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Linking, listing and nesting clauses
Task A - terminology
Simple sentences consist of phrases 'glued together' in grammatical SPOCA
patterns. If simple sentences are themselves 'glued together' (using the
three principles of linking, listing and nesting) the simple sentences
inside the more complex overall sentence structure are usually called
clauses. Those at the top of the sentence
structure hierarchy are usually called main clauses,
and those nested inside other clauses are called nested
clauses (or sometimes subordinate clauses or embedded clauses).
Sentences which contain more than one main clause are usually called compound
sentences (i.e. if just the linking of main clauses is involved).
If nesting is involved to any degree the sentences concerned are usually
called complex sentences.
We use the terms 'linking', 'listing' and 'nesting' because they are
used in the grammar book we are basing our analyses on (Leech, Hoogenraad
and Deuchar 1982), and because they are reasonably transparent terms.
But other grammar books may use different terms, and it will be helpful
if you are aware of these alternative labels. Next to the the three terms
we are using below, you can see the alternative terms that may be used
by other grammarians.
Linking - coordination
Listing - juxtaposition, parataxis
Nesting - subordination, embedding
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