Paralanguage "Resonating With" GRADUATION: FOCUS

Martin & Zappavigna (2019: 17, 19):

Alongside paralanguage of this kind converging with FORCE, Hood notes the potential for precise hand shapes and muscle tension to resonate with FOCUS. In the following example, introduced in section “Representation (ideational semovergent paralanguage)” above, the vlogger tightens her grip on the tiny virtual needle she is holding and frowns slightly in concentration as she role plays the precision involved in the dermatologist piercing her bumps (Fig. 29).

Blogger Comments:

To be clear, FOCUS is a system of GRADUATION, which is concerned with the intensification of ATTITUDE in the interpersonal system of APPRAISAL.  Here, as the instance of language makes clear, no interpersonal assessment is being enacted, in terms of AFFECT, APPRECIATION, or JUDGEMENT, and so there is nothing to graduate in terms of FOCUS.

Moreover, in this instance, the authors have simply confused the focus of attention ('concentration') of the speaker with FOCUS as a system of APPRAISAL.