Specificational and Predicative Clauses: A Functional-Cognitive Account: 112 (Topics in English Linguistics [TiEL], 112) - Softcover

Van

Softcover

ISBN 10: 3111534464 ISBN 13: 9783111534466

Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton, 2024

Synopsis

In studies of copular clauses, the relation between specificational and predicative clauses has been a contentious issue. While most studies agree on the analysis of predicative clauses, specificational clauses have sparked much debate. A key concern is how specificational clauses with indefinite ‘variable’ NP (e.g. "A popular holiday go-to is Rome") compare to, and contrast with, other copular clauses, especially specificational clauses with definite ‘variable’ NP (e.g. "The main can’t-miss in Italy is Rome") and predicative clauses with indefinite predicate nominative (e.g. "Rome is a great city"). This book addresses this concern by offering a functional-structural analysis of these three clause types in terms of their common characteristics and distinguishing features. The analysis of the clauses’ structure and meaning is substantiated by evidence from corpus research which probes into various aspects of their actual usage (e.g. information structure and prosody, discourse-embedding). In doing so, the book offers an empirical basis for testing existing assumptions about predicative and specificational clauses, while also providing new insights into the interaction between the grammar and discourse usage of copular clauses.

About this title

About the Author

Wout Van Praet, Leuven/Namur, Belgium.

Edition details

• Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton
• Publication date: 2024
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 3111534464
• ISBN 13: 9783111534466
• Binding: Perfect Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 344