The present research explores the syntactico-semantic analysis of locational, attributive, directional, and possessive existential enhanced theme (EET) constructions in English, in particular, their transitivity and thematic analyses. In transitivity analysis, the participant role (PR) common in the four types of EET constructions is Carrier, it is the second PR in each—Location, Attribute, Direction, or Possessed—that distinguishes one from another. Thematically, what is common in the four types of EET constructions is that there is the ‘thematic build-up’ usually composed of ‘there’ and ‘be’ in the clause-initial position, followed by the existential enhanced theme enhanced by it. The element which can be enhanced are the Process and the two basic PRs in each, one being Carrier and the other being Location, Attribute, Direction, or Possessed, respectively. Among the Carriers, Simple Carrier is the element that is most frequently thematized compared to Agent-Carrier and Affected-Carrier. When Carrier is not EET, the other basic PR in the locational, attributive, and possessive EET constructions (Location, Attribute, or Possessed) can also be enhanced. Alternatively, the Process and its dependent roles in the locational, directional, and possessive types of EET constructions (Location, Direction, and Affected-Carrier) can also be enhanced: And all these thematic options are captured in an EET system network. It is hoped that this research can contribute to a deeper understanding of the 4 types of EET constructions in English from an alternative systemic functional perspective.

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A Cardiff Grammar’s Syntactico-Semantic Analysis of the Existential Enhanced Theme Construction in English

  • Renhua Deng

摘要

The present research explores the syntactico-semantic analysis of locational, attributive, directional, and possessive existential enhanced theme (EET) constructions in English, in particular, their transitivity and thematic analyses. In transitivity analysis, the participant role (PR) common in the four types of EET constructions is Carrier, it is the second PR in each—Location, Attribute, Direction, or Possessed—that distinguishes one from another. Thematically, what is common in the four types of EET constructions is that there is the ‘thematic build-up’ usually composed of ‘there’ and ‘be’ in the clause-initial position, followed by the existential enhanced theme enhanced by it. The element which can be enhanced are the Process and the two basic PRs in each, one being Carrier and the other being Location, Attribute, Direction, or Possessed, respectively. Among the Carriers, Simple Carrier is the element that is most frequently thematized compared to Agent-Carrier and Affected-Carrier. When Carrier is not EET, the other basic PR in the locational, attributive, and possessive EET constructions (Location, Attribute, or Possessed) can also be enhanced. Alternatively, the Process and its dependent roles in the locational, directional, and possessive types of EET constructions (Location, Direction, and Affected-Carrier) can also be enhanced: And all these thematic options are captured in an EET system network. It is hoped that this research can contribute to a deeper understanding of the 4 types of EET constructions in English from an alternative systemic functional perspective.