Grammatical Rank Scale Explained
Grammatical Rank Scale Explained
The grammatical rank scale refers to the hierarchy of the elements of structure in language. What is meant by structure, you may ask. Structure refers to any instance of language use ranging from morphemes to sentences. So any instance of language use be it a word, morpheme, phrase or clause can generally be referred to as a structure. The hierarchy of the grammatical rank scale is such that one or more of the elements below make up the elements above.
Take for instance;
"-s" is a bound morpheme, while "boy" (a free morpheme) + "-s" (a bound morpheme) = Boys (a word).
The rank scale is simply an ordered arrangement of elements of structure either in ascending order from morphemes to sentences, or in descending order from sentences to morphemes. The elements that make up the grammatical rank scale include the following in ascending order:
1. Morpheme
2. Word
3. Phrase
4. Clause
5. Sentence
Morpheme
One or more morphemes make up a word. For example; "Boy" is a free morpheme and it can also be classified as a word because all free morphemes are the equivalents of words. Also, the free morpheme "Boy" + the bound morpheme "-s" forms the word = Boys. So one or more morphemes can make up a word which is the unit above the morpheme.
Word
One or more words make up a phrase. Take for instance;
"John" is a word and it can also pass for a noun phrase where it functions as the headword of the noun phrase. Also, "The" + "Happy" + "Man" are all independent words, but when they are pieced together, form a noun phrase = The happy man. Hence, one or more words make up a phrase.
Phrase
One or phrases can make up a clause. Take for instance;
"stop" is a verb phrase and it can function as a main clause when a punctuation (full stop, question mark, or exclamation mark) is added to it e.g., Stop. or Stop! It can be said to be a main clause because it is a finite verb and it can stand as an imperative sentence issuing a command. Also, "stop" + "playing" are independent verb phrases that can form an imperative clause when combined = Stop playing! Hence, one or more phrases make up a clause.
Clause
One or more clauses make up a sentence. Take for instance;
"We are happy." Is a main clause and can also function as a simple sentence. Simple sentences are the direct equivalent of main clauses because they contain a subject and a predicate, and they express a complete thought. Also, "We are happy" ( a main clause) + "when we see you smile" (a dependent clause) when combined, forms a sentence—complex sentence= We are happy when we see you. Hence, one or more clauses make up a sentence.
This shows that every element on the grammatical rank scale is interconnected, and oftentimes interlap with each other.
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