What is the structure of this quote?

[Cap1034]

“One farmer says to me, 'You cannot live on vegetable food solely, for it furnishes nothing to make bones with;' and so he religiously devotes a part of his day to supplying his system with the raw material of bones; walking all the while he talks behind his oxen, which, with vegetable-made bones, jerk him and his lumbering plow along in spite of every obstacle.”


This is a quote from Henry Therou.

I want to know the structure of this.

"walking"...is this part of "devote his day to..."?

And "behind his oxen"
Does this explain, "walk" or "talk" here?
Both are possible?

 

[MikeNewYork]

“One farmer says to me, 'You cannot live on vegetable food solely, for it furnishes nothing to make bones with;' and so he religiously devotes a part of his day to supplying his system with the raw material of bones; walking all the while he talks behind his oxen, which, with vegetable-made bones, jerk him and his lumbering plow along in spite of every obstacle.”


This is a quote from Henry Therou.

I want to know the structure of this.

"walking"...is this part of "devote his day to..."?

And "behind his oxen"
Does this explain, "walk" or "talk" here?
Both are possible?

"Walking" (and the words that follow) is describing the farmer.

"Behind his oxen" modifies "walking".

 

[Cap1034]

Thank you.
Is this -ing function of "walking" like this?
I left New York at 6, arriving in California at 9.

 

[MikeNewYork]

Thank you.
Is this -ing function of "walking" like this?
I left New York at 6, arriving in California at 9.

I don't what you mean by "is a function of". Participles with an -ing form often modify nouns. Is that what you mean?

 

[Cap1034]

No, what I meant was why he didn't write it like "then he walks..."

 

[MikeNewYork]

No, what I meant was why he didn't write it like "then he walks..."

You would have to ask the author. English is a great language because it has a large vocabulary and multiple constructions to convey the same meanings. It leads to endless variety and endless vibrancy. Unfortunately, it also makes the language very complicated.

 

[Cap1034]

I see. Thank you.