David Rose On Realisation

In a discussion on the email list sfl_education on 7/12/11, David Rose writes:

For me the issue is not meaning vs structure, since these are really two faces of the same phenomenon. 

Rather the issue is the pedagogic sequence from instance to system and vice versa. 

Since meanings and the structures that realise them only occur in texts, our approach starts with whole texts, in which learners encounter instances and gradually accumulate systems. 

Using a simple technique of guided repetition we can teach beginning learners to read and say a short text within an hour, and then use this as basis for focusing on particular features. As they acquire fragments of systems these can be used to illuminate new instances and so on.

Blogger Comments:

In SFL, meaning and structure are not "really two faces of the same phenomenon", and structures do not realise meanings.  Rather:

(1) Meaning is a stratum in the hierarchy of symbolic abstraction.  What realises meaning is wording, not structure.

(2) Structure, on the other hand, contrasts with system.  The distinction here is axial: between the syntagmatic and paradigmatic axes, respectively.  What structure realises is system, not meaning.

That is: 

meaning is realised in wording (stratification)

system is realised in structure (axis)

so:

stratification:

system on the stratum of meaning is realised in system on the stratum of wording

structure on the stratum of meaning is realised in structure on the stratum of wording

axis:

system on the stratum of meaning is realised in structure on the stratum of meaning

system on the stratum of wording is realised in structure on the stratum of wording

Sys-Func Discussion Of Theme Analysis [2]

Lise Fontaine replied on sys-func at 18:12 on 12 October 2011:

I agree with Tom's view.  There are many examples related to this:

after they got married

right after they got married

one year after they got married

10 years after the got married

and there are other prepositions which follow similar patterns.  In IFG terms this ('one year after') constitutes a prepositional group within a prepositional phrase.

Blogger Comments:

(1) Lise says she agrees with Tom's view, even though Tom mistakenly analyses one year after as a conjunction group, while she mistakenly analyses it as a preposition group.

(2) In IFG terms:

after they got married is a clause initiated by the (unmodified) conjunction group after

right after they got married is a clause initiated by the (premodified) conjunction group right after

one year [[after they got married]] is a nominal group with an embedded clause as Qualifier

10 years [[after they got married]] is a nominal group with an embedded clause as Qualifier
and
those twenty unforgettable though nightmarish years [[after they got married]] is a nominal group with an embedded clause as Qualifier

Sys-Func Discussion Of Theme Analysis [3]

Lise Fontaine continued on sys-func at 18:52 on 13 October 2011:

I'm just leaving for a conference so my reply won't be as detailed as I would like. I should say though that I wasn't suggesting I was representing the views of IFG in my reply, only that I agreed with Tom's analysis.

Blogger comments:

Lise says "I wasn't suggesting I was representing the views of IFG in my reply", but in that reply she had written:

"In IFG terms this ('one year after') constitutes a prepositional group within a prepositional phrase".

1. David Rose On Stratification & Metaredundancy

David Rose firstly writes in response to my comments on Jim Martin On Stratification:

contextual strata are metaredundant on the redundant relation between discourse semantics and lexicogrammar... hence relating clause meanings directly to context skips a layer of metaredundancy

Blogger Comments:

(1) clause meanings

The meanings of clauses are semantic not lexicogrammatical. Hence relating clause meanings directly to context does not skip a stratum.

(2) layer of metaredundancy

Strata are not layers of metaredundancy. Metaredundancy is a redundancy on a redundancy. Semantics is metaredundant on the redundant relation between lexicogrammar and phonology. Semantics, lexicogrammar and phonology are not "layers of metaredundancy".

2. David Rose On Realisation

David Rose secondly writes in response to my comments on Jim Martin on Stratification:

clause meanings are realised by system-structure relations cycling through grammatical ranks i.e. meanings are realised by relations between elements of structures in texts, instantiating relations between features in systems, at each rank within phonology, grammar and discourse... (no need to do it twice)

Blogger Comments:

(1) clause meanings are realised by system-structure relations; meanings are realised by relations between elements of structures

This confuses the distinction between stratification and axis. In terms of stratification, meanings (semantics) are realised by wordings (lexicogrammar) — whatever the axis (paradigmatic or syntagmatic). In terms of axis, (paradigmatic) systems are realised by (syntagmatic) structures — whatever the stratum.

(2) meanings are realised by relations between elements of structures in texts

'In texts' refers only to the instance pole of the cline of instantiation. The realisation of meaning (semantics) in wording (lexicogrammar) applies to the whole cline, not just the instance. Hence: "stuck in the instance".

