5. Clause as representation 5.1 Modeling experience of change 5.1.1 Construing experience as a third line of meaning in the clause As we showed in previous chapters, the clause, like any other grammatical un it, is a multifunctional construct consisting of three metafunctional lines of meaning (i the textual line of Thematic Structure(Theme A Rheme) and Information Structure(Given New) (ii) the interpersonal line of Mood(Mood+ Residue), Modality& Key (iii) the experiential line of Trans itivity (Process Participant()+ Circumstance(s)) (1) Well means mostly Doesnt Mary Theme Rheme textual topical interpersonal Residue Vocative Subject Finite Predicator Complement Finite experiential Token Process value syntagm conjunction adverbial verbal group adverbial nominal nominal group group group group 5.1.2 Types of pi Our most powerful impression of experience is that it consists of a flow of events This flow of events is chunked into quanta of change by the grammar of the clause: each quantum of change is modeled as a figure-a figure of happening, doing sensing, saying, being or having All figures consists of a process unfold ing through time and of participants being directly involved in this process in some way, and in add ition there may be circumstances of time, space, manner or one of a few other types. These circumstances are not directly involved in the process; rather, they are attendant on it All such figures are sorted out in the grammar of the clause Thus as well as being a mode of action, of giving and demanding goods-&-services and information, the clause is also a mode of reflection, of imposing order on the endless variation and flow of events The grammatical system by which this is achieved is that of TRANSITIVITY Or The transitivity system construes the world of experience into a manageable set CESS TYPES Each process type provides its own model or schema for construing a particular domain of experience as a figure of a particular kind- a model such as the one illustrated above for signification mostly Process Value Different process types:
1 5. Clause as representation 5.1 Modeling experience of change 5.1.1 Construing experience as a third line of meaning in the clause As we showed in previous chapters, the clause, like any other grammatical unit, is a multifunctional construct consisting of three metafunctional lines of meaning: (i) the textual line of Thematic Structure (Theme ^ Rheme) and Information Structure (Given ^ New); (ii) the interpersonal line of Mood (Mood + Residue), Modality & Key; (iii) the experiential line of Transitivity (Process + Participant(s) + Circumstance(s)) (1) Well, usually means mostly, Doesn’t It, Mary? textual Theme Rheme textual topical interpersonal Mood Residue Mood tag Vocative Subject Finite Predicator Complement Finite Subject experiential Token Process Value syntagm conjunction group adverbial group verbal group adverbial group verbal group nominal group nominal group 5.1.2 Types of process Our most powerful impression of experience is that it consists of a flow of events, or “goings-on”. This flow of events is chunked into quanta of change by the grammar of the clause: each quantum of change is modeled as a figure – a figure of happening, doing, sensing, saying, being or having. All figures consists of a process unfolding through time and of participants being directly involved in this process in some way; and in addition there may be circumstances of time, space, manner or one of a few other types. These circumstances are not directly involved in the process; rather, they are attendant on it. All such figures are sorted out in the grammar of the clause. Thus as well as being a mode of action, of giving and demanding goods-&-services and information, the clause is also a mode of reflection, of imposing order on the endless variation and flow of events. The grammatical system by which this is achieved is that of TRANSITIVITY. The transitivity system construes the world of experience into a manageable set of PROCESS TYPES. Each process type provides its own model or schema for construing a particular domain of experience as a figure of a particular kind – a model such as the one illustrated above for signification: (1) a. usually means mostly Token Process Value Different process types:
Example material During the european scramble for Africa, Nigeria fell to the british and the british ruled it until1960 behaviorial people are laughing The Ibos did not approve of kin verba so we say that every fourth African is a nigerian Can you tell us about the political and cultural make-up of Ni erla relational that every fourth African is a nigerian existential so today there's Christianity in the south Definition of process types A Material: The process construing the"outer"experience, i.e. our experience as going-on"out there, namely that of actions and events things happen, and people or other actors do things, or make things happen, in the world around us(e.g. you produce so much money) B. Mental: The process construing the"inner" experience, i.e. our experience as going-on inside ourselves, in the world of consciousness (including perception emotion and imagination, e.g. people love /hate /want money) C. Relational: the process of classifying(e.g. Every fourth African is a Nigeria) and identifying(e.g. The three major groups in the nation are the Yoruba in the southwest, the lbo in the southeast, and the hausa, finally, in the north) D. Behavioral: the process that represents