A Review of A Grammar of Speech 19
The N element she alters the initial state and sets up an intermediate state
which anticipates a V element, production of which results in the achieve-
ment of target state. If target state is not achieved after the completion of
the minimum chain, the speaker is obliged to produce further elements.
For example, in (11) saw fails to complete the chain and so the speaker is
obliged to produce the N element this fi gure which achieves target state.
In example (12), however, the second N element her does not achieve target
state, and so the speaker is obliged to produce a following adverbial element
(A element). A similar explanation holds for example (13); as neither the
V element nor the subsequent N element results in the achievement
of target state, the speaker is obliged to produce the following adjectival
element (E element).
Example (14) is slightly more complicated in that the E element suspicious
has the potential to attain target state, i.e. it realizes a completion but not a
fi nishing. However, in the context in which it was uttered, Brazil claims, that
in the speaker’s opinion it did not fulfi l the present communicative needs:
in order to achieve target state the speaker was obliged to produce a following
A element.
(11) She saw this fi gure
N V N
Init State Inter State 1 Inter State 2 Tar State
(12) She piles her into the car
N V N A
Init State Inter State 1 Inter State 2 Inter state 3 Tar State
(13) It made her nervous
N V N E
Init State Inter State 1 Inter State 2 Inter State 3 Tar State
(14) This made my friend suspicious at once
N V N E A
Init State Inter State 1 Inter state 2 Inter State 3 Inter State 4 Tar State
All instances of simple chains must follow one of the paths set out in
Figure 2.1 in order to potentially reach target state. Any simple chain which
realizes a successful run through of the chaining rules is potentially an
increment. A simple chain which does not follow a successful run through
of one of the potential chain routes cannot be an increment.