This is a hypotactically elaborating clause complex, with the dependent clause enclosed within the main clause:One of the main points of these papers (derived from our 12 year collaborative research center on space ...) is to open up the 'space' (ha ha) between a grammatically-induced semantics and any contextualised use of involved grammatical constructions so that the enormous flexibility of ranges of interpretation is both made visible and constrained sufficiently so that it can be worked with productively.
One of the main points of these papers
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<< derived from our 12 year collaborative research center on space >>
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is to open up the 'space' between a grammatically-induced semantics and any contextualised use of involved grammatical constructions so that the enormous flexibility of ranges of interpretation is both made visible and constrained sufficiently so that it can be worked with productively
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= β
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α
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Ranking α Clause
The ranking α clause has a lexical density of about 23, depending how it it measured. It metaphorically construes an identity of purpose, wherein the Value (one of the main points of these papers) is encoded by reference to the Token (to open up the 'space' between a grammatically-induced semantics and any contextualised use of involved grammatical constructions so that the enormous flexibility of ranges of interpretation is both made visible and constrained sufficiently so that it can be worked with productively):
One of the main points of these papers
|
is
|
to open up the 'space' between a
grammatically-induced semantics and any contextualised use of involved
grammatical constructions so that
the enormous flexibility of ranges of interpretation is both made visible and
constrained sufficiently so that it
can be worked with productively
|
Identified Value
|
Process
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Identifier Token
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The clause is marked for both voice (receptive) and direction of coding (encoding).
Identifier Token
The Identifier Token in this relation is realised as an embedded clause complex in which the main clause is hypotactically enhanced, first in terms of result — and this includes a nested paratactic extending nexus — and then in terms of purpose:
to open up the 'space' between a
grammatically-induced semantics and any contextualised use of involved
grammatical constructions
|
so that the enormous flexibility of ranges
of interpretation is both made visible
|
and constrained sufficiently
|
so that it can be worked with productively
|
α
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x β cause: result
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x γ cause: purpose
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1
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+ 2
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Embedded α Clause
The α clause in the embedded complex serving as Identifier Token is a non-finite abstract material clause:
to open up
|
the 'space' between a
grammatically-induced semantics and any contextualised use of involved
grammatical constructions
|
Process
|
Goal
|
The Goal of this clause is realised by a nominal group in which the Thing is both metaphorical (circumstantial) and abstract:
the
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'space'
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between a grammatically-induced semantics
and any contextualised use of involved grammatical constructions
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Deictic
|
Thing
|
Qualifier
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The Qualifier of this nominal group is realised by a prepositional phrase whose Range is realised by a paratactically extending nominal group complex:
between
|
a grammatically-induced semantics
|
and any contextualised use of involved grammatical constructions
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Process
|
Range
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1
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+ 2
| |
The first nominal group construes a semantic theory as Thing and sub-classifies it as grammatically-induced:
a
|
grammatically-induced
|
semantics
|
Deictic
|
Classifier
|
Thing
|
The second nominal group metaphorically construes a process ('use') as Thing, which it sub-classifies as contextualised, and metaphorically construes the congruent medium of the process involved grammatical constructions as Qualifier:
any
|
contextualised
|
use
|
of involved grammatical constructions
|
Deictic
|
Classifier
|
Thing
|
Qualifier
|
The Qualifier of this nominal group is realised by a prepositional phrase:
of
|
involved grammatical constructions
|
Process
|
Range
|
The Range of this prepositional phrase is realised by a nominal group that sub-classifies constructions as grammatical, and identifies them as involved:
involved
|
grammatical
|
constructions
|
post-Deictic
|
Classifier
|
Thing
|
Embedded β1 Clause
The β1 clause in the embedded complex serving as Identifier Token is an attributive clause that assigns the enormous flexibility of ranges of interpretation to the set visible:
so that
|
the enormous flexibility of ranges of interpretation
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is
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both
|
made
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visible
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Carrier
|
Process
|
Attribute
| |||
The Carrier is realised by a nominal group that metaphorically construes a quality as Thing:
the
|
enormous
|
flexibility
|
of ranges of interpretation
|
Deictic
|
Epithet
|
Thing
|
Qualifier
|
The Qualifier is realised by a prepositional phrase:
of
|
ranges of interpretation
|
Process
|
Range
|
The Range of this prepositional phrase is realised by a nominal group:
ranges
|
of interpretation
|
Thing
|
Qualifier
|
Embedded β2 Clause
The β2 clause in the embedded complex serving as Identifier Token has an ellipsed Mood element:
the enormous flexibility of ranges of interpretation
|
is constrained
|
sufficiently
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Carrier
|
Process
|
Attribute
|
Manner: degree
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Embedded γ Clause
The γ clause in the embedded complex serving as Identifier Token is a receptive material clause:
so that
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it
|
can be worked with
|
productively
|
Goal
|
Process
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Manner: quality
|
Ranking β Clause
The ranking elaborating clause can be analysed as
derived from
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our 12 year collaborative research center on space
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Process: circumstantial
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Attribute
|
The Attribute is realised by the nominal group:
our
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12 year
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collaborative
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research center
|
on space
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Deictic
|
post-Deictic
|
Classifier
|
Thing
|
Qualifier
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The Thing of the nominal group is realised by a word complex:
research
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center
|
β
|
α
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Conclusion
This is the wording of someone who expects not to be understood, the social function of which has been described by Halliday & Matthiessen (1999: 272):
So the more the extent of grammatical metaphor in a text, the more that text is loaded against the learner, and against anyone who is an outsider to the register in question. It becomes elitist discourse, in which the function of constructing knowledge goes together with the function of restricting access to that knowledge, making it impenetrable to all except those who have the means of admission to the inside, or the select group of those who are already there.
It is this other potential that grammatical metaphor has, for making meaning that is obscure, arcane and exclusive, that makes it ideal as a mode of discourse for establishing and maintaining status, prestige and hierarchy, and to establish the paternalistic authority of a technocratic elite whose message is 'this is all too hard for you to understand; so leave the decision-making to us.
See also John Bateman Positively Judging Himself and John Bateman On "The 'Space' Between A Grammatically-Induced Semantics And Any Contextualised Use Of Involved Grammatical Constructions".
We don't understand.
He must be clever.
He must be right.
— Peter Hammill 'The Jargon King'
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