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Pattern, Construction, System

Pattern, Construction, System

A Unified Approach to Grammar and Lexis
Susan Hunston , University of Birmingham
October 2025
Not yet published - available from October 2025
Hardback
9781009629027
$140.00
USD
Hardback

    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.

    • Demonstrates how Construction Grammar and Systemic Functional Grammar can be integrated
    • Highlights the value of a corpus-driven approach to lexis and grammar for language theory
    • Introduces Pattern Grammar, Construction Grammar and Systemic-Functional Grammar in an accessible way, making each approach accessible to readers from other backgrounds
    • This title is also available as open access on Cambridge Core

    Product details

    October 2025
    Hardback
    9781009629027
    240 pages
    229 × 152 mm
    Not yet published - available from October 2025

    Table of Contents

    • 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.