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| Asyndetic Composite Clauses 323
T he typical start of such clauses is either "should + noun + infinitive", or "had + noun + second participle," or, much less often, "did + noun + infinitive", and also "were + noun", which can be followed by a to-infinitive. The form of the predicate verb in the second clause may vary greatly. The meaning of such asyndetic clauses does not give rise to any doubt: they always express the condition on which the action of the following clause takes place. The question now arises, where and how is the meaning of condition expressed here? It is obviously not contained in the lexical meaning of any particular word or phrase, but resides mainly in the order of words in the first clause, and in the fact that this clause is followed by another to form a composite sentence. We may well check this by dropping the second clause in each case and leaving the first clause alone, that is, making a simple sentence out of it. The result will be a sentence with no conditional meaning whatever: an interrogative sentence. This definitely proves that the second clause plays a notable part in creating the general meaning of condition. So it appears that the conditional meaning is brought about by purely syntactical means. The lexical meanings of the words making up both clauses do not seem to be of any importance here, and this is basically different from the as-clauses considered on p. 288 ff., where the lexical meanings of the words contribute to the creation of a temporal, or causal, or comparative meaning. So here we, no doubt, have conditional clauses and the question may again be asked whether they are subordinate or not. As in the case of asyndetic attributive and object clauses, there would seem to be no sufficient reason for denying this, though the question itself is rather unimportant. Those appear to be the only types of asyndetic clauses which ought to be termed subordinate. Now we come to those other types of asyndetic clauses which are far more difficult to classify. The difference between various types of composite sentences with asyndetic clauses may be illustrated by the following examples: Barbary and Raoul had their heads tilted back: warm beer, which they did not like, gurgled down their throats; they felt like two chickens drinking, watched by a fox. (R. MACAULAY) Here the clauses make up the description of a situation. Roly will sleep with me; David will have has own cot of course. (Idem) His heart turned over as he looked at her; his unslain passion surged in him like a great wave. (Idem) In the last two sentences simultaneous situations or processes are described. She held out her hand to him; not taking it, he stepped back and opened the door for her. (Idem) He exchanged penetrating stares with his contemporary; then David, with squeaks of indignation, began to pummel him with his fists. (Idem) Here two consecutive actions are mentioned. Of course she disliked Barbary; how shouldn't she? (Idem) The second clause 11*
824 Asyndetic Composite Sentences. Inserted Clause c ontains a comment on the situation stated in the first. The differences between the various types here illustrated are important enough from the semantic point of view; but they have no bearing on the grammatical structure of the sentences. We must also mention one more type of asyndetic sentence, which may be seen in the following example: Her eyes overflowed, and then grew so hot they dried her tears. (WOODHILL) The semantic connection between the adverb so in the main clause and the subordinate clause is absolutely clear (what is meant is result), but no grammatical connection between them is in any way expressed. The distinction between co-ordination and subordination thus appears to be neutralised and the facts justify merely a statement to the effect that the sentence is composite and that the relation between its two clauses is only seen from the lexical meanings of the words composing them. A similar clause is found in the following example: Her mind made a wild revolution casting up so much she scarcely knew where to turn for her words. (BUECHNER) The semantic connection between the phrase so much in the first clause and the second clause is doubtless, but there are no signs of grammatical subordination in the sentence. Compare also: What you want is a good-sised canvas bag, not so big it looks funny, but big enough to hold what you slip in. (R. MACAULAY) There are essential differences of meaning here which of course should be studied and classified from the stylistic viewpoint both in themselves and by comparison with syndetic composite sentences, compound and complex, which might have been used to describe the same facts and situations, etc. But all these differences, whatever their importance from a stylistic, literary, or any other point of view, He beyond the sphere of grammar. From the grammatical viewpoint what ought to be studied is the means which are used in the various types of asyndetic composite sentence to keep the clauses together. These may be such as the use of tenses in the clauses making up an asyndetic sentence; the use of other grammatical categories, such as mood, aspect, etc.; the use of any other syntactic means with the same function. However, very little study in this field has been done so far. When it is done, new possibilities will most probably emerge of classifying asyndetic sentences. At the moment they are not clearly visible. Among clauses joined asyndetically we should also note those which correspond in meaning to parenthetical subordinate clauses of the syndetic type. Here are two examples: She too, she felt, was of the religion. (H. JAMES) Any one who looks at me can say, I think, what's the matter with me. (Idem) Of course it is the lexical meaning of the verb functioning as predicate in the clause (feel, think) which shows what the relation between it and the rest of the sentence is. In these cases there is no formal sign to show Inserted Clauses 325 w hether the clause is subordinate or not, and thus the distinction may be said to be neutralised here. We will do well, on the whole, to content ourselves with the conclusion that in some asyndetic composite sentences (those including attributive, object, and conditional clauses), there is a main and a subordinate clause, while the other types of asyndetic sentences do not admit of such a distinction. Download 1.77 Mb. Share with your friends:
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