The meaning of the sentence

Lecture 5

Main Issues
Grammaticality, meaningfulness and
acceptability
Variables in the function of sentence

meaning
Types of process
Types of participant
Types of circumstance
The interpersonal meaning

The
representational
meaning
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Sentence
A string of words put together by the

grammatical rules of a language, ()

expressing a complete thought (Hurford & B.
Heasley, 2001:16,18)

Approaches to sentence meaning

Denotational theory: reference and truth
Conceptualist theory: concepts or ideas
associated with the expression
Pragmatic theory: meaning by participants in
an interaction (meaning-is-use theory)
Cognitive theory: a reflection of the way we
conceptualize the world out there.
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Grammaticality

Aceptability

Sentence

Meaningfulness
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Grammaticality
A grammatical sentence is one which is
formed according to the rules of grammar.
I love you - Grammatical
I am love you Ungrammatical

Meaningfulness
The meaningfulness of a sentence is
conditioned by how well-informed that sentence
is semantically.
Meaningful sentence
Scott is a lazy, stupid, disagreeable, stubborn
guy.
Meaningless sentence

Colorless green ideas sleep furiously.

Thursday is in bed with Friday
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Grammaticality vs. Meaningfulness

Most sentences we produce are grammatical
and meaningful
Nothing is gonna change my love for you.

A sentence which is grammatically correct is

not necessarily meaningful

It asks a pile of rubbish to clean the ant.

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Acceptability

In grammatical sense

In semantic sense

In grammatical sense
Some sentences are unacceptable
because it is not grammatically possible.

e.g. I love speak but I think it is so difficult

to get fluency.

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In semantic sense
Suitable to social etiquette
After the battle, the enemies all passed
away.
Unacceptable
You are my dog
Acceptable in Britain
Unacceptable in Greece
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In semantic sense

Rationality/ logical coherence

She died even though she fell down from
the 100th floor.

Unacceptable

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Variables in the function of sentence

meaning
1. Structural meaning
2. Representational meaning
3. Interpersonal meaning
4. Textual meaning

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Structural meaning
Structural meaning is the kind of meaning
that results from a particular arrangement
of the parts of the sentence.

E.g.:
- The mantte wernnted a yob

- My fueak liauded me to doen

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Representational meaning
Can be defined in terms of experiential
and logical functions.

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Representational meaning
The experiential function: is to communicate ideas

It is the main function by which a speaker expresses

the content elements of his utterance, by referring to
people, objects, states of affairs, events, qualities,
places, actions and circumstances, all of which are
parts of the world we live in.
E.g. John invited Susan to go to the cinema with him
last night.

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2. The logical function:

Relates ideas to each other on an equal or
subordinate basis
The bus was crowded and I had to stand

all the way

equal
We all believe that working hard is the key to
success.
subordinate
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Interpersonal function
1. To establish and maintain social relations.

This function can be manifested in various

forms indicating functions such as:
- Good morning
- Have a nice day
- Thank you very much

- I am sorry
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Interpersonal function
2.

To influence people behaviour and get things done.

This function may be called the instrumental function,
that is influencing peoples behaviour and getting things
done.
- Could you pass me the wine?
Request
- Why was she late?
Enquiry
- Dont do that again
Warning
- If you keep doing this, Ill
Threat
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Interpersonal function
3. To express the speakers feelings, attitudes

and opinions towards, or the assessment

of the representational content of the
sentence via the use of modal verbs and

adverbs. For example:

- What she said may be right
- You must be feeling hunger by now
- This is probably right
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Textual function
The textual function or meaning is to create
texts. It is this function that helps to give texts
coherence and cohesion.
When Bill Gates was in the sixth grade, his parents

decided he needed counselling. He was at war with

his mother, an outgoing woman who harboured the
belief that he should do what she told him

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When Bill Gates was in the sixth grade, his parents

decided he needed counselling. He was at war with his
mother, an outgoing woman who harboured the belief
that he should do what she told him.
Experiential Actors Bill gates, mother & father. actions
decide, tell, do. State is at war. Place
sixth grade. Qualities- outgoing. Objects
belief, counselling, etc
Logical
Subordinate when Bill Gates, his parents
decided. He should do what she told him.
Interpersonal

Should, and factual (express by the mood)

Textual

Bill Gates He, his parents

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More on the representational meaning