3. David Rose On Instantiation

David Rose thirdly writes in response to my comments on Jim Martin on Stratification:

discourse semantic systems are the potential for co-textualising grammatical meanings, instantiated as discourse semantic structures in text

Blogger Comment:

Instantiation is the relation of the system to the instance (of the system). The relation between system and structure — and between semantics and lexicogrammar — is realisation.

4. David Rose On Instantiation

David Rose writes, in response to my comments on 3. David Rose On Instantiation:

All true but doesn't falsify DR's statement. How else are systems instantiated other than as structures in texts? DR's statement corrected CC's claim that "Co-textualised" meanings are only at the instance pole of the cline of instantiation — in text

My Comments:

[1] This confuses the cline of instantiation with the realisation relation between the paradigmatic and syntagmatic axes. The theoretical dimension of instantiation is the (intensive attributive) relation between the system and the instance (of the system). The relation between the paradigmatic axis (systems) and the syntagmatic axis (structures) is realisation (an intensive identifying relation).

Put simply: a structure is not an instance of a system.

[2] By definition, "co-textualised" meanings are meanings of the text. The text is at the instance pole of the cline of instantiation.

5. David Rose On Meaning

David Rose writes in response to my comments on 2. David Rose On Realisation:

Again this reduction does not falsify DR's statement. SFL is a relational theory of meaning, in which meanings are realised by the whole set of relations in language, including stratal, axial and rank, which DR's statement distilled and explicated. Meaning making is not reducible to a one-dimensional relation between strata.

Blogger Comments:

(1) Again this reduction does not falsify DR's statement.

A distinction — in this case between stratification and axis — is not a reduction.

(2) meanings are realised by the whole set of relations in language, including stratal, axial and rank

The use of 'meaning' here ignores theoretical distinctions. Meanings are realised by wordings (stratification); systems are realised by structures (axis); the functional elements of a higher rank are realised by units of the rank below.

(3) which DR's statement distilled and explicated

Ignoring theoretical distinctions is neither distillation nor explication.

(4) Meaning making is not reducible to a one-dimensional relation between strata.

The original post was about the realisation of meaning, not meaning making. The realisation of meaning is a stratal relation between semantics and lexicogrammar (the axial relation of realisation on the semantic stratum is between system and structure).

(5) Meaning making is not reducible to a one-dimensional relation between strata.

That claim was not made. This is the logical fallacy known as 'The Straw Man'.

http://www.logicalfallacies.info/ambiguity/straw-man/

6. David Rose On The Cline Of Instantiation

David Rose writes in response to my comments on 2. David Rose On Realisation: 

Yes, and 'relations between features in systems' refers to the system pole of the cline. Relations between elements of structure are dimensions of meaning making in SFL theory, whether viewed from structural potentials realising features in systems or actual structures instantiated in texts

Blogger Comments:

[1] This misunderstands the cline of instantiation. The cline of instantiation is (an intensive attributive) relation between the system and instances (of the system). There are no (syntagmatic) "relations between elements of structure" at the (paradigmatic) system pole of the cline of instantiation.

[2] This misunderstands the cline of instantiation and merges it with (axial) realisation. The cline of instantiation is (an intensive attributive) relation between the system and instances (of the system). "Actual structures" are not instances of a system. The relation between system and structure is realisation (an intensive identifying relation).

7. David Rose On Stratification

David Rose writes in response to my comments on 1. David Rose On Stratification & Metaredundancy:

The meanings of clauses are made by lexicogrammatical systems/structures. They do not include meanings made by discourse semantic systems/structures, which co-textualise (redound on) these lexicogrammatical meanings. Hence relating clause meanings directly to context skips a layer of (OK) redundancy.

Blogger Comments:

(1) The meanings of clauses are made by lexicogrammatical systems/structures.

This misunderstands stratification. The relation between meaning (semantic stratum) and wording (lexicogrammatical stratum) is realisation — an intensive identifying process, not a creative abstract material process ('made by'). Wording (eg clauses) realises meaning.

(2) They do not include meanings made by discourse semantic systems/structures, which co-textualise (redound on) these lexicogrammatical meanings. Hence relating clause meanings directly to context skips a layer of (OK) redundancy.

This misunderstands stratification. Meaning is the level of symbolic abstraction modelled as the semantic stratum. The meanings realised by wordings — including wordings such as those of clause rank and of cohesion — are at the semantic level of symbolic abstraction. No stratum is "skipped".

