The Place Of Syntax In Fawcett's Model

Fawcett (2010: 43, 43n):

We can summarise this chapter so far by saying that, in terms of Figure 4, the place of syntax in a model of language is in the syntagmatic relations at the level of form. At various points in the rest of this book, therefore, we shall find ourselves thinking in terms of either (1) instances of syntax or (2) the syntax potential that specifies those outputs from the grammar.*

* The other parts of the 'form potential' are the 'lexis potential', the 'intonation potential' and the 'punctuation potential'.

Blogger Comments:

This again refers to Figure 4:

[1] To be clear, since it is concerned with syntagmatic relations only, and not paradigmatic relations, the place of syntax in Fawcett's model of language is on the syntagmatic axis.

[2] As Figure 4 shows, Fawcett regards an instance of syntax as a structure, and syntax potential as realisation statements.  That is, on this model, structures are instances of realisation statements.  Moreover, instances are specified by realisation rules.

[3] To be clear, in SFL theory, Fawcett's 'lexis potential' is modelled as the most delicate systems on the stratum of lexicogrammar; Fawcett's 'intonation potential' is modelled as systems at the rank of tone group on the stratum of phonology; and Fawcett's 'punctuation potential' would be modelled as systems on the stratum of graphology.  In SFL theory, lexicogrammar and phonology/graphology are distinguished as different levels of symbolic abstraction (strata), with lexicogrammar as a level of content, and phonology/graphology as (parallel) levels of expression.  In Fawcett's model, then, content and expression are modelled as being of the same level of symbolic abstraction.