Definition
An internal relation is an interpropositional relation that relates the situations described in the propositions by their communicative usage as opposed to relating the situations described by the propositions.
Examples
(English)
- If you’re free tonight, there's a party at Bill’s house.
This example contrasts with the following sentence, which is an example of an external relation sequence:
- f it doesn’t rain, there will be a party at Bill’s house.
Sources 1
- Halliday and Hasan 1976, 239–241