Reconstruing Email Discussions As Protolanguage

After more than a decade of observing the socio-semiotic dynamics of another social species, rainbow lorikeets, as they continually "renegotiate" their position in the pecking order, it strikes me that the socio-semiotic dynamics of humans on academic discussion lists, such as sys-func and sysfling, can also be construed in terms of the microfunctions of protolanguage.

		exterior phenomenon
		intersubjective “proto-interpersonal”	objective “proto-ideational”
interior sensing	desideration “proto-interpersonal”	regulatory I want you-&-me	instrumental I want it
	cognition “proto-ideational”	interactional I think you-&-me	personal I think it

regulatory: demands for compliance (i.e. bullying)

interactional: collegiality and grooming (e.g. flattery*)
instrumental: requests for goods-&-services (e.g. for articles and analyses)
personal: opinions (e.g. on analyses and theory)


* Some instances:

David Rose to Margaret Berry (Sys-Func and Sysfling 27/9/13):

I can't tell you what a pleasure it is having someone with your experience and stature and personal generosity fomenting discussion on sysfling… its such a great potential resource for the community…

David Rose to Gordon Tucker (Sys-Func and Sysfling 5/12/13):

And I am glad that you are adding your academic weight to correct the epidemic error that process types are classifications of verbs.

David Rose to Margaret Berry (Sys-Func 13/2/14):

 Thank heavens you're still with us Margaret

David Rose to Margaret Berry (Sys-Func 15/2/14):

Thanks Margaret, its such a pleasure to read your posts

∞

I might point out that David Rose has openly boasted, with glee — at least three times in my presence — that if he tells a colleague he likes their work they "roll over and become like kittens".

∞

Flattery corrupts both the receiver and the giver.

— Edmund Burke

The Tail Waggle Dance Of Academia

Bees	Academics
Bees explore physical space looking for material resources (nectar, pollen)	Academics explore semiotic space looking for semiotic resources (theories)
When bees construe such a resource, they identify it for their fellows, indicating the value of the resource through their enthusiasm	When academics construe such a resource, they identify it for their fellows, indicating the value of the resource through their enthusiasm
Other bees select which of the resource-finding bees to join up with and subsequently make use of the resource	Other academics select which of the resource-finding academics to join up with and subsequently make use of the resource
The long term success of a specific bee community depends on imitating the bees that identify sufficiently rich resources	The long term success of a specific academic community depends on imitating the academics that identify sufficiently rich resources

The Complementarity Of Logogenesis And Instantiation

These are distinguished by the construal of time in which each unfolds as process. 

• Logogenesis unfolds in linear time (as construed grammatically by tense), whereas 
• instantiation unfolds as a translation from the virtual into the actual (as construed grammatically by aspect).

Reconstruing Experiential As Logical

transitive : extension ::

ergative : enhancement (cause)

Reconstruing Biological Evolution Through The Interpersonal Metafunction

variation = chance (Jacques Monod) = probability = modalisation

selection = necessity (Jacques Monod) = obligation = modulation

Reconstruing Determinism Through Metalanguage

The notion of determinism conflates two angles: one ideational, one interpersonal. 

Ideationally, determinism can be seen to involve the logical relation of cause; interpersonally, it can be seen to involve modality. 

For propositions about cause, the congruent modality is modalisation: usuality and probability. 

Statements of cause and effect are concerned with usuality and probability, as demonstrated by quantum physics and non-linear systems. 

Interpretations of determinism couched in terms of obligation (eg necessity) are therefore incongruent.

Reconstruing The Laws Of Physics Through Metalanguage

Ideationally, the 'Laws of Physics' are construals of experience. 

Interpersonally, they are propositions, not proposals; they are statements not commands. 

So, the congruent modality for them is modalisation not modulation; 

that is, usuality and probability, not obligation and inclination. 

So, contrary to the usual wording of physicists, 

the Universe does not obey the 'Laws of Physics'. 

The 'Laws of Physics' are probabilistic statements about the Universe.

Reconstruing Platonic Forms Through Metalanguage

Viewed through the lens of SFL theory, (non-material abstract) Platonic Forms (or ideas) correspond to the system pole on the cline of instantiation. 

That is, the Forms are the (categorial) potential of which perceived material phenomena are actual instances; the Forms are the types of which perceived material phenomena are the tokens.

Reconstruing Cosmogenesis Through Metalanguage

The grammar construes material processes as 

• either creative or transformative, and 
• either doing (transitive) or happening (intransitive).

Models of the creation of the universe construe it as either a doing or happening.

Mythological models construe the creation as 'other-engendered': a doing in which the universe is the Goal/Medium of the process and a supernatural being is the Actor/Agent.

God	created	the Universe
Actor	Process: material: creative	Goal
Agent		Medium

Scientific models construe the creation as 'self-engendered': a happening in which the universe is the Actor/Medium of a process that has neither Goal nor Agent.

the Universe	emerged
Actor	Process: material: creative
Medium

Reconstruing 'Solving An Equation' As 'Elaborating An Identifying Clause'

A mathematical equation is an identifying clause with the function structure:

• Identified^Process^Identifier

Solving the equation involves elaborating the same relation until the unknown Token conflates with the Identified and its mathematical Value conflates with the Identifier, giving the function structure of a decoding identifying clause:

• Identified/Token^Process^Identifier/Value

In a decoding clause such as this, the identity decodes the Token by reference to the Value.

Deductive And Inductive Reasoning Reconstrued In SFL Terms

deductive reasoning = elaboration of premises

inductive reasoning = extension of premises plus attribution (ie generalisation)