Sample Identifying Clause Analysis

Clause:

Adiposity and low aerobic fitness in children are associated with a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors.

Analysis:

Adiposity and low aerobic fitness in children: Token

are associated with: Process: relational: intensive

a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors: Value

Reasoning:

Viewed from 'round about', this clause is the receptive agnate of the clause:

People associate adiposity and low aerobic fitness in children with a clustering of cardiovascular risk factors

where people functions as Assigner/Agent.

If ASSIGNMENT is only an option for relational clauses of the intensive kind (Halliday & Matthiessen 2004: 237), then the process is intensive, not circumstantial.

Viewed 'from above', association is a type of extension in figures of being-&-having (Halliday & Matthiessen 1999: 145-6), so this is an instance of extension (meaning) being realised as elaboration (wording). (The meaning of extension is here lexicalised rather than grammaticalised.)