Page 49 - A GRAMMAR OF BHOJPURI _ PhD Dissertation 2020 TU

the grammatical code, grammatical morphology, is a diachronic derivative of lexical
words. But these concrete devices are integrated into a complex whole with the more

abstract elements of the codes like rhythmics and sequential order. These more
abstract elements of the grammatical code are the second order constructs, inferred
from more concrete signals. From the primary grammatical coding devices more

abstract level of grammatical organization like hierarchic constituency organization,
grammatical category labels, scope and relevance relations and government and

control relations may be extracted (Givón, 2001a:12). The primary grammar-coding
devices are in turn used to signal further more abstract levels of grammatical

organization. The central question in the study of language processing is how the
abstract components of grammar are extracted from its more concrete signals.

Simultaneously, grammar codes both propositional semantics and discourse
coherence (pragmatics). Therefore, grammar is predominantly about the coherence
relations between the propositional (clausal) and its wider discourse context. But the

traditional structuralist methodology, of examining (or experimenting on) isolated
clauses, has tended to obscure this overwhelming fact about what grammar does.

Some of the major grammatical sub-systems that code primarily discourse
pragmatics are grammatical roles (subject, direct object); definiteness and reference;

anaphora, pronouns and agreement; tense, aspect, modality and negation; de-transitive
voice; topicalization; focus and contrast; relativization; speech acts; and clausal

conjunction and subordination (Givón, 2001a:13).
Coding instruments of the communicative coding system, according to Givón
(2001a:11-3), are presented in figure 2.2.

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