the outer manifestations of inner workings, the acting out of processes of consciousness(e. g. they were laughing)and psychological states(ie. they were sleeping) E. Verbal: the process of saying and meaning, i.e. symbolic relationship constructed in human consciousness and enacted in the form of language(e.g. we say that every fourth African is a Nigerian) F. Existential: the process concerned with existence, by which phenomena of al kinds are simply recognized to " be-to exist, or to happen(e.g. today there Christianity in the south) Material, mental and relational are the three main types of process in the English transitIvity system But there are some minor categories located at the three boundaries behavioral verbal and existential Material Behavioral Mental Mental Verbal Relational Relational Existential Material This is demonstrated in Fig. 5-2 on page 172 Systemic indeterminacy: The world of our experience is highly indeterminate; and this is precisely how the construes it in the Thus, one and the same text may offer alternative models of what would appear to be the same domain of experience, construing for example the domain of emotion both al"clause(.g. this please god / God like this) and
2 Process Type Example material During the European scramble for Africa, Nigeria fell to the British. and the British ruled it until 1960. behaviorial people are laughing. mental The Ibos did not approve of kings. verbal so we say → that every fourth African is a Nigerian Can you tell us about the political and cultural make-up of Nigeria? relational that every fourth African is a Nigerian. existential so today there’s Christianity in the south Definition of process types: A. Material: The process construing the “outer” experience, i.e. our experience as going-on “out there”, namely that of actions and events: things happen, and people or other actors do things, or make things happen, in the world around us (e.g. you produce so much money). B. Mental: The process construing the “inner” experience, i.e. our experience as going-on inside ourselves, in the world of consciousness (including perception, emotion and imagination, e.g. people love / hate / want money). C. Relational: the process of classifying (e.g. Every fourth African is a Nigeria) and identifying (e.g. The three major groups in the nation are the Yoruba in the southwest, the Ibo in the southeast, and the Hausa, finally, in the north). D. Behavioral: the process that represents the outer manifestations of inner workings, the acting out of processes of consciousness (e.g. they were laughing) and psychological states (i.e. they were sleeping). E. Verbal: the process of saying and meaning, i.e. symbolic relationship constructed in human consciousness and enacted in the form of language (e.g. we say that every fourth African is a Nigerian). F. Existential: the process concerned with existence, by which phenomena of all kinds are simply recognized to “be” – to exist, or to happen (e.g. today there’s Christianity in the south). Material, mental and relational are the three main types of process in the English transitivity system. But there are some minor categories located at the three boundaries: behavioral, verbal and existential. Material Behavioral Mental Mental Verbal Relational Relational Existential Material This is demonstrated in Fig. 5-2 on page 172. Systemic indeterminacy: The world of our experience is highly indeterminate; and this is precisely how the grammar construes it in the system of process type. Thus, one and the same text may offer alternative models of what would appear to be the same domain of experience, construing for example the domain of emotion both as a process in a “mental” clause (e.g. this please God / God like this) and as a
participant in a"" one(e.g. this made God sad /God was sad). TRANSITIVITY represented as system network(see Fig. 5-3 on page 173) Clauses of different types makes distinctive contributions to the construal of experience in text In making these varied contributions to discourse, the different process types have evolved distinctive proper 5.1.3 Process, participants and circumstances A figure consists, in principle, of three components I)a process unfolding through time 2)the participants involved in the process 3)circumstances associated with the process These are organized in configurations that provide the models of schemata for construing our experience of what goes on Circumstantial elements are almost always optional augmentations of the clause rather obligatory components In contrast, participants are inherent in the process: every experiential type of clause has at least one partic ipant and certain types have up to three participants-the only exception being clauses of certain meteorological processes, such as it's raining, it's snow ing, it s hailing(but not all; for example, we say the wind 's blow ing rather than it s winding) In the configuration of process participants circumstances, the process is the most central element; participants are close to the center and are directly involved in the process, bringing about its occurrence or being affected by it in some way The configuration of process participants constitutes the experiential center of the clause Circumstantial elements augment this center in some way -temporally, spatially causally and so on; but their status in the configuration is more peripheral and unlike participants they are not directly involved in the process Table 5-2 Typical