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9 - Interpersonal Grammar in Scottish Gaelic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 May 2021

By
Tom Bartlett
Edited by
J. R. Martin ,
Beatriz Quiroz  and
Giacomo Figueredo
J. R. Martin
Affiliation:
University of Sydney
Beatriz Quiroz
Affiliation:
Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile
Giacomo Figueredo
Affiliation:
Federal University of Ouro Preto, Brazil
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Summary

In this chapter I use a text-based approach to grammatical description in order to explore the interpersonal grammar of Scottish Gaelic. I analyse extracts from two Scottish Gaelic novels from the perspectives of the semantic systems of NEGOTIATION and ENGAGEMENT and correlate distinctions in these systems with function structures at the lexicogrammatical stratum. By these means I build up a partial systems network for MOOD in Gaelic profile, with choices and distinctive features represented in the most economical way and labelled according to their distinctive usages in discourse. On the basis of this analysis, I will suggest that Scottish Gaelic does not have a [declarative] versus [interrogative] opposition in MOOD, redounding with the system of NEGOTIATION at the semantic stratum, but rather an [assertive] versus [non-assertive] opposition, redounding with the system of ENGAGEMENT at the semantic stratum.

Keywords

Scottish GaelicMOODNEGOTIATIONENGAGEMENTassertive moodpropositional mooddenied mood
Type
Chapter
Information
Interpersonal Grammar
Systemic Functional Linguistic Theory and Description
 , pp. 257 - 284
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2021

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References

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