Above the Clause: the Clause Complexs

4. Elaborating, Extending, enhancing : three kinds of expansion

a. Elaboration
In elaboration, one clause elaborates on the meaning of another by further
specifying or describing it. elaboration may be either paratactic or hypotactic,
which are almost equally common in text.

Table 7-8 Paratactic and hypotactic elaborat

Parataxis Hypotaxis
meaning exposition,exemplification, description
clarification
realization primary + secondary: tone concord primary + secondary:
tone concord
secondary: often unmarked; may be secondary: non-defining
introduced by i.e., e.g., viz. or other relative clause, either (i)
conjunctive marker finite introduced by wh-
element, or (ii) non-finite

In terms of meaning, paratactic elaboration and hypotactic elaboration are largely

complementary, covering different aspects of elaboration. Paratactic elaboration
involves exposition, exemplification and clarification, while hypotactic
elaboration involves description.
1) Paractic elaboration
Paratactic (notation 1 =2). The combination of elaboration with parataxis
yields three types, the first two of which could be regarded as apposition
between clauses.
2) Hypotactic elaboration
Paratactic (notation 1 =2). The combination of elaboration with parataxis
yields three types, the first two of which could be regarded as apposition
between clauses.
b. Extension
In extension, one clause extends the meaning of another by adding something new
to it. The markers of paratactic extension are prototypically markers of extension;
that is their core use – and, or, but, nor; in contrast, the markers of hypotactic
extension are of mixed origin
1) Paractic extension
Paratactic (notation 1 + 2). The combination of extension with parataxis
yields what is known as co-ordination between clauses. It is typically
expressed by and, nor, or, but. Paratactically related clauses that are
introduced by and are often additive extensions; but other possibilities
exist (just as with but and or).
2) Hypotactic extension
Hypotactic (notation α +β). The combination of extension with hypotaxis
also embraces (a) addition, (b) variation and (c) alternation, but with the
extending clause dependent. The dependent clause may be finite or non-
finite.
c. Enhancement
In enhancement one clause (or subcomplex) enhances the meaning of another by
qualifying it in one of a number of possible ways: by reference to time, place,
manner, cause or condition.
1) Paractic enhacement
Paratactic (notation 1 ¥2). The combination of enhancement with parataxis
fields what is also a kind of coordination but with a circumstantial feature
incorporated into it; the most frequently occurring subtypes are those of
time and cause. Frequently, however, a sequence of paratactic clauses
which have to be interpreted as being in some circumstantial relation to
each other, especially a temporal sequence, is marked simply by and,
without any further conjunctive expression.
e.g : I got the interest and started showing and I got another dog and
started breeding.
 2) Hypotactic enhacement
Hypotactic (notation α ¥β). The combination of enhancement with
hypotaxis gives what are known in traditional formal grammar as
‘adverbial clauses’. Hypotactically enhancing clauses may be finite or non-
finite
d. Expansion clauses that are not explicity marked for any logical semantic
relation
Certain markers of expansion are multivalent; they can mark either elaboration
and extension or extension and enhancement.

Table 7-11 Conjunctive markers used for more than one type of expansion

Elaboration Extension Enhancement

And additive: ‘and temporal: ‘and then’
also’ causal: ‘and so’
But adversative: ‘on concessive:
the othe rhand’ ‘nevertheless’
replacive:
‘instead’
Yet adversative: ‘on concessive:
the other hand’ ‘nevertheless’
Or exposition: ‘or alternative: ‘or
rather’ instead’
While additive: ‘and temporal: same time:
also’ adversative: spread: ‘and
‘and yet’ meanwhile’ concessive:
‘nevertheless’
As temporal: same time:
spread: ‘when’ causal:
reason: ‘because’
Since temporal: different time:
later: ‘after’ causal:
reason: ‘because’
If alternative (if ... conditional: positive: ‘in
not [then]) ‘or’ case’

e. Embended expansions.
1) Embedding vs. Hypotaxis; environments of embedding
Embedding is a semogenic mechanism whereby a clause or phrase comes
to function as a constituent within the structure of a group15 , which itself
is a constituent of a clause.
e.g.: who came to dinner in the man who came to dinner
Embedding (rankshift) and hypotaxis are contrasted diagrammatically
2) Embedding : elaborating
The typical defining relative clause, introduced by who, which, that, or in
its so-called ‘contact clause’ form without any relative marker (e.g. he told
in the tales he told), is elaborating in sense. The elaborating clause is either
(a) finite, where the relative is who(m), which, that 17 or implicit (a
‘contact’ relative), or (b) non-finite, where the relative is typically implicit.
3) Embedding : extending
The only sense of extension which produces embedded clauses is that of
possession, introduced by whose, of which/which ... of or a ‘contact’
relative ending with of
4) Embedding : enhancing
Here the embedded clause is not a relative clause with a relative of
enhancement; rather it is the same type of enhancing clause that occurs
non-rankshifted in hypotactic nexuses. In general, the noun functioning as
Head is the name of a process or property.