It is the main function by which a speaker expresses

the content elements of his utterance, by referring to people, objects, states of affairs, events, qualities, places, actions and circumstances, all of which are parts of the world we live in.

E.g. John invited Susan to go to the cinema with him last night.

16

2. The logical function:

Relates ideas to each other on an equal or subordinate basis

The bus was crowded and I had to stand

all the way

equal We all believe that working hard is the key to

success.

subordinate

17

Interpersonal function

1. To establish and maintain social relations. This function can be manifested in various forms indicating functions such as:

- Good morning

- Have a nice day

- Thank you very much

- I am sorry

18

Interpersonal function

2. To influence people behaviour and get things done. This function may be called the instrumental function, that is influencing people’s behaviour and getting things done. - Could you pass me the wine? Request- Why was she late? Enquiry- Don’t do that again Warning- If you keep doing this, I’ll… Threat

19

Interpersonal function

3. To express the speaker’s feelings, attitudes and opinions towards, or the assessment of the representational content of the sentence via the use of modal verbs and adverbs. For example:

- What she said may be right

- You must be feeling hunger by now

- This is probably right

20

Textual functionThe textual function or meaning is to create

texts. It is this function that helps to give texts coherence and cohesion.

When Bill Gates was in the sixth grade, his parents

decided he needed counselling. He was at war with

his mother, an outgoing woman who harboured the

belief that he should do what she told him

21

Experiential Actors – Bill gates, mother & father. actions – decide, tell, do. State – is at war. Place –sixth grade. Qualities- outgoing. Objects –belief, counselling, etc

Logical Subordinate – when Bill Gates, his parents decided. He should do what she told him.

Interpersonal Should, and factual (express by the mood)

Textual Bill Gates – He, his parents

When Bill Gates was in the sixth grade, his parents decided he needed counselling. He was at war with his mother, an outgoing woman who harboured the belief that he should do what she told him.

22

More on the representational meaning

According to Halliday, the experiental component of the representational meaning provides an account of the underlying content of a sentence or utterance. It handles within its scope:

a. processes: actions, events, states, relations

b. Participating entities: persons, objects, abstractions

c. Circumstances:time, place, reasons, conditions, results … which are associated with the process

23

Processes

Circumstance

Participants

Mr. Haliday

A transivity network

going through, extending to another entity

24

More on the representational meaning

E.g. Jim kicked the dog this morning

The participant “Jim” performs a doing “kicking”, which is directed at the goal “the dog” under the circumstances “this morning”

25

Types of processes Material processes: express our outer experiences Mental processes: express our inner experiences Relational processes: connect our experiences Behavioral processes (between material processes

and mental processes): represent outer manifestations of our inner workings

Verbal processes (between mental and relational processes): represent symbolic relationship constructed in human consciousness and enacted in the form of language.

Existential processes (between the material and relational processes): concerning with existence

26

Material processes If there are two entities, they are the ACTOR and

the GOAL. In this case:+ the actor can do something to the goal.e.g. John broke the glass

The lion caught the tourist

The mechanic repaired my car

+ the actor can create or bring about the goale.g. He has built a fortune along the way.

They are building a new school hereJane is writing a letter

27

Material processes- Material processes are not necessarily

concrete, but can be abstract

e.g. The mayor resigned

The president dissolved the Parliament- We can ask about or “probe” material

processes by using the verb “do”e.g. What did the lion do?

What is Jane doing?

What did the mayor do?

28

Mental processes Definition: Mental processes are those that

express our inner experiences. Mental processes involve two entities: a SENSER (the conscious being that feels, sees or thinks) and a PHENOMENON (that which is “sensed”, felt, thought or seen.e.g. Mary liked the gift

No-one believed his story

29

Characteristics

1. In a clause of mental process, there is always one participant who is human or human-like. This is the SENSER, the one who senses, feels, thinks or perceives.

- On the contrary, in material process, no participant is required to be human, and the distinction between conscious and non-conscious beings simply plays no part.

30

Mental processes2. With regards to the other main element, namely the

one that is felt, thought or perceived, it may be a person, a thing or a fact.e.g. Jane saw the stars

Jane saw that the stars had come out3. The verb in a mental process clause is usually used

in the present simple tense.e.g. She likes the gift

Do you know the city?

31

Mental processes4. Mental processes can usually be realized in either

direction with either the senser or the phenomenon that is being sensed being the subject.

Like type Please typeI like it It pleases meI fear it It frightens me

I wonder at it It amazes meI don’t understand it It puzzles meI enjoy it It delights meI mind it It upsets meI admire it It impresses me

32

Mental processes5. Mental processes are processes of feeling, thinking

and seeing. They are not kinds of doing, and cannot be probed or substituted by “do”.

e.g. What did John do? He ran away (material)

What did Mary do with the gift? She sold it.

John knew the answer.

(not: What John did was know the answer)

Mary liked the gift.

(not: What did Mary do with the gift)

33

Relational processes Definition: Relational processes are those that

connect our experiences. They are processes of being.

Characteristics: In a relational clause, there are two parts to the “being”: something is being said to ‘be’ something else. In other words, a relation is being set up between two entities.

e.g. Jane is beautiful

Tomorrow is my birthday

Peter has a piano

34

Relational processes The English system of relational processes

operates with three main types

1. Intensive: “x is a”2. Circumstantial: “x is at a” (where ‘is at’ stands

for “is at, in, on, for, with, about, along, etc.’)

3. Possessive: “x has a”

35

Behavioral processes Definition: Behavioral processes are those

describing physiological and psychological behavior like coughing, breathing, smiling, dreaming, and staring. They are partly like the material and partly like the mental processes.

Characteristics:

The participant who is behaving, labelled BEHAVER, is typically a conscious being, like the Senser, but the Process is grammatically more like one of doing.

e.g. Jane is smiling

36

Verbal processes

Definition: verbal processes are processes of saying. They represent symbolic relationships constructed in human consciousness and enacted in the form language.

Characteristics:

• Verbal processes are Processes of saying (tell, insult, praise, slander, abuse, flatter, promise, etc.)

• .

37

Existential processes Definition: existential processes are those that are

concerned with existence. Characteristics:• Represents something that exists or happens • Intermediate between material and relational

processes• Two entities: the EXISTENT and the process

e.g.: Once upon a time, there lived a King who had a beautiful daughter.

There comes a huge man

38

Existential processes

Verbs that commonly occur in existential

processes include: exist, remain, arise, occur, come about, happen, take place, follow, ensue, sit, stand, lie, hang, rise, stretch, emerge, grow, erupt, flourish, prevail

39

The circumstances This component is related to the process. They

can occur in all types of processes. Most are realized by prepositional phrases; however, they can be clauses as well. The main types of circumstances are:

1. Time: e.g. She arrived home at 9 o’clock

2. Place:e.g. I met her at a small restaurant

3. Condition:e.g. I she comes, I’ll go

40

The circumstances4. Concession:

e.g. In spite of her parents’ objection …5. Result:

e.g. I was caught in a sudden shower, so I was soaked

6. Manner:e.g. She beat her son with a ruler

7. Attending circumstances:e.g. As everyone is here, let’s start

8. Cause:e.g. Because of the rain, the train was late.

9. Purpose:e.g. She is out for lunch now.