experiential functions of group and phrase classes page 176 This model of clause is represented diagrammatically in Figure 5-4 on Type of element ypically realized by ( process verbal group (un) participant nominal group (ii)circumstance adverbial group or prepositional phrase The units that realize the process, participant and circumstance elements of the lause made distinct contributions to the modeling of a quantum of change The elements that make up the center of the clause the process and the participants involved in it -construe complementary facets of the change These two facets are transience and performance Transience is the experience of unfolding through time, it is construed by a verbal the Performance is the experience of lasting through time and being located in (concrete or abstract)space; it is construed by nominal groups serving as participants
3 participant in a “relational” one (e.g. this made God sad / God was sad).\ TRANSITIVITY represented as system network (see Fig. 5-3 on page 173). Clauses of different types makes distinctive contributions to the construal of experience in text. In making these varied contributions to discourse, the different process types have evolved distinctive properties. 5.1.3 Process, participants and circumstances A figure consists, in principle, of three components: 1) a process unfolding through time 2) the participants involved in the process 3) circumstances associated with the process These are organized in configurations that provide the models of schemata for construing our experience of what goes on. Circumstantial elements are almost always optional augmentations of the clause rather obligatory components. In contrast, participants are inherent in the process: every experiential type of clause has at least one participant and certain types have up to three participants – the only exception being clauses of certain meteorological processes, such as it’s raining, it’s snowing, it’s hailing (but not all; for example, we say the wind’s blowing rather than it’s winding). In the configuration of process + participants + circumstances, the process is the most central element; participants are close to the center and are directly involved in the process, bringing about its occurrence or being affected by it in some way. The configuration of process + participants constitutes the experiential center of the clause. Circumstantial elements augment this center in some way – temporally, spatially, causally and so on; but their status in the configuration is more peripheral and unlike participants they are not directly involved in the process. This model of clause is represented diagrammatically in Figure 5-4 on page 176. Table 5-2 Typical experiential functions of group and phrase classes The units that realize the process, participant and circumstance elements of the clause made distinct contributions to the modeling of a quantum of change. The elements that make up the center of the clause – the process and the participants involved in it – construe complementary facets of the change. These two facets are transience and performance. Transience is the experience of unfolding through time; it is construed by a verbal group serving as the process. Performance is the experience of lasting through time and being located in (concrete or abstract) space; it is construed by nominal groups serving as participants. Type of element typically realized by (i) process verbal group (ii) participant nominal group (iii) circumstance adverbial group or prepositional phrase
Thus participants are relatively stable through time, and an instance of anticipant can take part in many processes Change is thus construed as involving both transience and performance, and the phenomena of experience are construed either as transient process or as permanent participants The border between these two is indeterminate, the lexicogrammar of every language will allow considerable discretion in how phenomena are treated in discourse, and lexicogrammar of different languages draw the borderline in different The concepts of process, participant and circumstance are semantic categories which explain in the most general way how phenomena of our experience of the world are construed as linguistic structures When we come to interpret the grammar of the clause, we shall need to recognize participant and circumstance functions which are more specific 5.2 Material clauses: processes of doing-and-happening 5.2. 1 Introductory examples Here is a short example of concrete material clauses serv ing to construct (1)Each year, rep lace the fruiting rod by tying down a lateral in its place. Either tie down 1 shoot and cut it off where it meets the next wine. or tie down 2. one each way, and cut them where they meet the neighboring lateral. This is called the Double Guyot. (Mary Spiller, Growing fruity, 1982, Penguin Books) 5. 2. 2 Transitive and intransitive material clauses (1)The lion sprang (2) The lion caught the tourist (3) The tourist was caught by the lion 5.2.3 Types of doing-and-happening(see Fig. 5-9 Material clause systems on p.83) Table 5-4 Type of doing: creative /transformative(p 184) intransitive transitive actor happen hat happened? -Icicles What did they do?-They built a house transformative happen to Actor; Actor+ do happen to+ Goal; Actor do to+ goal What happened to the icicles? What happened to icicles? They melted The sun melted them What did Henry do? -He ran What did they do to Henry? -They Table 5-5 Examples of verbs serving as Process in different material clause types (pp.187-189)
