Content introduction chapter composite sentence in English Using composite sentence in sentence chapter the composite sentence as a polypredicative construction Using the composite sentence as a polypredicative construction conclusion summary references

Using the composite sentence as a polypredicative construction

Composite sentences as polypredicative constructions. Subordinative polypredication (hypotaxis) and coordinative polypredication (parataxis). Complex/compound/cumulative/semi-composite sentences. Syndeton and asyndeton.
Composite sentences differ from simple sentences by the number of predicative lines: simple sentences are monopredicative syntactic constructions, formed by only one predicative line, while composite sentences are polypredicative syntactic constructions, formed by two or more predicative lines, each with a subject and a predicate of its own. This means, that the composite sentence reflects two or more situations making up a unity.
Each predicative unit in a composite sentence forms a clause. A clause as a part of a composite sentence corresponds to a separate sentence: This is the issue I planned to discuss with you. - This is the issue. I planned to discuss it with you. The purpose of communication in the composite sentence above is the presentation of a certain topic.
There are two principal types of composite sentences: 1) complex and 2) compound.
- In compound sentences, the clauses are connected on the basis of coordinative connections (parataxis). By coordination the clauses are arranged as units of syntactically equal rank, i.e. equipotently (equipotent, or coordinative phrases).
- In complex sentences, the clauses are united on the basis of subordinative connections (hypotaxis). By subordination the clauses are arranged as units of syntactically unequal rank, one of which dominates another (dominational, or subordinative phrases).
The connections between the clauses in a composite sentence may be effected syndetically, i.e. by means of special connecting words, conjunctions and other conjunctional words or word-combinations, or asyndetically, i.e. without any conjunctional words used.
There is some controversy concerning the status of syndeton and asyndeton versus coordination and subordination. According to the traditional view, all composite sentences are to be subdivided on the upper level into compound and complex, and on the lower level of subdivision each type is represented by syndetic and asyndetic connections. This view was challenged by N. S. Pospelov and some other Russian linguists, who treated this subdivision in the opposite way: at the higher level of classification all composite sentences should be divided into syndetic and asyndetic, while at the lower level the syndetic composite sentences (and only these) should be divided into compound and complex ones in accordance with the connective words used. This approach was also challenged, in particular, by B. A. Ilyish, who pointed out the mixture of two different criteria – formal and semantic - in both classifications. Indeed, the semantic equality of syndetic and asyndetic constructions is unquestionable in the following example: This is the issue I planned to discuss with you. – This is the issue, which I planned to discuss with you; both sentences include the subordinate attributive clause. Besides, asyndetic connection of clauses often displays its own specific functional value, which supports arguments for the existence of asyndetic polypredication.