Pattern, Construction, System
A Unified Approach to Grammar and Lexis
Published on 4. September 2025
Book
Hardback
260 pages
978-1-009-62902-7 (ISBN)
Description
Construction Grammar and Systemic Functional Grammar take different approaches to the study of lexico-grammar, based on language as a cognitive and as a social phenomenon respectively. This is the first book to bring the two approaches together, using corpus-based Pattern Grammar as an underlying descriptive framework, in order to present a comprehensive and original treatment of verb-based patterns in English. It describes in detail two processes: deriving over 800 verb argument constructions from 50 verb complementation patterns; and using those constructions to populate systemic networks based on 9 semantic fields. The result is an approach to the lexis and grammar of English that unifies disparate theories, finding synergies between them and offering a challenge to each. Pattern Grammar, Construction Grammar and Systemic-Functional Grammar are introduced in an accessible way, making each approach accessible to readers from other backgrounds. This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 235 mm
Width: 157 mm
Thickness: 19 mm
Weight
532 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-009-62902-7 (9781009629027)
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Schweitzer Classification
Person
Susan Hunston is Professor of English Language at the University of Birmingham. Her notable publications include Corpora in Applied Linguistics, 2nd edition (2022, CUP), Interdisciplinary Discourse (with Thompson, 2020, Routledge), and Pattern Grammar (with Francis, 2000, John Benjamins). She is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences.
Content
1. Introduction; 2. Background to Pattern Grammar and Construction Grammar; 3. From Pattern to Constructions; 4. Semantic Role Annotation; 5. Background to Systemic Functional Grammar; 6. Constructions in Meaning Networks: Causation; 7. Semantic Fields: Cognition and Communication; 8. Semantic Fields: Material and Relational; 9. Discussion and Conclusion; Index.