LINGUIST List 17.1884

Mon Jun 26 2006

Qs: Complement-taking Nouns; British English Speakers Needed

Editor for this issue: Jessica Boynton <jessicalinguistlist.org>


Directory         1.    Stephani Foraker, Complement-taking Nouns
        2.    Felicia Lee, British English Speakers Needed


Message 1: Complement-taking Nouns
Date: 25-Jun-2006
From: Stephani Foraker <sforakeruchicago.edu>
Subject: Complement-taking Nouns


Hello, Linguists,

I am looking for an authoritative list of complement-taking nouns (CTNs) inEnglish - preferrably for free, preferrably on-line or deliverableelectronically. Can anyone direct me to such a resource? I am familiar withKennison 2000 (JPR), which investigated nouns taking S-complements, basedon a certain semantic type (abstract, e.g., rumor-S). However, I'mprimarily interested in PP (postnominal) and attribute (prenominal)complements, which would also include concrete CTNs.

A second question is how CTNs taking PPs or (ADJ) attributes may beidentified. This would be useful to know more about even if a good list isavailable.

For example, following Radford, 1988 - ''one'' substitution test:noun-complement1) He is a student of physics / *and she's one of chemistry. He's a physics student / *and she's a chemistry one.modifier of noun1') He's a student with long hair / and she's one with short hair. He's a long-haired student / and she's a short-haired one.

Thoughts on these contrasts:2) Read me the story of Cinderella / *and then the one of Puss in Boots. (?) Read me the Cinderella story / *and then the Puss in Boots one.2') This is a story about dogs / and that's one about cats. This is a dog story / and that's a cat one. (?)2'') This is the story by Silverstein / and that's the one by Scarry. This is the Silverstein story / and that's the Scarry one. (?)2''') That is a long story / but here's a short one. That is a story that's long / but here's one that's short.

Suggestions and comments appreciated. Summary to follow, if applicable.

Stephani Foraker.sforakeruchicago.edu

Linguistic Field(s): Syntax
Subject Language(s): English (eng)
Message 2: British English Speakers Needed
Date: 23-Jun-2006
From: Felicia Lee <leefa99earthlink.net>
Subject: British English Speakers Needed


Hello all,

I am looking for native speakers of British English to answer a fewgrammaticality questions for me (regarding plural agreement with singulargroup nouns).

I'm asking anyone who is able and willing to help me to e-mail medirectly. I'll e-mail you the examples and will be most grateful for yourresponses!

Thank you so much,

Felicia

Linguistic Field(s): Syntax
Subject Language(s): English (eng)