4 Thus participants are relatively stable through time, and an instance of a participant can take part in many processes. Change is thus construed as involving both transience and performance, and the phenomena of experience are construed either as transient process or as permanent participants. The border between these two is indeterminate; the lexicogrammar of every language will allow considerable discretion in how phenomena are treated in discourse, and lexicogrammar of different languages draw the borderline in different places. The concepts of process, participant and circumstance are semantic categories which explain in the most general way how phenomena of our experience of the world are construed as linguistic structures. When we come to interpret the grammar of the clause, we shall need to recognize participant and circumstance functions which are more specific. 5.2 Material clauses: processes of doing-and-happening 5.2.1 Introductory examples Here is a short example of concrete material clauses serving to construct procedure: (1) Each year, replace the fruiting rod by tying down a lateral in its place. Either tie down 1 shoot and cut it off where it meets the next wine, or tie down 2, one each way, and cut them where they meet the neighboring lateral. This is called the Double Guyot. (Mary Spiller, Growing fruity, 1982, Penguin Books) 5.2.2 Transitive and intransitive material clauses (1) The lion sprang. (2) The lion caught the tourist. (3) The tourist was caught by the lion. 5.2.3 Types of doing-and-happening (see Fig. 5-9 Material clause systems on p.183) Table 5-4 Type of doing: creative / transformative (p.184) intransitive transitive creative actor + happen Actor + do What happened?–Icicles formed. What did they do? –They built a house. transformative happen to + Actor; Actor + do happen to + Goal; Actor + do to + goal What happened to the icicles? –They melted. What happened to icicles? – The sun melted them. What did Henry do? –He ran away. What did they do to Henry? –They chased him away. Table 5-5 Examples of verbs serving as Process in different material clause types (pp.187-189)
atransitive transitive creative general develop, form grow, produce transformative elaboratin burn,boil,vaporize,harden extending give, offer Join, meet enhancing Table 5-6 TYPES OF DOING and additional participants in"material clause transitive creative Icicles formed They built a house They built me a house transformative elaboration They washed They washed the plates +Scope(process) extension They donated a house She threw it She crossed the room. She threw it across the room. 5.2. 4 Different types of material clauses and additional participants There are two participants in material clauses -the Actor and the goal The Actor is an inherent participant in both intransitive and transitive material lauses. The Goal is an inherent participant in transitive clauses. For example (1)They washed (2) They washed the plates (3)They washed the plates clean In add ition to these two roles, there are a number of other participant roles that may be involved in the process of a material clause, for example Then cross Hyde Park to the art Gallery of NSW. [Scope: entity The country is paying a heavy price. [Scope: Process] B. Recipient(in transitive transformative clauses of the "extend ing" type) Did Kerry give you those files there? C. Client (in the"" type of transitive material"clause) She has poured herself a mineral water? Do you want us to make up the full pallet for you? D, Attribute Mr William Whitfield was shot dead in a New York Supermarket They stripped her clean of every bit of jewelry [she ever had
5 intransitive transitive creative general appear, happen develop, form grow, produce specific assemble, compose, bake transformative elaborating burn, boil, vaporize, harden extending give, offer join, meet enhancing bounce, gallop come go Table 5-6 TYPES OF DOING and additional participants in “material” clause intransitive transitive + Goal creative Icicles formed They built a house. +Client They built me a house. transformative elaboration They washed. +Scope (process) They played a game They washed the plates. +Attribute (resultative) They washed the plates clean. extension They donated a house. enhancement She crossed. She crossed the room. She threw it. She threw it across the room. 5.2.4 Different types of material clauses and additional participants There are two participants in material clauses – the Actor and the Goal. The Actor is an inherent participant in both intransitive and transitive material clauses. The Goal is an inherent participant in transitive clauses. For example: (1) They washed. (2) They washed the plates. (3) They washed the plates clean. In addition to these two roles, there are a number of other participant roles that may be involved in the process of a material clause, for example: A. Scope: Then cross Hyde Park to the Art Gallery of NSW. [Scope: entity] The country is paying a heavy price. [Scope: Process] B. Recipient (in transitive transformative clauses of the “extending” type) Did Kerry give you those files there? C. Client (in the “creative” type of “transitive material” clause) She has poured herself a mineral water? Do you want us to make up the full pallet for you? D. Attribute Mr. William Whitfield was shot dead in a New York Supermarket. They stripped her clean of every bit of jewelry [she ever had]