Gradation of Meaning in an English Sentence
| Authors | |
|---|---|
| Year of publication | 2004 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Anglica Wratislaviensia 42 |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Field | Linguistics |
| Keywords | semantics; syntax; functional sentence perspective; word-order patterns |
| Description | The paper deals with Bolinger's theory of linear modification, which is based on the claim that 'gradation of position creates gradation of meaning when there are no interfering factors'. The theory of functional sentence perspective interprets the gradation of meaning as an essential property of the development of the communication. In developing the communication, the meanings continually move closer to the high point of the communication, i.e. they gradually gain in communicative value. The paper outlines the interfering factors that work counter to linear modification. Although word order is grammaticalized in English, the tendency to linear modification is so strong that under certain conditions, gradation of position creates gradation of meaning even when there are interfering factors. |