Misrepresenting The Conjunctive Relation Of Internal Simultaneity

Martin & Rose (2007: 138):

But it is also possible to say that an argument, or piece of evidence, is simultaneous with another, using still or at the same time. The following example is from a report about our literacy work:

Significant increases in student achievement have been measured…the average improvement in reading and writing was 2.5 levels… 

At the same time, teachers have noted a range of student learning outcomes that are more difficult to measure, like an increased level of student engagement in their learning.

Blogger Comments:

[1] To be clear, still does not relate interpersonal wordings as simultaneous in time.  When still functions conjunctively, the expansion relation realised is most likely to be concessive condition (Halliday & Matthiessen 2014: 612-4). When still expresses time, it functions interpersonally as a mood Adjunct of temporality (Halliday & Matthiessen 2014: 187-9).

[2] To be clear, this instance of at the same time does not relate interpersonal wordings as simultaneous in time. The relation here is another instance of concessive condition, realising the same meaning as nevertheless or even so.

This again demonstrates the misunderstandings that can arise by giving priority to the view from below, the expression, instead of the view from above, the meaning being realised.