4.2.3　Concessive CMs

Concessive construction relies on a relationship of normal incompatibility or dissonance between the two component propositions.That is to say,when concessive CMs appear,there are two propositions in the instances of situations that do not normally go together.When using concessive CMs,the authors will counter the expectations set in the preceding clause and in this way,they could express their own stance and align their readers.Concessive CMs that are found in the sample EAPs are listed below along with their occurrences and frequencies.

Table 4.12　Occurrences and frequencies of concessive CMs

Just as Table 4.12 presents,however is the most frequently used concessive CM.As an indicator of concessive relation,the construction connected by however in Example(68)refers to the situation in the matrix clause is contrary to the expectation in the light of what is said in the subordinate clause(c.f.,Quirk et al.,1985;Sweester,1990).For example,

(68)It is argued from the findings of this study that it is possible for schools to move beyond traditional PE content and include Indigenous perspectives in a non-tokenistic way.However,it is also argued that such an approach requires Indigenous people to have a central role,and for non-Indigenous teachers to challenge taken for granted mainstream Westernized and racialized teaching practices and discourses.(S,AEs)

In Example(68)however connects two propositions which conflict with each other.All in all,incompatible propositions are linked to a clause nexus by means of concessive CMs.This can be considered as a strategy for the authors to negotiate their opinions about the state of the world.It is also a dialogic act to address the authors’attention to countering the expectation.