LINGUIST List 15.2119

Thu Jul 22 2004

Books: Syntax: Morley

Editor for this issue: Neil Salmond <neillinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. jjoyce, Explorations in Functional Syntax: Morley

Title: Explorations in Functional Syntax
Subtitle: A New Framework for Lexicogrammatical Analysis

Publication Year: 2004
Publisher:	Equinox Publishing Ltd.
		http://www.equinoxpub.com/

Author: G. David Morley, University of Strathclyde

Hardback: ISBN: 1904768008, Pages: 224, Price: U.S. $ 80

			
Abstract:

JUST PUBLISHED!

Key Features:

* breaks away from the 'standard' model for analysing syntactic
structure from a functional perspective to develop a framework which
analyses the grammatical wording of a text so that its syntactic
structure mirrors its meaning structure

* Few other books oriented towards functional syntactic structure

Description:

Explorations in Functional Syntax develops a practical framework for
analysing the syntactic structure of a text from a functional
perspective. It outlines a model in which the syntactic analysis, on a
single dimension, mirrors more explicitly the multidimensional meaning
structure of the text. The syntactic framework thus takes account of
semantic concepts such as participants and things, processes, features
and qualities, and circumstances, all of which constitute elements of
ideas. But it also deals with the cohesive links which connect ideas
and with personal comments, etc. which may be interspersed in amongst
them. Though set firmly in the mould of systemic functional grammar,
the book focuses on lexicogrammar -grammatical units and relations,
structural elements, configurations and complexities; social context
and the semantic stratum are sketched out only as integral background.
In elaborating a unitary syntactic framework which is functionally
orientated so as to reflect the meaning structure of a text, the book
represents a significant departure from the 'standard' mode of
handling lexicogrammar in systemic linguistics. Important differences
have been introduced with regard, firstly, to the nature of units on
the rank scale and their relationships to structural complexes and,
secondly, to the range and scope of elements of clause structure. The
book is well illustrated with examples of the descriptive framework in
action throughout the text and in a summary end chapter.

G. David Morley is Lecturer in Modern Languages at the University of
Strathclyde, Scotland. He is also the author of An Introduction to
Systemic Grammar (Macmillan, 1985) and Syntax in Functional Grammar:
an Introduction to Lexicogrammar in Systemic Linguistics (Continuum,
2000).


Lingfield(s):	Syntax
		
Written In:	English (Language Code: ENG)


 See this book announcement on our website:
 http://linguistlist.org/get-book.html?BookID=10970.