I have recently written about the expressions using concession about Japanese, English, Italian and Chinese but not so systematic. I have found some new ideas about the concessive expression in these languages and in terms of rhetoric especially in Chinese. I summarize here in English what I have written mostly in Japanese.
People use concessive expressions, quite often and more often than you may think and mostly unconsciously. Why ? This is because even daily lives of our common people, not to mention carefully organized speeches of politicians, using a concessive expression is one powerful means of persuading other people to agree what you say or even they will take an action in favour of you. This is called as rhetoric. What is rhetoric ? The following is one definition of rhetoric available on the internet.
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rhetoric - noun
the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the exploitation of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.
language designed to
have a persuasive or impressive effect, but which is often regarded as
lacking in sincerity or meaningful content.
"
The important part for us (studying grammar) is the first sentence, especially 'compositional techniques'. In this case 'composition' means the use of the words and sentence structures. Next let's see what concession means in terms of grammar.
From Cambridge Dictionary
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a clause, often beginning with "though" of "although", hat expresses an idea that suggests the opposite of the main art of the sentence:
The sentence "Although he's quite, he is not shy" begins with a concessive clause.
"
This is a explanation of Concessive Expression commonly found on the internet. I cannot find why "oncessive" ? One more
From ＜English Grammar＞
https://www.englishgrammar.org/expressing-concession-contrast/
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Expressing concession and contrast
The same sentence showing concession or contrast can be expressed in several different ways.
Study the examples given below.
Using though and although
Both though and although have the same meaning. They can both be used to connect these two clauses.
As and though can be used in a special structure after an adjective or adverb. In this case, they can both mean ‘although’, and suggest an emphatic contrast.
These are discourse markers used to suggest that the second statement contrasts with the first. Note that a discourse marker does not connect two clauses. They merely show how the ideas are related. In writing, we separate the two clauses with a semicolon. A full stop is also possible.
These are also discourse markers and cannot connect two clauses.
In spite of and despite are prepositions.
Study the examples given below.
- She is pretty. She is not popular with men.
Using though and although
Both though and although have the same meaning. They can both be used to connect these two clauses.
- Although she is pretty, she is not popular with men.
- Though she is pretty, she is not popular with men.
As and though can be used in a special structure after an adjective or adverb. In this case, they can both mean ‘although’, and suggest an emphatic contrast.
- Pretty though she is, she is not popular with men.
- Pretty as she is, she is not popular with men.
These are discourse markers used to suggest that the second statement contrasts with the first. Note that a discourse marker does not connect two clauses. They merely show how the ideas are related. In writing, we separate the two clauses with a semicolon. A full stop is also possible.
- She is pretty; all the same, she is not popular with men.
- She is pretty; at the same time, she is not popular with men.
These are also discourse markers and cannot connect two clauses.
- She is pretty; nonetheless, she is not popular with men.
- She is pretty; however, she is not popular with men.
In spite of and despite are prepositions.
- She is not popular with men in spite of being pretty.
- She is not popular with men despite being pretty.
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The above explanation covers almost all conceivable words to convey concession or roughly contrast but is rather simple and superficial in terms of grammar.
What is 'concession' in terms of grammar. In terms of grammar 'concession' is regarded as a 'concession' or (concessive) clause or phrase which has a concessive meaning. Then what is 'a concessive meaning' ?
She is pretty. She is not popular with men.
This shows a contrast (to most people) but has no concessive word so seems no concessive meaning. However concessive meaning can be thought as hidden.
Although she is pretty, she is not popular with men.
' Although she is pretty' is regarded as a concessive clause. The speaker admits or pretends to admit that "she is pretty." and a natural supposition that 'she be popular with men' without saying so. We can add this supposition. This can be said that the speaker concedes a supposition that 'she be popular with men.'
She is pretty. She is supposed to be popular with men. (But) she is not popular with men.
'But' is needed to show the contrast or the 'expectation' of 'she being supposed to be popular with men', which is contrary to the conclusion 'she is not popular with men.'
The point is 'expectation'. 'But' mainly shows contrast while 'although (though)' shows or indicates or implies an 'expectation' as well as contrast. Contrast is a real thing but expectation is not a real thing where a grammatical consideration is required like subjunctive mood. But this may be due to the sentence structure.
