3.2.4 Expansive clause complexes
This current research aims to analyze the explicit formal conjunctive markers which form expansive clause complexes.So it is necessary to explain what expansive clause complexes are.
According to Halliday & Matthiessen(2004:372),the notion clause complex is a“univariately structured complex”which enables people to“account in full for the grammatical combination of the clause”.In terms of stratification,clause complexes realize“a semantic sequence of projection and expansion”(Halliday & Matthiessen,2004:369).In the projective clause complex,the second clause is projected through the primary clause,which instates it as a locution,either direct or indirect,such as the clauses in bold in Example(31)or an idea,either direct or indirect such as Example(32)
(31)Out of the 76 questions the presenter asks in the 10 editions studied,the following questions can serve as examples for the distinctly verbal character of the interviews:“They are all things that he wrote about,right?”(18 February),“The indigenous languages,you mean?”(25 February),“Can you elaborate,please?”(17 March),“It seems almost absurd,right?”(24 March).(S,AEs)
(32)Thus,it was assumed that any differences in the quality of introductions would be attributable to the intervention.(S,AEs)
In the expansive clause complex,the secondary clause expands the primary clause by“elaborating,extending or enhancing it”(Halliday &Matthiessen,2004:377).According to Halliday & Matthiessen(2004:396-440),all of the three ways of expanding clauses are either paratactic or hypotactic.The primary clause is the initiating clause in a paratactic nexus and the dominant clause in the hypotactic one;the secondary is the continuing clause in a paratactic nexus and the dependent clause in a hypotaxis.For example,
(33)Comparisons based upon the aggregate analysis of statistical data,of both a crosssectional and longitudinal nature,are frequent in social sciences,but contain special problems in the case of historical disciplines,among which is business history itself.(S,AEs)
(34)They put strong emphasis on kin relationships,so that the kinship system plays a prominent role in this social structure.(S,AEs)
In Example(33),the clause complex connecting by but is paratactic,indicating that the second clause is a negative continuation of the primary clause.Comparatively,the clause complex in Example(34)presents a hypotactic relation in that the second clause qualifies the primary one.
However,the distinction between paratactic and hypotactic relation is not the focus of the current dissertation.Both of the two types of expansive clause complexes with CMs are included in the current research.CMs such as yet in Example(35)are crucial clause combining signals in expansive clause complexes.Whether the clause complex is paratactic or hypotactic,or whether it is finite or non-finite,CMs play a greatly important role.
(35)Kirzner’s concern with the macro-economy used the entrepreneur as a metaphorical device,yet the concept slipped readily into microeconomic analysis. (H,AEs)
In conclusion,this dissertation focuses on the interpersonal domain of CMs,which can be paraphrased into projective clauses based on interpersonal metaphor.Both of authorial stance on the plane of semantics and CMs on the plane of lexicogrammar are influenced by the context out of language,i.e.,the nature of the discipline and the background of the authors.