The Logical Structure Of Groups

Matthiessen (1995: 640):

As the examples above show, the Head (⍺) of each type of group is a different multivariate function, viz. Thing (nominal group), Circumstance (adverbial group of ideational type), and Finite (verbal group).

Blogger Comments:

To be clear, the Postmodifier of the nominal group (with balconies in Figure 7-5) is no longer analysed as a β element. Halliday & Matthiessen (2004: 332n):

In previous editions the Postmodifier also was brought into the scope of the logical representation. But this appears to complicate the description without adding further to its explanatory power.

However, more importantly, here Matthiessen seriously misrepresents the the logical structure of the verbal group. Halliday & Matthiessen (2014: 398-9):

… the elements of the logical structure are not the individual words but certain rather more complex elements. … The logical structure of the verbal group realises the system of tense. … The primary tense is that functioning as Head, shown as α. This is the Deictic tense: past, present or future relative to the speech event. The modifying elements, at β and beyond, are secondary tenses; they express past, present or future relative to the time selected in the previous tense. Realisations are shown in Table 6-12.

As can be seen, the elements of logical structure of the verbal group are not words, and it is the realisation of primary tense, not the word serving as the Finite element, that functions as the Head (⍺) of the verbal group. Halliday (1985: 177):

Importantly, the Finite element realises not just primary tense, but also modality and polarity (Halliday 1985: 75), but it is only the realisation of primary tense that functions as the Head (⍺) of the verbal group.

Finally, the Event has never featured in the logical structure of the verbal group. Halliday (1985: 184n):

A major point of difference between the verbal group and the nominal group is that the Event (unlike the Thing) is not the point of departure for the recursive modifying relationship. Hence it does not figure as an element in the notation.