Relational Propositions in Discourse.

In addition to the propositions represented explicity by independent clauses in a text, there are almost as many implicit propositions, here called relational propositions, which arise out of combinations of these clauses. The predicates of these propositions are members of a small set of general, highly recurrent relational predicates, such as cause, justification, and solutionhood. Often unsignalled, these relational propositions can be shown to be the basis for other inferences and to function as elements of communicative acts. Examining two natural texts, we see that the relational propositions involve every clause, and that they occur in a pattern of propositions which connects all of the clauses together. This examination also shows how the relational propositions are essential to the functioning of the text. Author