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