Apposition

A further structural element component of the Subject and other nominal phrases in the Predicate or within an Object to the Preposition, for example, is the Apposition. The Apposition is a noun phrase that is either co-referential with, encompassing or encompassed by a noun phrase previously mentioned. Appositions can be classified into non-restrictive and restrictive.

Non-Restrictive Apposition is a structural element separate from the Head of the nominal phrase by a comma, semicolon or any other parenthetical marker, and provides additional information which is indicated in speech by a separate tone unit. In Example 4.8 the italicised noun phrase made up of only one word, Aldo, is a Non-Restrictive Apposition. In 4.9, the italicised expression namely water is also a Non-Restrictive Apposition since it provides additional information to the previous noun phrase.

4.8. My best friend, Aldo, teaches syntax.

4.9. The most important element for life, namely water, is produced by this company.

Since the information given by a Non-Restrictive Apposition is additional, it can be taken away without affecting the informative content of the proposition. Thus, in Examples 4.10 and 4.11 corresponding to 4.8 and 4.9, respectively, the Non-Restrictive Appositions have been eliminated. Still, the informative content of the proposition remains the same as that of their original counterparts.

4.10. My best friend teaches syntax.

4.11. The most important element for life is produced by this company.

Conventionally, the second nominal expression is considered the Apposition, except when the first nominal is an Appositive Title such as Mr., Mrs., Dr, Prof. and others.

A further piece of evidence for the recognition of Non-Restrictive Appositions is the fact that they can be placed preceding the nominal expressions to which they have been added. In this case, the postponed italicised nominal expression is now the Non-Restrictive Apposition (see Examples 4.12 and 4.13).

4.12. Aldo, my best friend, teaches syntax.

4.13. Water, the most important element for life, is produced by this company.

Finally, Non-Restrictive Appositions can take the place of the nominal expressions to which they are added, in whose case they become the Heads of the Subject, which has now no Apposition (see Examples 4.14 and 4.15).

4.14. Aldo teaches syntax.

4.15. Water is produced by this company.

The other type of Apposition is the Restrictive Apposition. The Restrictive Apposition is a nominal expression that delimits or specifies the reference of the first nominal, from which it is not separated either in writing or speech. See Examples 4.16 and 4.17.

4.16. Our colleague Thompson was appointed the head of the board.

4.17. His sister Janet graduated from medical school last year.

The difference between Non-Restrictive Apposition and Restrictive Apposition can be seen from the comparison of Examples 4.18 and 4.19 below. While in the former, Jack is the only uncle of the writer/speaker, in the latter the writer/speaker has more than one uncle and the one who he/she is referring as fond of pasta is Jack. This difference is illustrated in Figure 4.5 below.

4.18. My uncle, Jack, is fond of pasta.

4.19. My uncle Jack is fond of pasta.