Abstract.The salient feature of this paper is that it explores initiatively，from the meta-functional perspective, the Existential Processes in a novel, as distinctly different from the traditional theory-oriented and isolated study within the sentences or paragraphs. In the whole Text, the abundantly and ingeniously employed existential processes are analysed around their ideational, interpersonal and textual functions according to Systemic-Functional linguistics. This study shows that There, Process, Existent and Circumstance in an existential process can embody the three meta-functions which can also be realized by different forms.
Key words: existential process； meta-functions；Relentless Storm
1.Introduction
Existential sentence is recognized as one of the most prevailing and perplexing issues in language study, which often expresses the existence or location of persons, animals, things or ideas (Richard&Platt,1984:99). It’s general pattern is: There + BE/ intransitive verb (VP) + NP + locative/ temporal adverbial. The previous explanations are mainly the arguments of traditional grammar, on the level of syntax, and more attention has been paid to there, VP and NP. The locative and temporal adverbials were only regarded as unessential components.
In Functional Grammar, the transitivity system construes the world of experience into six PROCESS TYPES (Halliday,1994:106) and one process consists Process, Participant and Circumstance and the concepts of them are semantic categories which explain in the most general way how phenomenon of the real world are represented as linguistic structures (ibid:109). In an Existential Process (There, Process, Existent and Circumstance), the circumstantial element should be expanded on the domain of the present study, and further all constituents’ meta-functions are also worth being explored comprehensively, especially, on the ingenious use of the existential processes in the novel, Relentless Storm.
2.Existential Process In Systemic Functional Linguistics
Three kinds of meanings: ideational (realized by Transitivity, Voice or Polarity for relating experience), interpersonal (realized by Mood system, Modality or Intonation) and textual (realized by Theme-Rheme system, Information system or Cohesion) are referred to in systemic grammar as META-FUNCTIONS.
Existential-there: functions as ‘Subject’ and ‘Theme’ (Martin,1992:449). There ideationally serves to indicate the feature of existence, and interpersonally as a Subject expressing the Mood and textually, Theme is the feature of existence there, allowing the addressee to prepare for new information.
Existential Process: is realized by the typical verb be and other verbs---one group is a small set of closely related verbs meaning ‘exist’ or ‘happen’ and another group embody circumstantial features: e.g. of time and place. The verbs associated with Tense, aspect and modality have static or dynamic meanings.
Participant as Existent: is labeled simply as entity or event which is being said to exist. “In principle, there can ‘exist’ any kind of phenomenon that can be construed as a ‘thing’: person, object, institution, abstraction; but also any action or event”.(Halliday, 2004:258) Six ‘Existents’ are generalized: Indefinite, Definite, Negative, Time, Sound and Abstract.
Circumstantial element: is typically realized by an adverbial group (adverbials: adverb and conjunction: linker, binder, conjunctive) or a prepositional phrase (Halliday,1994:109). They not only occur in existential clauses but also in numerous clause complexes.
3.Meta-Functional Analysis Of Existential Processes In Relentless Storm
3.1.Gist Of Relentless Storm
Claire Lorrimer’s novelette Relentless Storm is a love story that the heroine Inez, by hook or by crook, courts the hero Rory. The art student Rory Howes and his friend Knut Olsen were interrupted by a freak mountain storm in a skiing holiday in the French Alps. Forced to take refuge in the remote splendid Abbaye St Christophe, they met the beautiful and fascinating hostess, Baroness Inez Leyresse. With a great fascination for handsome Rory, she teased him by every possible means. Inez poisoned her loved dogs, Tristan and Isolde, to shift the misfortune onto Alex (an English au pair), a potential love rival. And later murdered her husband Baron to clear the realistic barrier and finally she brought about her destruction….
3.2.Ideational Function Of Existential Process
1) Existential process in the present tense
a) It’s basic function is to directly state the ‘objectivity’ or ‘eternity’, and embedded in the verbal process, it indirectly stresses some ‘fact’ or ‘truth’.
Rory asked why to restore the abbey. ‘There is Eloise,’ Alex reminded him, ‘There is a will leaving her everything the Baron and Inez own on condition that her future husband adds the name Legresse to his own…’ (P.56)
The ‘is’ manifests that Eloise, in the past, at present and in the future, definitely is the only qualified heir. The Existent ‘will’ shows Baron’s ‘determination’ and the circumstance element ‘on condition’ confines the execution of ‘will’ in a lawful way.
