Sample Nuclear Relations Analysis

Martin & Rose (2007: 100-1):

So in addition to labelling taxonomic relations (vertically), we will label these nuclear relations (horizontally), using for central, ‘+’ for nuclear, and ‘x’ for marginal/peripheral.

 

Blogger Comments:

Text:

… Goannas have flattish bodies, long tails and strong jaws. They are the only lizards with forked tongues, like a snake. Their necks are long and may have loose folds of skin beneath them. Their legs are long and strong, with sharp claws on their feet. Many goannas have stripes, spots and other markings that help to camouflage them. The largest species can grow to more than two metres in length. …

A comparison of the authors' analysis, above, with an application of their model, below, demonstrates both the inability of Martin & Rose to apply their own model and the lack of explanatory power of the model itself.

Goannas	have	flattish bodies, long tails and strong jaws
nucleus (+)	centre (=)	centre (=)
Medium	Process	Range: part

flattish	bodies
long	tails
strong	jaws
nucleus (+)	centre (=)
Epithet	Thing

They	are	the only lizards [with forked tongues [like a snake] ]
nucleus (+)	centre (=)	nucleus (+)
Medium	Process	Range: entity

forked	tongues	like a snake
centre (=)	centre (=)	periphery (x)
Classifier	Thing	Qualifier

Their necks	are	long
nucleus (+)	centre (=)	nucleus (+)
Medium	Process	Range: quality

and	may have	loose folds of skin	beneath them
	centre (=)	centre (=)	periphery (x)
	Process	Range	Location

loose	folds	of skin
nucleus (+)	centre (=)	periphery (x)
Epithet	Thing	Qualifier

Their legs	are	long and strong
nucleus (+)	centre (=)	nucleus (+)
Medium	Process	Range: quality

with	sharp claws	on their feet
	nucleus (+)	periphery (x)
	Medium	Range/Location

sharp	claws
nucleus (+)	centre (=)
Epithet	Thing

Many goannas	have	stripes, spots and other markings [[that help to camouflage them]]
nucleus (+)	centre (=)	centre (=)
Medium	Process	Range: part

The largest species	can grow	to more than two metres [in length]
nucleus (+)	centre (=)	periphery (x)
Medium	Process	Extent

more than two	metres	in length
	centre (=)	periphery (x)
Numerative	Thing	Qualifier