The study of clause complexing in the editorials of Daily Graphic

Abstract

This study is informed by Systemic Functional Grammar Theory to analyse the packing of sentence information in the editorials of the Daily Graphic (DG). It explores the structural types of sentences; compound or complex sentences which are dominant and how they relate in the editorials and the ways in which they are combined and oriented in meaning with a broad outline of a particular framework of systemic functional grammar, clause complexing. Again, the study explored the communicative implications encoded in the editorials. The researcher purposively sampled 10 editorials spanning a period of three months (January to March 2014) and did qualitative and textual analysis on the issue of clause complexity. The unit for analysis was the clause complex. In all, there were 158 clause complexes which were counted with 462 clauses. It was found that the structural type of sentences which dominate the 10 editorials were complex sentences. This study found that the ideas presented in the editorials are more of clauses of unequal statuses. It was observed that editors expand and project their ideas in a number of ways which Halliday classifies as expansion in three different types; elaboration, extension and enhancement and projection which also involves locution and idea. It was realized that the editors used expansion and projection to convey meaning and also show the relationships between the clause complexes. The highest frequency was enhancement followed by elaboration and extension. It was observed that the editors did not depart from the use of complex sentences in all the editorials. The communicative value put across indicates that editors use projection to put across their message.