On the Presentational Capacity of Thetic-like Sentences

ADAM, Martin. On the Presentational Capacity of Thetic-like Sentences. Discourse and Interaction. Brno: Masarykova univerzita, 2013, 5/2012, No 2, p. 5-16. ISSN 1802-9930. Available from: https://dx.doi.org/10.5817/DI2012-2-5.

Basic information

• Original name: On the Presentational Capacity of Thetic-like Sentences
• Name in Czech: Prezentační potenciál tzv. thetických vět
• Authors: ADAM, Martin (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Discourse and Interaction, Brno, Masarykova univerzita, 2013, 1802-9930.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Article in a journal
• Field of Study: 60200 6.2 Languages and Literature
• Country of publisher: Czech Republic
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14410/13:00069094
• Organization unit: Faculty of Education
• Doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.5817/DI2012-2-5
• Keywords (in Czech): FSP; presentační; škála; thetické; věty
• Keywords in English: FSP; presentation; scale; thetic; sentences
• Tags: International impact, Reviewed

Abstract

Within the Firbasian framework of the theory of FSP, sentences are understood to implement either the Presentation Scale or the Quality Scale; the author’s research into the area of FSP has recently dealt with the role of the English verb operating in Presentation Scale sentences (Pr-sentences) (Adam 2011, 2012; cf. 2009). In addition to the existential there-construction, it is the configuration of the rhematic subject in preverbal position that seems to convey existence/appearance on the scene most frequently in English (A cruel smile hovered over her face). The present corpus-based paper proposes to shed light on the structure and the function of a rather specific type of Pr-sentences patterning as relatively short structures with a tentatively context-independent subject (The potatoes are boiling). Such sentences functionally resemble statements that came to be labelled as “thetic” or sometimes “all-new sentences” (Mathesius 1975: 87, Firbas 1992: 86-87, cf. Kuroda 1972, Lewis 2001). The point is that even though from the static point of view (i.e. that of lexical semantics) such sentences do not suggest the characteristic of appearance/existence, they do not appear to be excluded from expressing presentation on the scene.

Abstract (in Czech)

V rámci teorie FSP věty implementují buď tzv. Prezentační nebo Kvalitativní škálu. článek se zabývá rolí z anglického slovesa v Pr-větách (Adam 2011, 2012, 2009), konkrétně pak strukturou a funkcí poněkud specifického typu Pr-vět, které jsou realizovány jako relativně krátké struktury s kontextově nezapojeným subjektem (The potatoes are boling). Takové věty se funkčně podobají tzv. "thetické" (Mathesius 1975: 87, Firbas 1992:. 86-87, viz Kuroda 1972, Lewis 2001). Jde o to, že i když ze statického hlediska (tj. z pohledu lexikální sémantiky) takové věty neoznačují existenci/objevení se na scéně, zdá se, že mohou vyjadřovat prezentaci.