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Usenet Posted 17 years ago
Usage

Diagramming language usage in the Pledge of Allegiance by Francis


Many people wonder what the Pledge of Allegiance means. The following link shows a diagram of the pledge. http://rexcurry.net/pledge-of-allegiance-diagramming.html

A graphic image diagramming the pledge is at.
The Pledge was written by Francis Bellamy in 1892, however the diagram is of the post-1954 version of the pledge. There were modifications of Bellamy's original language and of the pledge's early shocking salute gesture.

For more information about language changes and gesture changes to Francis Bellamy's pledge see

The diagram is of this Pledge language: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, with liberty and justice for all."

Another way of diagramming the two major prepositional phrases (beginning with "to") would be to put them both under "pledge" and to connect the two to's with a horizontal dotted line with "and" typed above it. That would lead to a very wide diagram.
An earlier version of this diagram included the prepositional phrases under "allegiance," but Dennis Beach (of St. John's University/College of St. Benedict in Collegeville, Minnesota) believes that they properly modify the verb "pledge." Mary Steele has made other helpful suggestions.
The final prepositional phrase, "for all," is diagrammed in such a way that it will modify both "liberty" and "justice." Another interpretation is that the phrase is meant to modify only "justice" and, if so, then the phrase will be attached to the horizontal line below that word and there will be no dotted line to "liberty."

Some people would put "the United States of America" all on one line, since it is, indeed, one proper noun. This is probably correct, and it is shown as an option below. In the original version, the country's name is shown as one word, "States," with accompanying modifiers. Ann F. Reyna suggested that "States" should be placed on a pedestal which would allow placement of modifiers under it.
"One nation. . . " is regarded as an appositive for "Republic" in this rendering.
There may be alternative ideas for the placement and function of "for which it stands" (or of the entire sentence, for that matter).

  

Top answer

[nq:1]The diagram is of this Pledge language: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and ... St. [/nq] I think it is saying "I pledge to have allegiance to the flag ...

  • [nq:1]The diagram is of this Pledge language: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and ...
  • St.
  • [/nq] I think it is saying "I pledge to have allegiance to the flag ...
  • and the republic", not "I pledge to the flag ...
  • and the republic to have allegiance".
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2 Answers
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[nq:1]The diagram is of this Pledge language: "I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and ... St. Benedict in Collegeville, Minnesota) believes that they properly modify the verb "pledge." Mary Steele has made other helpful suggestions.[/nq]
I think it is saying "I pledge to have allegiance to the flag ... and the republic", not "I pledge to the flag ... and the republ
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[nq:1]I think it is saying "I pledge to have allegiance to the flag ... and the republic", not "I pledge to the flag ... and the republic to have allegiance".[/nq]
A pledge is a promise to give something. You promise to give your allegiance to the flag and the republic, same as you might pledge money to a church. The prepositional phrase is in place of an indirect object.

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