Bill and Craig,

Thanks for the elucidation of Halliday's view of subjects/actors.

I don't understand the term 'ergative' as you are using it, Craig. 
Ergative is a case that appears in languages in which an agent-subject  
(in a transitive clause) is marked rather than default. This is how the 
term is used in linguistics. As you rightly point out, the shirt and 
car are not agents in your examples of tearing and exploding. Those are 
not transitive clauses.

Halliday's "definition" of subject is just what I use in my classes. It 
would be nice if we could get a discourse-based definition of the term.

Is anyone else on this list familiar with Givon (or others') work on 
American functional syntax? I'd be interested in your thoughts on what 
it might contribute to grammar instruction in the context of writing.

Dr. Johanna Rubba, Associate Professor, Linguistics
Linguistics Minor Advisor
English Department
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
E-mail: [log in to unmask]
Tel.: 805.756.2184
Dept. Ofc. Tel.: 805.756.2596
Dept. Fax: 805.756.6374
URL: http://www.cla.calpoly.edu/~jrubba

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