Descriptions of text grammar TEXT 3: Should cats be allowed to roam? EXPERIENTIAL (+ LOGICAL) MEANING PATTERNS OF.

NOUNS
Description Field: cats + society (rules, structures) and humans (vets, neighbours etc) + society Structure: Noun groups are most often pre-mod +H and pre-mod may be noun, e.g. leash laws; traffic accidents, cat society; but also frequently post-modified w PP: attack by other animals, cat society with its rules and structures; or Ven cat raised with dogs, trap set by . Most complex is: friendship both human and feline ellipsed clause. A long Complement is not compatible with modern life in suburban North Americathere are others. Technicality: Many noun groups are non-abstract, here-and-now, observable in the environment, but there are also abstract NPs: welfare, human notion of territory, life expectancy etc Distribution: Slightly more NP than VP ~ semi-academic text. Only 3 instances of nominalization ..VP roam > this roaming; Adj/Ven mauled [cats] > the mauling; Ven set> trap setting Process types (see analysis below): All process types are found. Material processes seem slightly more frequent than others (construing doings of cats and humans), against a background of describing (cats and humans) in relational processes. There are a few mental processes construing the thoughts of cats and humans, and one verbal verb (assert) in the intro construing others views in opposition to the writers view. Structure: Verb groups are sometimes simple (believe, assert, exercise) but often complex, w passive element: (see tense analysis) should be allowed to roam; cannot be expected to understand Frequent internal clause-joining words : but (balanced view) because, as, while, although, construing cause-effect and concessive

VERBS

Logical

PATTERNS OF.

Description inter-clause relationships, appropriate in a balanced argument. Should cats be allowed to roam?

meaning

Many people believe that, because of cats independent nature, they should be allowed to roam free. This roaming allows them to satisfy their hunting instincts and to function within cat society, with its own rules and structure. Some people assert that free-roaming cats are happier cats. This may be true, but it is not compatible with modern life in suburban North America. Roaming cats are susceptible to attack by other animals, to trapping by angry neighbours, and most of all, to traffic accidents. Despite leash laws in most communities, mauled cats often turn up in veterinarians offices and city pounds. The mauling may have occurred when a cat raised with dogs did not recognize a dangerous dog quickly enough. Alternatively, wild coyotes, which are a concern in most parts of Canada, may be the culprits, as most domestic cats have lost the degree of wariness they need to protect themselves against wild predators. A cat is also unequipped to protect itself against traps set by angry neighbours. Trap setting places the welfare of the cat in the hands of the person who was angry enough to trap it. While cats cannot be expected to understand the human notion of territory, do pet owners have the right to make neighbours share their animals involuntarily, especially when cats exercise their feline rights to spray, dig gardens, and fight? The serious injuries seen most frequently by veterinarians are those caused by cars. Traffic accidents are a major contributor to the shorter life expectancy of outdoor cats. Cars are not part of the natural world, but they are an unavoidable part of ours. Although in an ideal world, cats should be allowed to roam and live their mysterious, separate lives, our world is not ideal. We can do our best to accommodate cats needs with outdoor enclosures and by providing friendship both human and feline, but for most city-dwellers, the dream of the free-ranging cat must be surrendered as a pastoral myth.

TEXT 3: Should cats be allowed to roam INTERPERSONAL MEANING

PATTERNS OF.. MOOD Description Almost exclusively Declarative (S^ F) except for the title (F ^ S: should cats.) and one other Interrogative clause in par 3: therefore, the writer is positioned as teller (of a viewpoint) to the reader. The one question is foregrounded, so probably addresses the main issue the writer wishes the reader to consider. The most noticeable pattern is that the verbs are generally in present tense, construing generality of proprositions, current relevance of argument, and non-remote relationships among writer, reader & propositions. Much modality, varying from low value to high, so the writer wishes to provide some space for negotiability that this is just one view. Mixed: objective many people believe. + nominalizations; with elements of subjectivity/inclusivity our we clustered near the end to draw in the reader finally. Because there is much explicitly evaluative wording, the text is expressing a point of view: not compatible, angry, involuntarily, not ideal, surrendered, pastoral myth.

