SUCCESSION AND SEQUENCE. SEMANTIC RELATIONS

Sequence is an elementary semantic relation whose arguments are made up of two nonidentical referential states of affairs. Succession implies a sequence of many (at least three) states of affairs, and constitutes a conventional relation. Its simpler linguistic predecessor is the enumeration of elements forming an arithmetic sequential representation. The difference between the notions of succession and sequence renders the semantic opposition of ordinal adjectives 'nastepny - kolejny' (next/successive - subsequent) and also adverbs 'nastepnie - z kolei' (next - afterwads). These units perform a metatextual function. The first elements within the above (nastepny, nastepnie) refer to (single) entities and events, and speech events which were directly prior to the one specifically mentioned. The second pair of elements refer to numerous other entities, events and speech events which were indefinitely prior to the one specifically mentioned. The adverbs 'po kolei - kolejno' are not equivalent either. The former implies an established order, the latter implies the order to be established. 'Kolejno' is used thematically, 'po kolei' is neutral from the viewpoint of thematic-rhematic structure.