LINGUIST List 3.901

Sun 15 Nov 1992

Qs: Resumptive Auxiliaries; -is/-iyz

Editor for this issue: <>

Directory

1. Robert Beard, Resumptive auxiliaries
2. Michael Kac, -is/-iyz

 I am working on a morphological explanation of certain types of
movement and have come up with a hypothesis which predicts resump-
tive pronouns. It also strongly suggests in the case of Aux
and verb raising, e.g. German _Ist Hans gekommt_ and _Kommt Hans nach
Hause_, the possibility of resumptive auxiliaries. I suppose other
hypotheses predict something similar. I have not been able to find
anything which might count as a resumptive auxiliary and so would be
grateful for any suggestions as to where I might look.
 Please send any ideas directly to me at my personal address.
 --RBeard

Robert Beard, rbeardbucknell.edu

The discussion of pejorative terms reminded me of an explanation for the
pronunciation of *Chinese* one sometimes hears in which *-ese* is
pronounced [is] rather than [iz]. According to this explanation, the use of
[is] is to avoid the perception by the hearer that the speaker is pluralizing
the derogatory *Chinee*. Has anyone else heard this explanation? Is it on the
level?

Michael Kac