Clausal Structure in English essay
The causal structure in English has specific features that are distinct features of English language along with common structures that can be traced in other languages. At the same time, the study of causal structure should uncover the diversity of causal structure existing in English. At any rate, the current study focuses on the revelation of main causal structures and their specificities. The study of causal structure can reveal the main causal structures and clauses that exist in English, while participants of the study can reveal how those clauses and clausal structures are applied.
Literature review
The clausal structure in English is complex. Researchers (Crystal, 1997) distinguish two major clausal structural elements: the main clause and finite or non-finite clause, which perform different functions respectively to the clause that is used in the utterance. At the same time, researchers (McCawley, 1998) point out that there are diverse types of clauses in English, including coordinate clause and subordinate clause, adverbial clauses, conditional clauses, adjective clauses, and others. However, researchers (Osborne & Gros, 2012) agree that, in spite of the diversity of clauses, they still can perform specific functions depending on their use as the main clause or as finite/non-finite clause. At this point, researchers (Kroeger, 2005) place emphasis on the fact that the main clause can stand alone and, therefore, it is independent of the finite or non-finite clause. The latter is, on the contrary, is linked to the main clause and depends on it. As a result, the finite or non-finite element of the clause interacts with the main clause and the interaction or relationship between the main clause and finite or non-finite clause depends on the type of the clause (Radford, 2004). For instance, the coordinate clause implies the existence of the relationship of coordination between the main clause and finite/non-finite clause; the subordinate clause implies the relationship of subordination between the main clause and finite/non-finite clause; the conditional clause implies the relationship of condition between the main clause and finite/non-finite clause; and so on (Welty, 2007). In such a way, researchers (Plag, 2003) view the relationship between the main and finite or non-finite clause as the key to the definition of the clausal structure. The type of their relationship determines the type of the clause, to a significant extent.
On the other hand, existing studies often focus on specific types of clauses but fail to provide the broader overview of diverse clauses to show the close relationship between the main clause and finite or non-finite clause to show their interaction and the difference between them as major functional elements of the clause. At the same time, the analysis of specific and diverse clauses can help to understand why the main clause is actually independent of the finite or non-finite clause, whereas the finite or non-finite clause depends on the main clause.
Research question and hypothesis
The research question is as follows:
What are the major clauses in English and what are their function, distinct features and use in English?
The hypothesis of the study is that, in spite of the difference and diversity of clauses existing in English, they may perform different function and play different part as they are either the main clause or finite/non-finite clause which may perform different functions depending on the goal of the utterance and use of the particular clause type.
Methodology
The methodology of the current study focused on the interview in the course of which participants of the study in regard to clauses and their functions and role in utterance and discourse. At this point, it is worth mentioning the fact that the study involves the study of clauses and the survey helps to reveal the major clauses that exist in English and uncover their role and functions which may change depending on the change in the main and finite/ non-finite clause.
The study involved professional linguists with the high level of proficiency in English. The involvement of experts in the study is justified by their knowledge in the field of clausal structures in English. Therefore, they could help to determine clauses, their structure, function and use in English today. The current study involved ten linguists, who had different cultural background and had the bachelor degree or higher in the field of linguistics. Experts involved in the study were both males and females, which were equally represented in the study with five men and five women involved in the study.
In the course of the study, participants were interviewed and responded to questions concerning clauses and clausal structure in English. Their task was to classify clauses and explain the clausal structure. Responses of the participants of the study have shown their understanding and interpretation of clauses. They determined different types of clauses and commented on the use of clauses in English.
Results and discussion
In the course of the study, experts involved in the study identified several types of clauses which had their own distinct features and performed different functions. The choice of the clause often depends on the purpose of the utterance. In this regard, the role of the main clause was particularly important because it could be used independently of finite or non-finite clause, whereas the latter had to be coordinated and condition in respect to the main clause and the purpose of utterance.
Coordinate clauses
The simplest sentences may contain a single clause. A simple coordinate clause contains a sentence with more than one clause, which may be considered of equal grammatical importance that means that they are coordinate clauses. Two or more parts of the coordinate clause are joined by a coordinating conjunction, such as and, or, or but. For example:
- Peter can drive a car, he can drive a truck or he can drive a bus.
- Jane opened her door and John came in.
Subordinate clauses
Sometimes the clauses are placed in the specific order, where the more important ones are main clauses, while the less important are subordinate clauses. The main or coordinate clause could be used independently as a sentence. Instead, a subordinate clause can be used only in a combination within the main clause and serves as a part of a sentence but not as a sentence on its own. A subordinate clause can perform functions of other clause elements, such as subject, object, complement and adverbial. Depending on the function performed by the main clause, it is nominal and adverbial/adjectival if they stand for subject, adverb or adjective respectively.
- That clause: I believe (that) you have watched the film. (That may be omitted if understood.)
- Wh- clause: I know what they bought last year. (Clause introduced by who, when, what, why, whether.)
- -ing clause: I don’t recall knowing him at all. (Clause introduced by present participle.)
- inf. clause: I wish to be with you that day. (Clause introduced by to + infinitive.)
Clausal Structure in English essay part 2
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