Syntax and Pseudoclefts: Understanding Constituency in Linguistics - Prof. Rajesh Bhatt, Assignments of Linguistics

Download Syntax and Pseudoclefts: Understanding Constituency in Linguistics - Prof. Rajesh Bhatt and more Assignments Linguistics in PDF only on Docsity! Introduction to Syntax, LINGUIST 401 Assigned: Mar 3, 2005, Due: Mar 10, 2005 Assignment 5 1. Pseudoclefts can be used to provide evidence for the constituency of a sequence of words. If a sequence of words can appear in the postcopular position of a pseudocleft, then that sequence of words forms a constituent. (1) a. I love pepperoni and smoked turkey. b. Pseudocleft: What I love is pepperoni and smoked turkey. pepperoni and smoked turkey appears as the postcopular sequence of the pseudocleft in (1b). Hence we can conclude that it is a constituent. Some other examples demonstrating pseudoclefts are provided below. (2) a. i. We donated a dialysis machine to the nephrology unit. ii. What we donated a dialysis machine to was the nephrology unit. b. i. Roumi and Dave soaked their feet after dinner. ii. When Roumi and Dave soaked their feet was after dinner. c. i. Roumi and Dave soaked their feet in the kitchen. ii. Where Roumi and Dave soaked their feet was in the kitchen. ((2b, c.ii) are stilted and unnatural. For the purposes of this exercise, please ignore this stiltedness. It might help you to read (2b.ii) prefixed by The time, and (2b.iii) prefixed by The place.) a. Provide an explicit procedure which explains how to form a pseudocleft out of a simple sen- tence. b. Check if your procedure extends to the following case. (3) a. Roumi and Dave soaked their feet in a bucket. b. What Roumi and Dave did was soak their feet in a bucket. If it does, show that it does. If it does, show where it breaks down, and modify it so that it can handle (3). c. Apply your procedure to the following sequences of words from (2b.i). Discuss what your results mean for the constituency of this sentence. (4) a. their feet after dinner b. Roumi and Dave c. soak their feet 2. The following sentences look superficially similar.