LINGUIST List 16.3501
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Thu Dec 08 2005
Qs: 'Not Yet' Constructions; Morphological Analyses
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<jessica linguistlist.org>
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Directory
1. Tony
Wright,
'Not Yet' Type Constructions
2. Zhao
Kim Lin,
Directions for Doing Morphological Analyses
Message 1: 'Not Yet' Type Constructions
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Date: 06-Dec-2005
From: Tony Wright <tonywrightmail.utexas.edu>
Subject: 'Not Yet' Type Constructions
I would like to ask if anyone knows of published research on the
semantics/morphosyntax of ''not yet'' type constructions in English or
other languages. An example of this kind of construction in English would
be as follows:
a. I have not seen Mary yet.
b. He did not steal the vegetables yet.
c. We don't yet offer discounts.
This contrasts with simple negation involving 'not':
d. I have not seen Mary.
e. He did not steal the vegetables.
f. We don't offer discounts.
Note that the English ''not yet'' construction is morphologically complex,
in that it involves two free morphemes, ''not'' and ''yet'' which sometimes
can be, but are not strictly required to be, adjacent. So far I am aware
of similar, morphologically complex constructions in Spanish, French,
Mandarin and Taiwanese.
Two queries:
1. I have not been able to find literature on this English construction or
its equivalents in other languages, and I'd be grateful if anyone could
point me to some research on this type of construction.
2. I would like to know if anyone is aware of a ''not yet'' type
construction in another language which is morphologically simple, for
example, that involves only a single free morpheme instead of two free
morphemes, or that involves a affix.
An example from American Sign Language:
g. I NOT-YET SEE MARY.
Here, NOT-YET is a single, morphologically-simple lexical item (a single,
mono-morphemic word). I haven't yet been able to find other examples of
morphologically-simple ''not-yet'' constructions in spoken languages.
Any information concerning these questions would be much appreciated.
Please reply to tonywrightmail.utexas.edu
Thank you.
--Tony Wright
Linguistic Field(s):
Morphology
Semantics
Syntax
Message 2: Directions for Doing Morphological Analyses
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Date: 04-Dec-2005
From: Zhao Kim Lin <zhao_kim_linyahoo.ca>
Subject: Directions for Doing Morphological Analyses
Dear Linguists,
Are you aware of any well-written and comprehensive set of instructions and
guidelines (including a comprehensive list of abbreviations) used in doing
morpheme-by-morpheme analyses of (unwritten) languages? What I mean is as
follows: what punctuation marks, e.g., hyphen and/or period, are used and
why? E.g., What is the correct practice for the English pronoun ''me'' --
''1SG-ACC'' ''1SG.ACC'', ''1SG.OBJ'', or ''1SG-OBJ''?
I especially need the instructions for fieldwork practices.
Thanks a lot for your cooperation.
Zhao Kim Lin
Linguistic Field(s):
Morphology
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