5.

4 Relational processes: processes of being

Every language accommodates, in its grammar has, a number of distinct ways of being,
expressed as different types of relational process in the clause.
Those of English may be summarized as follows:
1) Intensive
x is a
2) Circumstantial x is at a
3) Possessive
x has a
Each of these comes in two modes:
a. Attributive
a is an attributive of x
b. Identifying
a is the identity of x
In the attributive mode an attribute is ascribed to some entity; either as a quality, as a
circumstance, or as a possession. In identifying mode, one entity is used to identify
another; the relationship between them is one of token and value (intensive), of
phenomenon and circumstance of time, place etc. (circumstantial), or of owner and
possession.
The fundamental difference between the two is the fact that identifying clauses are
reversible, whereas attributive are not. In attributive clauses there is only one participant,
since the attribute is not a participant; whereas in identifying clauses there are two.
1. Intensive, relationship between the two terms is one of sameness.
(i) Attributive. Verbs of attribution include be; become; get, turn; go; grow; start out;
turn out; end up; keep, stay, remain, seem, appear, look, sound, smell, taste, feel.
e.g: the child turned into a clown
the dog
is
a little one
Carrier Process
Attribute
(ii) identifying, in the identifying mode, the meaning is a serves to define the identity
of x. Here a and x are the two distinct entities, one that is to be identified, and
another that identifies it. Verbs of identification include be, become; equal, add up to;
play, act as; call, mean, define; represent, smell, express, form, give, constitute,
imply, stand for, symbolize, realize, indicate, signify, betoken.
e.g: which
am
I?
identified/
process
identifier/
value
token
Wh complement
finite
subject
Residue
Mood
2. Circumstantial. In the circumstantial type, the relationship between the two terms is
one of time, place, manner, cause, accompaniment, matter or role.
(i) Attributive. In the attributive mode, the circumstantial element is an attribute that
is being ascribed to some entity.
a) Circumstance as attribute. Here the attribute is a prepositional phrase and the
circumstantial relation is expressed by the preposition.
e.g. his story
is
about a lost boy
Carrier
process
attribute circumstantial
intensive
b) Circumstance as process. Here the attributes is a nominal group and the
circumstance is expressed by the verb. The verb expresses a circumstantial
relation such as be + matter, be + extent in time, be + measure of weight, be
+ measure of price.
e.g: his story
concerns
about a lost boy

Carrier

process
attribute
Circumstantial
(ii) identifying. In the identifying mode, the circumstance takes the form of a
relationship between two entities, one entity is being related to another by a feature of
time or place or manner, etc.
a) Circumstance as participant. In this type it is the participants identified and
identifier that are circumstantial elements of time, place, and so on.
e.g.: yesterday
was
the first
identified/
process:
identifier/
token
intensive
value
Subject

finite

complement

Mood

Residu

b) Circumstance as process. In this type it is not the participants that are the
expression of time, place or other circumstantial features, but the process.
e.g.: the event
occupies
the whole audiences
identified/
process:
identifier/
token
circumstantial value
Subject

finite

Pred

complement

Mood
Residue
3. Possessive. In the possessive type, the relationship between the two terms is one of the
ownership; one entity processes another.
(i) In the attributive mode, the possessive relationship may again be expressed either
as attribute.
e.g.: the computer
is
Alines
Carrier
Process:
Attribute:
Intensive
possession
(ii) In the identifying mode, the possession takes the form of a relationship between
two entities.
e.g.: active:
the computer
is
Alines
identified/token:
process:
identifier/value:
possessed
intensive
possessor
passive:
Alines
is
the computer
identified/value:
process:
identifier/token:
possessor
intensive
possessed

5.5 Other process types; summary of process types

Three principal types of process found in English clause: material, mental, relational. In
addition to these very large categories we need to recognize three other, subsidiary types:
behavioral, verbal and existential.
1. Behavioral process, process of physiological and psychological behavior, like
breathing, dreaming, smiling, coughing.

e.g: the black snake

you

sighed
weep

deeply
for him

Behaver
process
(circumstance)
2. Verbal Processess. These are process of saying
e.g.: Bill
said
Im thirsty
Sayer
Process
1: quoting
2. Quoted
3. Existential processes. These represent that something exists or happens, as in there
was a little bugs bunny, there seems to be a logical view. The word there in such
clause has no representational function: it is required because of the need for a
subject.
There
was
an old man
tossed up
in a basket
Process

Existent:
Entity

Extended

process:
material

circumstance

extending

5.6 Other participant functions

There are other participant function ion the English clause, it is possible to group these
together into two general functions common to all clauses: the beneficiary and the range.
1. Beneficiary. The Beneficiary is the one to whom or for whom the process is said to
take place.
a) in a material process, the beneficiary is either Recipient or Client.
I
gave
my best friend
a bucket of flower
Actor

Process:
Beneficiary:
Goal
Material
Recepient
b) In a verbal process, the Beneficiary is the one who is being addressed:
Sayer
process
receiver
Gloss
She
explained
(to Derby)
that.; wh- made understand
This/ she
showed
(derby)
that.; wh- made see
he
told
derby
that.; wh- made know
c) There are also a few relational (attributive) process containing a beneficiary.
Were
he
asked
a lot of requirements
Process

receiver

verbal

Finite

subject

predicator

Mood

residue

complement

2) Range. The range is the element that specifies the range of scope of the process.
a In a material process, the range either (i) expresses the domain over which the
process takes place, or (ii) expresses the process itself.
b In a mental process the range is not additional element, but provides a way of
interpreting an element we have already met, so as to explain the existence of
two parallel types of structure, and also the differences between them.
c In a verbal process, the range is the element expressing the class, quality or
quantity of what is said.