TENSE

MODALITY PRONOUNS APPRAISAL/ EVALUATION

TEXT 3: Should cats be allowed to roam TEXTUAL MEANING

PATTERNS OF Description Reference: Personal pronouns we (writer and reader) occur very occasionally among the third person they referring to the participants construing the arguments (e.g. cats, traffic accidents) and This refers to a whole-clause notion or argument e.g. This may be true. Lexis: a cohesive field is built up (see nouns). A range of Adjuncts organize the text rough examples are given in italics. Here, some dependent clauses can be A; there are many locative A. Marked structure: The serious injuries seen most frequently by veterinarians are those caused by cars. We can observe the text mainly

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PATTERNS OF

Description develops by means of participants/ topical Theme (many people, this roaming, this, roaming cats) or dependent clauses (multi-Themes) (Despite.although.)

TEXT 4: The proud eagle EXPERIENTIAL (& LOGICAL) MEANING

The proud eagle
One day an eagle met a seagull at the beach. The eagle was proud. He thought he was bigger and more powerful than the seagull. He wanted to show off. I can fly higher than you. Im the strongest bird in the sky. Let me show you around my country, he said. Thank you. Thats very kind of you, said the seagull politely. The eagle and the seagull flew for an hour over thick, magnificent jungle. They could see many different animals and plants. Look! This is the biggest and wildest jungle in my country. Isn't it big? asked the eagle. Yes, its enormous and impressive, said the seagull. Half an hour later they flew over a high, snow-capped mountain. This is the most beautiful and inaccessible place in my country, said the eagle. Its the highest mountain, and some dangerous animals live here. Its fantastic! said the seagull as they soared over the rugged peaks. The eagle thought it was time to make his point time to see the seagulls country. If youre not too tired, can you show me your home? he enquired smugly. Yes, sure. Im not tired, said the seagull. They flew off over a wide, sparkling, emerald sea. After five hours, the eagle was very very tired. Are we near your home yet? he gasped. Oh, no. Its still a long way away! said the seagull. This is only the beginning of my home - the never-ending ocean!

PATTERNS OF. NOUNS

Description Field: A[n imaginary] field is built up the environment and habits of 2 birds (personified, as they talk to each other) Structure: Noun groups are often simple: the eagle, the seagull, the rugged peaks. Co-ordinated and muli-modified: the most beautiful and inaccessible place in my country & wide, sparkling, emerald sea; a high, snow-capped mountain The most complex is the most beautiful and
inaccessible place in my country.

Technicality: Most noun groups are non-abstract, everyday. But some more academic words are jungle, snow-capped, rugged, ocean.

PATTERNS OF.

Description Distribution: about equal distribution, but the noun groups are longer. Process types (see analysis below): Most processes are behavioural or verbal, or mental, but the Behavers, Sayers and Sensers are personified birds. This gives us a clue that probably the text is for young readers, and that there is a lot of direct reported speech. There are also a few phrasal verbs which are more often a feature of everyday, informal language. Structure: Verb groups are simple (see tense analysis). Most clauses in the narration of events are independent. In the dialogue, there are projected dependent clauses in the direct reported speech. The Most complex clauses: The eagle thought [ ] it was time to make his
point time to see the seagulls country. If youre not too tired, can you show me your home?

VERBS

Logical meaning

(See textual meaning for the external links between clauses).

TEXT 4: The proud eagle INTERPERSONAL MEANING

PATTERNS OF.. MOOD Description Exclusively declarative (S^ F) in the narration, with part of the direct speech in interrogative mood (F ^ S): therefore, the writer is generally positioned as teller (of information) to the reader, while the participants (birds) are often positioned as demander and giver of information. Let meone imperative The narration and projecting verbal verbs are in the past tense remote background events of the story. The dialogue is generally in present tense the now of the participants. Some modality of inclination (can you show me ?) and ability (I can flyand they could see - the only past tense form is in this kind of modality). This is also the only modality type found commonly in primary school texts . He (not it) and they in the background narration construing the participants; and I, my, you (>the participants) and this & it (referring to the natural geog.

