Fawcett's 'Linker' And 'Inferer' Elements

Fawcett (2010: 215):

However, there are a few exceptions to the basic principle, i.e., cases where an element occurs in several different classes of unit. But in all such cases this is because a higher principle is at work, as we shall see. The exception that is met most frequently is the element Linker (&) — or linker (with a lower case "l") in groups and clusters. This is expounded by and, or, etc, and such items occur at (or near) the start of any unit. (However, some of the items that expound them, such as but and so, only occur with some units.)

The second item of this type is the inferer element. This may occur in any class of group, and is expounded by even, only and just. (When these items occur in a clause with a similar meaning they expound the Inferential Adjunct.)

Blogger Comments:

[1] To be clear, in SFL Theory, Fawcett's 'Linker' and 'linker' serve the same function, differing only in rank. 'Linker' marks paratactic relations between clauses in clause complexes, while 'linker' marks paratactic relations between groups and phrases in group and phrase complexes. Fawcett does not acknowledge a rank scale in his model.

[2] To be clear, in SFL Theory, in this function, the adverbs even, only and just serve as the Head elements of adverbial groups which serve as modal Adjuncts of intensity: counter-expectancy in the interpersonal structure of the clause; see Halliday & Matthiessen (2014: 189). Fawcett's 'Inferential Adjunct' is not discussed elsewhere in this publication.