According to Halliday, the experiential component
of the representational meaning provides an
account of the underlying content of a sentence
or utterance. It handles within its scope:
a. processes: actions, events, states, relations
b. Participating entities: persons, objects,
abstractions

c. Circumstances:time, place, reasons, conditions,

results which are associated with the process
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Processes

Participants

Mr. Haliday

Circumstance
A transitivity network
going through, extending to another entity

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More on the representational meaning

E.g. Jim kicked the dog this morning

The participant Jim performs a doing
kicking, which is directed at the goal the
dog under the circumstances this morning

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Types of process
Material processes: express our outer experiences
Mental processes: express our inner experiences
Relational processes: connect our experiences
Behavioral processes (between material processes
and mental processes): represent outer manifestations
of our inner workings
Verbal processes (between mental and relational
processes): represent symbolic relationship
constructed in human consciousness and enacted in
the form of language.
Existential processes (between the material and
relational processes): concerning with existence
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Material processes
If there are two entities, they are the ACTOR and
the GOAL. In this case:

+ the actor can do something to the goal.

e.g.

John broke the glass

The lion caught the tourist
The mechanic repaired my car

+ the actor can create or bring about the goal

e.g.

He has built a fortune along the way.

They are building a new school here

Jane is writing a letter

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Material processes
- Material processes are not necessarily
concrete, but can be abstract
e.g.

The mayor resigned

The president dissolved the Parliament

- We can ask about or probe material

processes by using the verb do
e.g.

What did the lion do?

What is Jane doing?
What did the mayor do?
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Mental processes
Definition: Mental processes are those that
express our inner experiences. Mental
processes involve two entities: a SENSER
(the conscious being that feels, sees or
thinks) and a PHENOMENON (that which is
sensed, felt, thought or seen.
e.g. Mary liked the gift
No-one believed his story

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Characteristics
1. In a clause of mental process, there is
always one participant who is human or
human-like. This is the SENSER, the one
who senses, feels, thinks or perceives.
- On the contrary, in material process, no
participant is required to be human, and
the distinction between conscious and
non-conscious beings simply plays no
part.
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Mental processes
2.

3.

With regards to the other main element, namely the

one that is felt, thought or perceived, it may be a
person, a thing or a fact.
e.g.
Jane saw the stars
Jane saw that the stars had come out
The verb in a mental process clause is usually used
in the present simple tense.
e.g.
She likes the gift
Do you know the city?

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Mental processes
4.

Mental processes can usually be realized in either

direction with either the senser or the phenomenon
that is being sensed being the subject.
Like type
I like it
I fear it

Please type
It pleases me
It frightens me

I wonder at it
I dont understand it
I enjoy it
I mind it
I admire it

It amazes me
It puzzles me
It delights me
It upsets me
It impresses me
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Mental processes
5.

Mental processes are processes of feeling, thinking

and seeing. They are not kinds of doing, and cannot
be probed or substituted by do.
e.g.

What did John do? He ran away (material)

What did Mary do with the gift? She sold it.
John knew the answer.
(not: What John did was know the answer)
Mary liked the gift.
(not: What did Mary do with the gift)
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Relational processes
Definition: Relational processes are those that
connect our experiences. They are processes of
being.
Characteristics: In a relational clause, there are
two parts to the being: something is being said to
be something else. In other words, a relation is
being set up between two entities.
e.g.

Jane is beautiful
Tomorrow is my birthday
Peter has a piano

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Relational processes

The English system of relational processes

operates with three main types

1. Intensive:

x is a

2. Circumstantial: x is at a (where is at stands

for is at, in, on, for, with, about, along, etc.)
3. Possessive: x has a

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Behavioral processes
Definition: Behavioral processes are those
describing physiological and psychological behavior
like coughing, breathing, smiling, dreaming, and
staring. They are partly like the material and partly
like the mental processes.

Characteristics:
The participant who is behaving, labelled
BEHAVER, is typically a conscious being, like the
Senser, but the Process is grammatically more like
one of doing.
e.g.

Jane is smiling

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Verbal processes
Definition: verbal processes are processes of
saying. They represent symbolic relationships
constructed in human consciousness and enacted
in the form language.
Characteristics:
Verbal processes are Processes of saying (tell,
insult, praise, slander, abuse, flatter, promise, etc.)
SAYER - The participant who is speaking, TARGET
- addressee to whom the process is directed is,
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VERBIAGE - what is said

Existential processes
Definition: existential processes are those that are
concerned with existence.