TENSE & Voice MODALITY

PRONOUNS

PATTERNS OF.. APPRAISAL/ EVALUATION

Description features ) in the interactive dialogue. There are many explicitly evaluative words to construe the positive description of the environment and intensify the elements of the story (gasp) each participant competes to positively (subjectively) evaluate his home (impressive, enormous, fantastic, never-ending.) .

TEXT 4: The proud eagle TEXTUAL MEANING

PATTERNS OF Description Lexis: is the main form of cohesion. Adjuncts organize the text in terms of time: One day, for an hour, half an hour later, after five hours..

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Most sentences construing the narration start with a participant, but some dialogue sentences start with interpersonal elements ( yes, oh no thanks are isnt/.. Look .)

TEXT 5a : Yeast EXPERIENTIAL (+ LOGICAL) MEANING

Yeast grows by the addition of flour and warm water, which give it favourable conditions for growth. The conditions are food, warmth and moisture. The yeast growth process starts with rapid cell division and production of a gas, carbon dioxide. Tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide then form in the bread dough. When the dough is baked in an oven, the gas bubbles become hot and expand. They then stretch the dough and cause it to rise. As the bread dough rises, it sets and cooks, and the bread texture becomes soft and spongy.

PATTERNS OF. NOUNS

Description Field: A technical field is built up by yeast, growth, rapid cell division, gas, carbon dioxide, texture Structure: Noun groups are mostly simple: yeast, flour, warm water.

PATTERNS OF.

Description However, there is some complexity: yeast growth process (nominalization); favourable conditions for growth. The most complex is the co-ordinated group in a PP [with] rapid cell division and production of a gas, carbon dioxide Technicality: Most noun groups are non-abstract, though some are technical: (see above). Abstract nouns are: addition, conditions for growth, yeast growth process, rapid cell division, production, carbon dioxide Distribution: many more nouns than verbs, typical of academic writing.

VERBS

Process types: mainly material construing the action of the yeast and other ppts; with relational processes construing the attributes of yeast (soft etc) or identifying ppts (conditions are) Structure: Verb groups are mostly simple: (see tense analysis) Most sentences are simple/basic on the surface, e.g sentence 1=S F A (with embedded clause); sentence 2= S F C ; sentences 4 & 6 contain dependent cl with independent cl structure; sentence 6 is the most complex, having additive interclausal relationship in addition to dep/indep relationship; sentences 5 & 6 are co-ordinated clauses (see textual meaning for the external links between clauses).

Logical meaning

TEXT 5: Yeast INTERPERSONAL MEANING

PATTERNS OF.. MOOD TENSE & Voice Description Exclusively Declarative (S^ F); therefore, the writer is positioned as teller (of information) to the reader. Exclusively present tense in active and passive voice construing the generalisable and timeless factuality of the propositions (claims, ideas, notions). There are several ergative verbs form, expand, rise, set, cook. No modal verbs, no modality in advP, so the writer positions the events as factual. 2 third person it referring to antecedents yeast dough, and 1 they (=bubbles). Therefore, the text is impersonal. 1 explicitly evaluative word: favourable. The generally neutral wording construes scientific objectivity.

MODALITY PRONOUNS APPRAISAL/ EVALUATION

TEXT 5a: Yeast TEXTUAL MEANING

PATTERNS OF Description Lexis: is the main form of cohesion, e.g. in sequential material processes. Grow> start > form> rise > expand> stretch > set> cook The text is also organized in a range of other terms of sequence: by, then, when, as, and. . Reference: see pronouns above Most sentences start with a participant, but some start with circumstances (when the dough, as the bread). Yeast > The conditions > The yeast growth process >Tiny bubbles of carbon dioxide >When the dough > They > As the bread dough . The arrangement provides a logical backbone to the text.