Although she is pretty
'Although (though) comes before 'she is pretty'. See next.
Pretty though (as) she is, she is not popular with men.
This time 'Pretty" comes first, even before 'although (as)". This is grammatically unusual. This reminds me
Should you xxxx ? = If yoy xxxx
It is difficult to explain why
Pretty though (as) she is = Despite she is pretty
Next
She is pretty; all the same, she is not popular with men.
What does 'all the same' mean' ?
Literally 'all the same' may mean 'all the things (conditions) remain the same (unchanged)'.
But it does not make any sense of concession. The Cambridge dictionary (on the internet) says
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all the same: despite what has just been said
"
It explains the meaning of 'all the same' very well and it does mean 'concessive' but not word by word. It seems rather
Despite what has just been said 'all the things (conditions) remain the same (unchanged)'.
'All the same' or all the things (conditions) remain the same (unchanged)' is a result of
despite what has just been said. Or 'All the same' does not show anything about the process of reaching the conclusion: all the same and it means 'despite what has just been said'.
Next
She is pretty; nonetheless (nevertheless), she is not popular with men.
These two are used in the conclusion part, not the concessive part.'nonetheless' and 'nevertheless' are similar as they are supposed to be originally
none the less
never the less
What do these two mean ? I considered for several days. The possibilities are as follows:
'None' and 'never' are negation. The problem is 'the less'. If this is 'the least' it means the minimum. But 'the less' is used. 'The less' may mean the lesser degree of expectation.
She is pretty.
The lesser degree of expectation of this is
She is highly unlikely popular with men.
The negation of this is
She is highly likely popular with men.
So this (the lesser degree expectation) is wrong.
If on the contrary 'the less' may mean the lesser degree of un-expectation.
the less - lesser degree of un-expectation - she is highly unlikely un-popular with men.
This means 'he is popular with men.' The negation of this or the conclusion is 'she is not popular with men.'
Rhetorically seems right but a roundabout explanation and also few people think that 'the less' means the lesser degree of un-expectation.
We can use 'double negation' which is commonly used in French and Italian like 'non rien' and 'non niente'. 'Double negation' is an emphasis of single negation. When we apply this to our case
the less －＞the lesser degree of expectation －＞ un-expectedly
the none the less ('none' simply emphasizes un-expectedly) －＞
She is pretty; very un-expectedly, she is not popular with men.
Nevertheless is the same as nonetheless.
She is pretty; notwithstanding, she is not popular with men.
We can use this to 'notwithstanding' too.
'To withstand' means 'to bear' or 'to keep or to sustain oneself against something without broken or damaged'.
She is pretty; without broken or damaged by anything (against my opinion), she is not popular with men. Not of notwithstanding is not a negation but an emphasis of whithstanding (= without broken or damaged by anything (against my opinion)).
Plus the condition of 'without broken or damaged by anything' is similar to 'all the same' = 'all the things (conditions) remain the same (unchanged)'. This is a part of the concept of concessive expression.
Next and finally in the quote from ＜English Grammar＞
She is not popular with men in spite of (despite) being pretty.
The point is the word 'spite'. 'Spite' seems to have nothing with concessive expression or even with grammar. 'Spite' originally and still actually means 'ill will', 'malice', 'wicked mind', etc. though not so often heard and used. 'Spiteful' is slightly more heard and used.
Why does 'spite' mean 'concession' ?
A person which has 'ill will' or a spiteful person is by all means against someone else's will. So 'spite' can be regarded as 'against'.
She is not popular with men against being pretty.
can make sense.
The above ＜English Grammar＞ does not show anything else.
＜if ｘｘｘｘ ＞is not a conessive expression but a conditional expression. But ＜even if ｘｘｘｘ ＞ can be regarded as a (conditional) conessive expression. Besides ＜even if ｘｘｘｘ ＞ ＜whatever (whoever, whenever, wherever, etc) ｘｘｘｘ＞ and ＜no matter what (who, when, where, how ｘｘｘｘ＞ can also be regarded as conessive expressions.
sptt
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