A complete functional theory of grammar should be able to specify the communicative function of each constituent in a sentence (or rather ‘Discourse Act’). Whereas predicating and referring have been given due attention in functional approaches to grammar, the modifying function of linguistic material in a Discourse Act has been largely ignored. This chapter argues (i) that modifying is no less actional than predicating or referring in the process of verbal communication and (ii) that the modifying function of linguistic material should be specified at the highest level of representation in Functional Discourse Grammar. Apart from Attitudinal Modification, there are at least five Subacts of Modification that are required for an adequate functional analysis of noun phrases and clauses: classifying modification, qualifying modification, quantifying modification, localizing modification and discourse-referential modification.
Original language
English
Title of host publication
Theory and Practice in Functional-Cognitive Space
Editors
María de los Ángeles Gómez González, Francisco José Ruiz de Mendoza Ibáñez, Francisco Gonzálvez-García
Number of pages
32
Volume
68
Place of publication
Amsterdam / Philadelphia
Publisher
John Benjamins Publishing Company
Publication year
Jul 2014
Pages
129-150
ISBN (print)
9789027215789 (Hb)
ISBN (Electronic)
9789027270146 (e-Book)
Publication status
Published - Jul 2014
Series
Studies in Functional and Structural Linguistics
ISSN
1385-7916
Bibliographical note
Theory and Practice in Functional-Cognitive Space
Edited by María de los Ángeles Gómez González, Francisco José Ruiz de Mendoza Ibáñez and Francisco Gonzálvez García University of Santiago de Compostela / University of La Rioja / University of Almería
Honorary Editor: Angela Downing
Hardbound: ISBN 9789027215789 | EUR 105.00 | USD 158.00 e-Book: ISBN 9789027270146 | EUR 105.00 | USD 158.00 Also available on Google Play
The differences among functionalist, cognitivist and/or constructionist models are generally taken to be not absolute, but rather a matter of emphasis and degree, with an increasing permeability between paradigms arising from cross-fertilizing influences. This book further explores this burgeoning area of research through the notion of functional-cognitive space, namely, the topography of the space occupied by functional, cognitivist and/or constructionist models against the background of formalist approaches in general and of Chomsky’s Minimalism in particular. Specifically, the twelve contributions in the present volume update the reader on recent developments in functionalism (Systemic Functional Grammar, Functional Discourse Grammar and Role and Reference Grammar) and cognitivism (Word Grammar, (Cognitive) Construction Grammar and the Lexical Contructional Model). Plotting cognitive-space proves particularly adequate for situating the six models represented in this volume, not only in relation to each other, but also potentially with respect to a wide spectrum of functionalist, cognitivist and/or constructionist models.
