Indicative Clauses Mood System

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2.3.1 Indicative Clauses

Halliday 1994: ch.4 explained that Mood consists of two parts: 1 the Subject, which is a nominal group, and 2 the Finite operator, which is of a verbal group. The general principle behind the expression of Mood in the clause is as follows. The grammatical category that is characteristically used to exchange information is the indicative. Within this category, the characteristic expression of a statement is the declarative and that of question is the interrogative. Within the category of interrogative, there is a further distinction between yes-no interrogative for polar questions and Wh-interrogative for content questions. The order of Subject and Finite is as follows: Figure 2.7 The order Subject before Finite realizes declarative The car Had Four bicycle wheels Subject Finite Complement Mood Residue Source: Gerot and Wignel 1995:38 Figure 2.8 The order Finite before Subject realizes yes-no interrogative Did Henry Ford Build his first car in the backyard? Finite Subject Predicator Complement Circ. Adjunct Mood Residue Source: Gerot and Wignel 1995:39 In a Wh-interrogative, the order is: Figure 2.9 Subject before Finite if the Wh-element is the Subject Who Built a car in his backyard? SubjectWh Finite Predicator Complement Circ. Adjunct Mood Residue Source: Gerot and Wignel 1995:39 25 Figure 2.10 Finite before Subject otherwise What did Henry Ford built? ComplementWh Finite Subject Predicator Mood Residue Source: Gerot and Wignel 1995:40 According to Matthiessen 1995 indicative clauses indicate moves negotiation information; under certain conditions they may realize moves negotiating goods and services. In the other words, indicative clauses are typically used to negotiate proportion that is to exchange information. Declarative clauses, for example, are the unmarked one in the Mood system. It is the most frequent choice and it is used to express wide spectrum of speech functional meanings. In conversations, when a speaker produces a lot of declarative clauses, we can consider him as to initiate exchanges by giving more often information. Matthiessen 1995 added that the other feature of declarative clauses is that they do not require a response but there is an option of explicitly soliciting an expression of agreement or disagreement from the addressee. Moreover, the elliptical declarative clauses indicate the addressee’s response, and it realizes supporting role in the conversation, not the initiating role Eggins and Slade, 1997. It can also be used to express a statement of opinion and fact, which normally used in opening moves. Therefore, when a speaker uses declaratives in that way, she can be considered as initiate a lot. Meanwhile, the polar interrogative clauses are used to seek information and the use of Wh-interrogatives indicates that the speaker wants to initiate the turn by demanding information. When a speaker produces polar interrogatives, which are dependent on the clauses of other speakers, this suggests his 26 dependence on the other speakers and his inability or unwillingness to elicit information. And this may indicate that he is on the subordinate position on that conversation. However, a polar interrogative may also indicate that a speaker is initiative, when it is used to initiate an exchange.

2.3.2 Imperative Clauses