Robin Fawcett On Stratal Relations [1]

In a discussion on Sysfling [29/6/11], Robin Fawcett opined:

Indeed, if Michael Halliday and Christian Matthiessen had formed a clear view of the way in which the choices described in their Construing Experience through Meaning determine the choices in the major system networks of the lexicogrammar, they would surely have said so in that book. I have looked hard for a section that makes this connection, but I have yet to find it. This suggests that the model proposed there is simply one possible, half-complete hypothesis that needs to be subject to the normal process in science of development, testing, evaluation, revision (or rejection), retesting, re-evaluation, and so on.

Blogger Comments:

(1) Here are some of the quotes that Robin Fawcett was unable to find.

Halliday & Matthiessen (1999: 375):

More specifically, inter-stratal realisation is specified by means of inter-stratal preselection: contextual features are realised by preselection within the semantic system, semantic features are realised by preselection within the lexicogrammatical system, and lexicogrammatical features are realised by preselection within the phonological/graphological system.

Halliday & Matthiessen (1999: 378):

The realisational relationship between semantics and lexicogrammar is one of preselection: semantic features … are realised in lexicogrammar by means of prespecification of lexicogrammatical information, most centrally preselection of lexicogrammatical features.

(2) Regarding the notion that strata "determine" one another, note that higher stratal choices do not cause lower stratal choices.

Halliday & Matthiessen (1999: 25):

In any stratal system (i.e. any system where there are two strata such that one is the realisation of the other) there is no temporal or causal ordering between the strata. … the relationship is an intensive one, not a causal circumstantial one.

(3) On realisation as an analogue of cause:effect in classical physics:

Halliday & Matthiessen (1999: 510):

… we do not yet fully understand the nature of the relationship that is the semiotic analogue of the “cause : effect” of classical physics: this is the problem of realisation.

Having had his claim falsified, Fawcett subsequently re-interpreted his original question (extending it) in an attempt to obscure the falsification.  This is a subtype of the logical fallacy known as the 'red herring':

The red herring is as much a debate tactic as it is a logical fallacy. It is a fallacy of distraction, and is committed when a listener attempts to divert an arguer from his argument by introducing another topic.

http://www.logicalfallacies.info/relevance/red-herring/

Robin Fawcett On Stratal Relations [2]

In a discussion on Sysfling [1/7/11], Robin Fawcett reacted to the three quotes [in Part 1] from Halliday & Matthiessen (1999: 375, 378, 25) as follows:

In the first two passages we are given a picture of 'preselection' as 'predetermination', and so as something approaching 'causation'. Then in [the third] we are told that the relationship is not like that. But we are not told WHY it is not. We are offered instead a metaphor (taken from the terms of the Sydney Grammar itself), but not an explanation as to WHY the relationship is an 'intensive' one. 

The reader of these three passages will surely ask: How can it be true that choices made at one stratum are realized in choices at a lower stratum, without this being some type of 'pre-determination'? Passage [3] presents the relationship as a great mystery!

Blogger Comments:

Among other things, Fawcett does not understand that:

1. the theoretical dimension of stratification is organised on the principle of intensive identification — it is not a metaphor, it is what stratification means in this way of modelling language: higher level Value is realised by lower level Token;
2. the strata are thus different levels of symbolic abstraction of the same phenomenon (language) — there can be no chain of command across different levels of symbolic abstraction;
3. semantic features being realised by the 'preselection' of lexicogrammatical features simply means that features at the higher level of abstraction entail features at the lower level of symbolic abstraction — same phenomenon, different levels of abstraction.  For example, the logico-semantic relation of 'cause' can be realised incongruently by the preselection of lexicogrammatical features relating to participants, processes or circumstances at clause rank.

Halliday & Matthiessen (1999: 94) anticipated Fawcett's misinterpretation (in the very same text):

Such selections have been referred to as “pre-selections”, but in order to avoid any connotations of temporal sequence, we prefer the term “selection” for such relations in the ideation base.

Robin Fawcett On Interstratal Specification

On 29 June 2011 at 08:42, Robin Fawcett wrote to Sysfling:

Indeed, if Michael Halliday and Christian Matthiessen had formed a clear view of the way in which the choices described in their Construing Experience Through Meaning determine the choices in the major system networks of the lexicogrammar, they would surely have said so in that book. I have looked hard for a section that makes this connection, but I have yet to find it. This suggests that the model proposed there is simply one possible, half-complete hypothesis that needs to be subject to the normal process in science of development, testing, evaluation, revision (or rejection), retesting, re-evaluation, and so on.

Blogger Comments:

[1] Halliday & Matthiessen (1999: 98-9) sets out the congruent lexicogrammatical realisations of semantic figures and elements:

Halliday & Matthiessen (1999: 98):

Within the ideational metafunction, each [of the four types of figure] is realised congruently by one particular transitivity type: doing & happening ( material, sensing ( mental, saying ( verbal, and being & having ( relational.

