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other nominal group must be a Complement. The presence of complements in conversation enables the expansion of the field of negotiation. Complements
represent material which is open to negotiation and often challenged. For example complement underlined :
Turn Speaker Text
1 Brad iii He plays the guitar.
Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 79
2.5.2.5. Adjunct
Adjuncts are, as the label suggests, elements which are additional, rather than essential, to the proposition. They function to add extra information about the
events expressed in the core of the proposition. The identification criteria is that adjuncts are expressed through all the parts of speech that do not express Subject,
complements, finites and predicators. That is, they are expressed by prepositional phrase, adverbs and adverbial groups, or conjunctions. There are three main types
of adjuncts : circumstantial, interpersonal and textual.
2.5.2.5.1. Circumstantial Adjuncts
These are adverbs or prepositional phrases which express meaning about
when, where, how, why, or with what the proposition occurred. For example :
Turn Speaker Text
15 Brad ii For General Studies, we’ve got
this…..tutor
40
Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 82
2.5.2.5.2. Interpersonal Adjuncts
These are adverbs or prepositional phrases which express meaning to do with judgements and opinions, including meanings about how likely or how
intense something is. Some interpersonal adjuncts adjust probability, certainty, and usuality values in the clause through words such as probably, maybe, usually,
never, etc. For example : Turn Speaker
Text 79 Brad
iii and then I’ll maybe be able to do something….
Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 82 Other interpersonal adjuncts include vocative, i.e. names or terms of address used
to target the addressee of a clause. For example : Turn Speaker
Text 6 Dave
i You know a lot of funny people, don’t you Brad ?
Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 82 Adverbs or phrases used to either play up or tone down the intensity of clauses are
also interpersonal adjuncts. Examples of amplifiers are totally, absolutely. Common mitigators include just, only, merely, as well as ‘vague’ expression such
as or something, or whatever. For example : Turn Speaker
Text
41
62 Brad i It’s just…………..technically
Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 82 In this category we can also place the metaphorical hedge you know. It is used
within a clause to maintain contact without requiring any response from the listener. For example:
Turn Speaker Text
77 Brad i A degree in a degree in Linguistics isn’t much
use you know. Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 83
2.5.2.5.3. Textual Adjuncts
Into this third main category of adjuncts we class adverbs, prepositional phrases or conjunction which express meanings about the logical links and
continuities between one clause and earlier clauses. The three main subclasses of items here are :
1. Conjunctive Adjuncts. These are conjunctions which link a current clause with prior talk by expressing logical relations of time then, next cause consequence
so, because , condition if , addition and , contrast but , or restatement I mean, like . These typically occur at the beginning of clauses. For example :
Turn Speaker Text
36 Dave i And what are your General Studies ?
Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 83
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2. Continuity Adjuncts : These are items which are common in conversation and signal that a speaker’s clause is coherent with prior talk, without specifying a
particular logical relation. The most frequent continuity markers are oh, well. For example ;
Turn Speaker Text
99 Frank
i Well I, I think…..that’s Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 83
3.Holding Adjuncts. These are words like umm and ah which speakers use to retain the floor while they organize their message. They often occur in abandoned
clauses such as in the exchange below where the holding adjuncts are underlined : Turn Speaker
Text 47
Brad i And umm…
Eggin and Slade, 1997 : 83
2.6. Transactional and Interpersonal Conversation