‘There’s a light switch over there,’ he said. ‘I will turn it on.’ (P.85)
‘And look, Alex, there’s a white robe in here on the bottom of the trunk.’ (P.91)
Rory and Alex are looking for the costumes in the gloomy and clammy cellars. These reveal Rory’s excitement and some mysteriousness or thrilling ‘atmosphere’ spreading over the cellars and the whole story.
b) The second function is to draw a character from one’s speech:‘the mirror of the soul’.
‘Since Alex will obviously not sleep if she goes to bed, there is little point in my offering to sit up with Tristan,’ she said to Rory. (P.110)
In the studio, Inez removed all her clothes…‘Of what are you afraid, Rory? There is no need for you to be shy with me. How young you are!’ (P.125)
Inez’s concealing her poisoning the dog Tristan by excusing herself for going to bed, and a woman of easy virtue is drawn.
c) The third function is to display the characters’ sub-consciousness ? ‘unspoken fact’, and the existential process embedded in mental process can highlight the effect.
‘There’s a strange brooding expression on his face that I have noticed more often lately.’ (P.136)
The tense and the embedded clause imply that ‘a strange brooding expression’ has been on Baron’s face for a long time. Baron had been behaving very badly these days, because he had known his wife was naked before the young progressing Rory in the studio.
d) The fourth function is that it with ‘negative Existent’ can prove the unavoidable occurrence of ‘side issues’. ‘Perhaps there’s an outhouse of some sort where we haven’t yet searched,’ Knut suggested. ‘There is nowhere else,’ Gilbert (the old servant) told them. (P.186)
‘There is really no point in trying to open up the place,’ Knut said… (P.187)
The two dogs’ miserable plight and missing outstandingly develop the plots, and the expectation hunting in the searchers’ mind brings readers some surprise and excitement.
2) Existential process in the past tense
a) It’s primary function is to offer an accomplished ‘fact’, with the concrete or abstract ‘Existents’, and in most cases, with the circumstantial elements projected onto it.
But this time there was no motive behind her projection of her feminine appeal. (P.29)
Even for those who did not know the meaning of the dance, there was no mistaking its expression of passion, of love. (P.181)
These ‘abstract Existents’ are all about Inez: (25) refers to one exception---Inez just wants the attractive Rory as her admirer, and ‘no mistaking’ in (26) implies Inez’s burning passion.
b) The second function is to show a ‘state’, often relating the character’s state of mind to reality and hinting unexpected things in an unusual way.
Alex came in. There was a charming, happy smile on her face, but as she approached them, the smile faded. (P.34)
The ‘was’ indicates a state of smiling that must fade later. Such a sharp contrast also reflects the sudden change in Alex’s mind: from happiness to astonishment.
There were three of them, stacked one upon the other against a stone pillar. (P.88)
The material was musty but there was no sign of mildew or rot. (P.89)
It can be seen that they satisfy the need of the novel’s topic changes by the turns of events, especially in the author’s depicting an atmosphere of tenseness and horror.
c) The third function exists in the exaggeration of an atmosphere, offering a vivid image and conveying an on-the-scene feeling. There was a sudden screech as the padlock snapped open and Rory lifted the lid. (P.89)
He stood perfectly still, listening. There was a murmur of voices from the servants’ hall. (P.150)
The sound Existents give us a breath-taking sensation that as if the reader is standing in front of the trunk seeing Rory prying into it and some appealing mysteriousness is emerging.
d) The forth function is to finely portrait one’s psychological activity.
‘…In the old days, when this place was still a monastery and the monks lived here, there were provisions permanently on hand for wanderers on the mountain who sought refugee.’ (P.21)
At the same time, there was an intimacy in her voice that belied frivolity. (P.57)
These existential processes focus on describing Inez’s psychological activities. The Existent ‘provisions’ suggest Inez’ consistent kind behaviors. The second is Inez’s indirect reflection of mentality ? her trying advances to handsome Rory.
e) The fifth function is to reveal one’s ‘desire’：the theme of the novel.
Because Inez could not bear to face the possibility that Rory was no in love with her, she did not permit herself to accept that there were alternative reasons for Rory’s behavior. (P.146)
There was no room in her heart for logical argument. (P.147)
Inez’s desire for Rory is becoming stronger and stronger. Inez is the incardination of ‘desire’ doomed to be an evil in the end.
3) Existential process in the future tense
a) It’s first function is to indicate a prediction, probability, willingness or intention.
