Saturday 10 March 2018

Relational [Static] Vs Material [Dynamic] Construals By Expansion Types

Halliday & Matthiessen (2014: 260):
Thus, static location in space [enhancement] is construed relationallyshe’s in the dining room, but dynamic motion through space is construed materiallyshe’s walking into the dining room. Similarly, static possession [extension] is construed relationallyshe has a mahogany dining table, but dynamic transfer of possession is construed materiallyshe’s getting a mahogany dining table; she’s being given a mahogany dining table; and static quality [elaboration] is construed relationallythe bottle’s empty, but dynamic change in quality is construed materiallythe bottle’s emptying; she’s emptying the bottle.