Characteristics:
Represents something that exists or happens
Intermediate between material and relational
processes
Two entities: the EXISTENT and the process

e.g.:

Once upon a time, there lived a King who

had a beautiful daughter.
There comes a huge man

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Existential processes
Verbs that commonly occur in existential

processes include: exist, remain, arise,

occur, come about, happen, take place,

follow, ensue, sit, stand, lie, hang, rise,

stretch, emerge, grow, erupt, flourish,
prevail

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The participants
The participants are those roles involved in the
process (expressed by the predicator), the
number of which varies from linguist to linguist.
The possible roles include:
1. Argentive, including agent and actor - the
creator of the process
2. Instrumental - the instrument involved in the
process
3. Factitive, the entity which is the result of the
process
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The participants
4. Locative - indicates the position or direction of
the action or state expressed by the verb
5. Owner and possession
6. Benefactive - the entity that benefits from the
action expressed by the verb, also called
beneficiary
7. Comitative - the participant that accompanies
the subject involved in a process or action
expressed by the verb
8. Source - the point of original of where the
process comes from
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The participants
9. Goal - the target, to which an action is directed
10.Undergoer (senser or experiencer) - just the
participant the undergoes or experiences a
process

11.The behaver. The participant that behaves

12.The carrier and attribute. The participant or
entity that has the feature expressd by attribute

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The circumstances
This component is related to the process. They
can occur in all types of processes. Most are
realized by prepositional phrases; however,
they can be clauses as well. The main types of
circumstances are:
1. Time:
e.g.
She arrived home at 9 oclock
2. Place:
e.g.
I met her at a small restaurant
3. Condition:
e.g.
If she comes, Ill go
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The circumstances
4.
5.

6.
7.
8.
9.

Concession:
e.g.
In spite of her parents objection
Result:
e.g.
I was caught in a sudden shower, so I
was soaked
Manner:
e.g.
She beat her son with a ruler
Attending circumstances:
e.g.
As everyone is here, lets start
Cause:
e.g.
Because of the rain, the train was late.
Purpose:
e.g.
She is out for lunch now.

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The interpersonal meaning

The term interpersonal can embrace largely by
a more common term: modality
Functions of speech: expressing the speakers
attitude and opinion

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Grammaticalization of modality
Mood and modality:

- Indicative:
I was absent yesterday -> report
Will she marry me? -> doubt
- Imperative: Be quiet!/ take a seat! -> request
- Subjunctive:
I wish I could fly -> wish (epistemic)
It is necessary that he be here -> obligation
Modality in subordinate clause: I order that he

must be here at once.

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Lexicalization of modality
Modal verbs: may, might, will, would, should, etc.

Modal adjectives: possible, likely, obvious, etc.

Modal adverbs: maybe, possibly, perhaps, etc.

Modal nouns: possibility, chance, likelihood, etc.

Lexical verbs
e.g. I suppose that it is critical to start it now.

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Identify the processes, participants and

circumstances in these sentences
Sentence
1. Connie did well at
school.
2. They make
compost of waste.
3. She makes bread
at home.
4. They rarely admit
journalists to the
region.
5. The long driveway
circled around the
vast lawn.
6. She fed him a
cookie

Process
Participant Circumstance
Behavioural
Behaver
Manner
- Place
Material
Actor Manner
Goal
Material
Actor Place
Goal
Material
Actor Manner
Goal
- Place
Existential

Material

Existent
Actor BeneficiaryGoal

Place

Identify the processes, participants and

circumstances in this sentences
Sentence
Process Participant
7. The creaking
Relational
Carrier sounded very
Attribute
eerie.
8. If they are
Sayer Verbal
threatened to be
Verbiage
fined, none of
these people will
admit buying drinks
illegally.
9. The growing
Mental Phenomenonnumber of
Senser
refugees concerns
agencies.

Circumstance

Condition

Identify the processes, participants and

circumstances in this sentences
Sentence
Process Participant
Circumstance
Verbal
Sayer
10. The people
Receiver around him fed him
Verbiage
terrible lies.
11. The whole incident
Mental PhenomenonManner
had upset me
Senser
terribly.
Mental
Senser Time
12. I felt that all my
Phenomenon
strength had gone
yesterday.