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TEXT 5b: Fizzy drinks EXPERIENTIAL (+ LOGICAL) MEANING

Carbonated water or fizzy drink is produced by dissolving carbon dioxide in water under pressure. After the can has been opened, the dissolved carbon dioxide will escape to the surrounding air where the pressure is lower. The escaping gases cause bubbling and fizzing sounds, and this is the reason the drink is called fizzy. The continuous escape of gases decreases the concentration of the carbonated water over time, and the amount of escaping carbon dioxide gas also decreases. Thus, the drink becomes less fizzy.

PATTERNS OF. NOUNS

Description Field: A technical field is built up by: carbonated water, carbon dioxide, water under pressure, the dissolved carbon dioxide, pressure escaping gases, the concentration of the carbonated water Structure: while some NPs are simple (the drink), most are somewhat complex (pre and post-modification - the surrounding air where the pressure is lower; the continuous escape of gases Technicality: Many noun groups are technical and abstract (carbonated water, carbon dioxide, pressure, escaping gases, concentration ) Nominalization = the continuous escape of gases. Distribution: more nouns than verbs, typical of academic writing.

PATTERNS OF.

Description

VERBS

Process types (see analysis above): mainly material processes construing the activity of the ppts; with relational processes construing their attributes (lower) or identity (fizzy drinks). Structure: Verb groups are mostly simple: has been opened is probably the most complex (see tense analysis) 2 sentences with co-ordinated clauses. 1 sentences with dependent clause ^ independent clause S F A. First (co-ordinated S ^ F ^ P ^ A) and last sentences ( A ^ S ^ F/P ^ C ) contain no internal linking words

Logical meaning

TEXT 5b: Fizzy drinks INTERPERSONAL MEANING

PATTERNS OF.. MOOD TENSE & Voice MODALITY PRONOUNS APPRAISAL/ EVALUATION Description Exclusively Declarative (S^ F); therefore, the writer is positioned as teller (of information) to the reader. Exclusively present tense in active and passive voice construing the generalisable and timeless factuality of the propositions (claims, ideas, notions). No modal verbs, no modality in advP, so the writer positions the events as factual. This refers to notion of escaping gases. Therefore, the text is impersonal. There are no explicitly evaluative words. The neutral wording construes scientific objectivity.

TEXT 5b: Fizzy drinks TEXTUAL MEANING

PATTERNS OF Description Lexis: is the main form of cohesion.

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Description Most sentences start with a participant, but one starts with textual markers (thus ) and anothers with circumstances (After the can). Carbonated water >. After the can >The escaping gases >The continuous escape of gases >Thus, the drink.. These provide a logical backbone to the text.

TEXT 6a: Corruption EXPERIENTIAL (+ LOGICAL) MEANING

Corruption is criminal activity involving abuse of power. It occurs when individuals abuse their authority for personal gain at the expense of others. For example, a government official may abuse his knowledge of imminent tax law change to buy a luxury article before the articles tax and price rises. Similarly, a government official may accept a businessmans bribe to approve an illegal business.

PATTERNS OF. NOUNS

Description Field: technical field/topic (corruption) is built up by: Corruption, criminal activity, abuse of power, authority, personal gain, government official, knowledge, bribe, illegal business. Structure: Noun groups are mostly simple, but also frequently postmodified w PP or non-finite clause (criminal activity involving abuse of power). Technicality: Many noun groups are abstract, nominalised and technical (Corruption, abuse of power, personal gain, knowledge of imminent tax law change)

VERBS

Distribution: more nouns than verbs, typical of academic writing. Process types (see analysis above): mainly material processes construing the activity of the ppts; with relational processes, clustered only at the beginning, defining the concept. Structure: Verb groups are mostly simple, with at most 2 elements: (see tense and modality analysis) Sentences 1, 3, 4 ~ indep/dependent inter-clausal relationship. Sentence 2 includes 2 PPs which are often seen as reduced clauses (lecture 8?). (see textual meaning for the external links between clauses).

