Degrees of delicacy explained

Both the degrees of delicacy and rankshifting work hand in hand. Their relationship is such that the realization of the latter births the former. That is, the realization of rankshifting births the various degrees of delicacy in some cases. Degree of delicacy refers to the various operational levels of structures. That is, the various positions in a clause assumed by groups which could vary due to rankshifting. 

There are three levels in the degrees of delicacy:

1. Primary degree of delicacy

2. Secondary degree of delicacy

3. Tertiary degree of delicacy

Primary Degree of Delicacy 

A group is said to be at the primary degree of delicacy when it functions at its designated position representing an element of a clause structure. What this means is that, a group is at the primary degree of delicacy when it is at its usual position representing an element of a clause.

For example; Nominal groups usually represent the subject element of a clause structure, hence they are at the primary degree of delicacy when they function as the subject of a clause. For example;

a. John is a good man.

"John", in the clause above, is a nominal group at the subject position, and as a result, it is at the primary degree of delicacy. Simply because it is at its normal position representing its designated element of structure—a subject. Also, "a good man", is a nominal group at the complement position and can also be said to function at the primary degree of delicacy, because nominal groups can also represent the complement element of a clause structure.

Other examples of primary degree of delicacy;

1. The sheriff knows the truth.

2. John is a staff coroner.

3. Medith is a nice person.

4. Shouba's book is heavy.

Every group representing an element of a clause structure directly is at the primary degree of delicacy.

Secondary Degree of Delicacy 

Groups are said to operate at the secondary degree of delicacy when they are rankshifted a rank below their level. That is, when a group is made to function as an element of another group it can be said to be at the secondary degree of delicacy. Take for example;

1. The book on the table is wet.

"on the table" is a prepositional group at the secondary degree of delicacy. This is because, it functions as an element of a nominal group—a qualifier element. Since it now operates at a level lower than the group on the grammatical rank scale, it is at the secondary degree of delicacy.

1. The man with an attitude is armed.

2. The girl without home training is here.

3. The children from Costco are tough.

Tertiary Degree of Delicacy 

Groups are said to be at the tertiary degree of delicacy when they are rankshifted twice. It is a degree of delicacy that involves a group being rankshifted twice in a clause. Take for example;

a. The book on the table is torn to shreds.

"the table", as used in the clause above, is a nominal group that has been rankshifted twice. The first instance of rankshifting takes place when it is made to function as an element of a prepositional group. For example "on" (Preposition) + "the table" (Nominal group) forms a prepositional group. The usual position of a prepositional group is at the adjunct position of a clause structure, but when it is moved from that position to function as a qualifier element of the nominal group in the subject position: "the book", its own qualifier element: "the table" which had been earlier rankshifted, experiences a case of double rankshifting. Hence it is said to be at the tertiary degree of delicacy.

Related posts:

• Rankshifting: What you should have Known 
• Clause Structure in SFG: What you need to know
• Grammatical Rank Scale Explained
• Groups in SFG: What you need to know 
• Adjectival groups in SFG