Lexicogrammar and ecolinguistics

Andrew Peter GOATLY

Research output: Book Chapters | Papers in Conference ProceedingsBook ChapterResearchpeer-review

5 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Lexicogrammar (mis-)represents the ‘natural’ world through original metaphors, disputed terms, affective terms, conventional metaphors and conventional lexis. More important, the typical transitive material process clause, reflecting canonical event structure, marginalizes nature as part of the setting and represents nature as passive. Analysis of the environmental report State of the World 2012 reveals a semantics of grammar conforming to such a representation, except when nature provides for humans. By contrast, Wordsworth’s and Edward Thomas’s poetry represents nature as powerful actor-communicator and vital experience by means of ergative verbs, activation of experiences and tokens/existents and personification and coordination, problematizing the human/nature division. The Algonquin language Blackfoot’s more radical noncanonical event grammar emphasizes process and better reflects the insights of modern science.
Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationThe Routledge handbook of ecolinguistics
PublisherTaylor and Francis
Pages227-248
Number of pages22
ISBN (Print)9781315687391
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2017

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