Halliday & Matthiessen (1999: 99):

Within the ideational component, [the three types of element] are realised by different classes of units:

process ( verbal group,

participant ( nominal group,

circumstance ( adverbial group; prepositional phrase.

[2]  Halliday & Matthiessen (1999: 94):

Such selections have been referred to as “pre-selections”, but in order to avoid any connotations of temporal sequence, we prefer the term “selection” for such relations in the ideation base.

[3] For an appraisal analysis of Fawcett's negative attitude towards Halliday and Matthiessen, click here.

Jim Martin On Stratification

In a Sysfling discussion [26/6/2011], Jim Martin wrote:

I don't consider it wise to skip a stratum of metaredundancy and relate clause meanings directly to context, more or less ignoring co-text since it's the co-textualised meanings that construe field, tenor and mode.

Blogger Comments:

(1) "metaredundancy"

Strata are not levels of metaredundancy. Metaredundancy is a redundancy on a redundancy. For example, semantics is metaredundant on the redundant relation between lexicogrammar and phonology. The relation between two adjacent strata is one of redundancy not metaredundancy.

(2) "clause meanings and skipping a stratum"

The meanings of clauses are meanings realised by clauses, and so the meanings realised by clauses are of the semantic stratum. There is no "skipping a stratum" when relating lexicogrammar to semantics to context.

(3) "it is co-textualised meanings that construe field, tenor and mode"

It is meaning that construes/realises context (field, tenor and mode). "Co-textualised" meanings are only at the instance pole of the cline of instantiation — in texts — where they realise specific contexts of situation. There are no "co-textualised" meanings at the system pole of the cline of instantiation, and so: no construal of the field, tenor and mode of the context of culture by them. A theory of semantics must be accountable at all points along the cline of instantiation, not just at the instance pole.

Stratification

Contra Martin (1992: 496), the size of the units on various strata is irrelevant to the principle on which stratification is based.

Linguistic strata represent different levels of symbolic abstraction.

The levels of abstraction are identified as:
meaning (semantics)
wording (lexicogrammar)
sounding (phonology)

Robin Fawcett On The Verbal Group

A parallel paper given by Professor Robin Fawcett at the International Systemic Functional Congress held at the University of Melbourne in 2000, was titled, if I remember correctly, something like: 'Why Not Abolish The Verbal Group?'

Fawcett's argument was concerned with the experiential structure of the verbal group: Finite and Event and the optional elements Auxiliary and Polarity. There was no discussion of the logical structure of the verbal group.

Blogger Comments:

Now, as Halliday (1994: 196) pointed out, 'the experiential structure is extremely simple; and most of the semantic load is carried by the logical structure, including the tense system'.

The value of the logical structure in elegantly explaining the tense system of English was pointed out to Fawcett by Erich Steiner at the end of the presentation, despite the lack of time afforded by Fawcett for any discussion.

Robin Fawcett On Rheme

On the Sysfling email discussion list, Professor Robin Fawcett argued that 'Rheme' "does not exist" and should thus be removed from the theoretical architecture of Systemic Functional Linguistic Theory.








Blogger Comments:

'Rheme' merely refers to that part of the clause which is not 'Theme'. 'Rheme' is a case of 'a presence marking an absence'. Without 'Rheme', 'Theme' extends over the entire clause, meaning that the entire clause becomes the point of departure for the clause as message — a notion which is logically incoherent.

A second point is Fawcett's notion of semiotic categories "existing" or not. Such construals of experience are either functional or not. This is the epistemological position that informs and is informed by Systemic Functional Linguistic Theory.

Robin Fawcett On Agent

On the Sys-Func email discussion list, Professor Robin Fawcett argued that for a clause of the type Cameron Diaz burped (it apparently described an incident on British TV), he would analyse the participant as Agent if the act was deliberate, but as Medium otherwise.

Blogger Comments:

Fawcett's analysis for the behavioural clause when the process is deliberate:

Cameron Diaz	burped
Agent	Process

that is, is as externally caused Process with no Medium through which to unfold.

Fawcett's analysis for the same behavioural clause when the process is not deliberate:

Cameron Diaz	burped
Medium	Process

That is, Fawcett ascribes agency to a participant on the basis of a circumstance. Cf

Cameron Diaz	burped	deliberately
Medium	Process	Manner

An example of genuine agency in a behavioural clause is:

Cameron Diaz	burped	the baby
Agent	Process	Medium