They’ll be down again in about an hour and there’ll be drinks served until dinner at night. (P.48)
…Perhaps there’ll be a chance for me to dance with you later? (P.167)
The first implies that Inez have made enough preparations and careful arrangements for the luxury masked ball. The second expresses Rory’s false willingness: just to please Inez.
b) The second function is to express the character’s ‘expectation’ or ‘imagination’. It was, after all, very much the start of a relationship and there would be all the time in the world when he was painting her for her to further her own desires. (P.58)
If Bernard were to see the nude drawings there would be a terrible scene. (P.128)
The first displays Inez’ insistence and conceit. The second heralds that later Inez did further her desires, but she was afraid of her husband who would make reprisals for her disloyal doings.
3.3.Interpersonal Function Of Existential Process
1) Interpersonal meaning of tense
With the heavy snowfall covering her footprints, there was no evidence she had returned to the ice-house…there was no reason whatever why Bernard should not have got out if he wished. (P.210)
There were snow tires on the car as well as chains. (P.216)
These reflect the evil Inez’s nervous recalling and longing for fleeing, and also imply her doomed fate?death, which attracts readers into the thrilling atmosphere the story constructed.
2) Analysis of mood and modality
a) The existential processes with interrogative mood convey ‘request’ or ‘demanding’.
Alex shuddered. ‘Is there more to the Seigheur’s curse?’ she asked. (P.95)
‘There must be something you can do for him?’ She pleaded. (P.109)
The first is Alex’s request for Cure to further translate the parchment; and the second is a statement with the rising intonation at the end, indicating Alex’s worries about the poisoned Tristan.
b) The existential processes expressing imperative meanings function as ‘minding’, ‘promising’, ‘emphasizing’.Respectively they are:
‘There’s a car outside!’ he said. ‘That ‘s strange.’ (P.217)
I’m sure there isn’t one! Rory said gallantly. (P.51)
There is enough food here to feed Inez’s guests three times over! (P.169)
c) The existential processes with declarative mood function as‘offering’, ‘consoling’, ‘warning’ or ‘commanding’. Respectively they are:
‘There is a big fire in the study. Come and get warm…’ (P.6)
‘The vet said there was little likelihood of Tristan developing pneumonia now.’ (P.199)
I believe myself to be a tolerant man, a lenient husband, but I do not wish you to forget, my dear, that there are limits even to my tolerance. (P.150)
There are one or two things I wish to discuss with you before we go to bed. (P.197)
d) Modal elements in all existential processes function as ‘inferring’ or ‘asserting’.
There could be little doubt now as to whom the judges would award first prize. (P.166)
There must be something of the sort down here. I’ll have a look. (P.89)
The first is author’s inferring from the guests’ shocking responses and growing applause that Alex’s beauty is beyond anyone’s reach. The second is Rory’s ‘asserting’ his finding fancy dress.
3.4.Textual Function Of Existential Process
1) Analyzing cohesion of existential process
a) Existential processes can cohesively link up with the key plots and the climax of the story,
But this time there’s been an event! …There’s been a skiing accident. (P.16)
b) Knut is the incardination of wisdom. The chief thread of the novel is carried through by his thought-provoking words，functioning as ‘betokening or foreshadowing’.
Something tells me there is a storm brewing. (P.78)
There’s something in the atmosphere… I don’t know... (P.138)
There’s an evil atmosphere here despite all the luxury, all the beauty.... (P.223)
2) Textual harmony of existential process
Also, existential processes can exhibit the textual harmonious beauty with a matching of both sound and sense, or structure and parallelism in them.
There are times when she lost her temper. (P.73)
There was no misunderstanding the smile in her eyes. (P.125).
4.Conclusion
The initiative investigation of Existential Processes in the whole Text---Relentless Storm proves that There, Process, Existent and Circumstance can all embody ideational, interpersonal and textual meanings. It is also found that the functions of language are not in one-to-one relation with their devices of realization and that tense plays unique roles in modeling experience, establishing channels of communication and organizing a Text. However, there are still some issues to be further studied: the logical meta-functions of existential clause complexes?the types of relationships established between clauses, the connections between the messages and circumstantial elements mapped on the syntactic representations of existential processes. In short, to think of a Text as an ongoing process of meaning will produce more illuminating findings.
5.References
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[2]C. Lorrimer. Relentless storm. Thorndike Press, 2000.
[3]B. Abbott. Definiteness and Existentials. Language, 1997(73):103-108
[4]J. Martin. English Text: System and Structure. Amsterdam and Philadelphia: Benjamins, 1992.
[5]R. Quirk, et al. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. London: Longman,1985.
[6]J. Richards, and J. Platt. Longman Dictionary of Applied Linguistics. Longman, 1984