Logical meaning

TEXT 6a: Corruption INTERPERSONAL MEANING

PATTERNS OF.. MOOD TENSE & Voice MODALITY Description Exclusively Declarative (S^ F); therefore, the writer is positioned as teller (of information) to the reader. Exclusively present tense in active voice construing the generalisable and timeless factuality of the propositions (claims, ideas, notions). Ergative verb: rise. may abuse, may accept position the events as open to negotiation, not factual or generally true of government officials. The modality type is probability, and the value/commitment level is low construing a rather undogmatic stance/attitude. Only 2 third person it and his referring to corruption & gov official. Therefore, the text is impersonal. Evaluative words: abuse, bribe construe writers attitude.

PRONOUNS APPRAISAL/ EVALUATION

TEXT 6a: Corruption TEXTUAL MEANING

PATTERNS OF Description Lexis: is the main form of cohesion (see above) . Conjunction when, and (A) discourse markers for example & similarly organize the text logically. Corruption> It> For example, a gov official> Similarly, a gov official show the text development and provide a logical backbone to it most sentences start with a participant, but some start with textual markers.

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TEXT 6b: Nuclear Power EXPERIENTIAL (+ LOGICAL) MEANING

There are (E) both advantages and disadvantages of the use of nuclear power for electricity generation. One advantage is that nuclear energy is a powerful energy source which normally does not cause air pollution. However, the main disadvantage is that much dangerous and irreversible pollution is caused when nuclear energy processing and nuclear waste are not handled properly. That is, processing breakdowns and/or leakage, such as Chernobyl in the 1980s and Three Mile Island in the 1970s, cause disastrous ground-water, soil, air and food pollution.

PATTERNS OF. NOUNS

Description Field: pros and cons of nuclear power built up by: advantages and disadvantages, the use of nuclear power for electricity generation. powerful energy source, the main disadvantage, much dangerous and irreversible pollution, nuclear energy processing, nuclear waste, processing breakdowns and/or leakage, Chernobyl, Three Mile Island, disastrous ground-water, soil, air and food pollution. Structure: The most complex (differently co-ordinated ) NPs: processing breakdowns and/or leakage; disastrous ground-water, soil, air and food pollution; much dangerous and irreversible pollution. Two proper nouns. Technicality: Many noun groups are abstract, nominalized and technical: the use of nuclear power for electricity generation. powerful energy source, much dangerous and irreversible pollution, nuclear energy processing, nuclear waste, processing breakdowns and/or leakage, disastrous ground-water, soil, air and food pollution. Distribution: Many more nouns than verbs, typical of academic writing Process types (see analysis above): only 3 lexical verbs used: 1 existential be construing opening argument; 1 relational be construing/identifying advantages and disadvantages; and 2 (here) material/causative construing causal relations between ppts. Structure: Verb groups are simple: (see tense analysis) One embedded clause (which..) ; 2 that (dependent) clauses; 1 adv, (dependent) clause (when..) enhancing the independent clause.

VERBS

Logical meaning

TEXT 6b: Nuclear Power INTERPERSONAL MEANING

PATTERNS OF.. MOOD TENSE & Voice MODALITY PRONOUNS APPRAISAL/ EVALUATION Description Exclusively Declarative (S^ F); therefore, the writer is positioned as teller (of information) to the reader. Exclusively present tense in active and (negative) passive voice construing the generalisable and timeless factuality of the propositions (claims, ideas, notions). AdvP normally is modality of usuality, so the writer mainly, but not exclusively, positions the events as factual. [Only that cataphoric reference to the notion in the following clause]. Explicitly evaluative words: dangerous, irreversible, properly, disastrous construe the writers attitude.

TEXT 6b: Nuclear Power TEXTUAL MEANING

PATTERNS OF Description Lexis: is the main form of cohesion (see above) . Discourse markers (one advantage is However, one disadvantage is ) organize the text construing the adversative relations between clauses/ arguments. Adjuncts: such as Chernobyl in the 1980s and Three Mile Island in the 1970s construe exemplification. There are [both advantages and disadvantages] > One advantage > However, the main disadvantage > That is, .provide a logical backbone to text development.

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