Contemporary Linguistics Analysis
Midterm Exam
Linguistics 322
Midterm Exam Answer Sheet Spring 2000 I.
Determine the full logical (argument) structure for the following sentence, derive its surface structure (short of moving the argument to the subject position): (35) (1)
March 2000
Those six brides eloped.
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File: 322.MT.S00.ans.fm
L322
Midterm Exam
VP (TP)
VP (RP)
T [+Past] [V\___] R [-Perf]
VP (AspP)
VP (PassP)
Asp [-Prog]
Vc [-Pass]
VP
NP NIL Nom
V ELOPE T +Past
D THAT +Def +Dem -Prox +Pl
ELOPE Vsuf Vstem T -Nom [+Past]
elope
-ed D NIL -> +Pl
±GS and ±Fem are no t t o be marked.
II.
NP Qu SIX +Ct +Pl Nom
NP
N
Nstem BRIDE [+Ct] [ Pl] +GS -Fem NIL Nom
NSuf [+Pl] -s
Determine the logical structure of the following sentence and derive their surface structures (short of moving the argument to the subject position). You may use a short form by listing NPs without expanding them. Explain each step in the drawn structure (you may omit NP): (35)
March 2000
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File: 322.MT.S00.ans.fm
Contemporary Linguistics Analysis
Midterm Exam
VP (TP)
VP (RP)
T [+Past] [V\___]
HAVE
R [+Perf] V\___
VP (AspP)
Asp [+Prog] V\___
VP (PassP)
BE Vst em T Vc VP HAVE [+Past] [+Pass] V\___ Vst em R V\___ BE ha BE [+Perf] NP V d V\___ NIL Nom REPAIR be NULL A BEACON -Nom Vst em Asp en BE [+Prog] V\___ barr ier be REPAIR T ing Vstem [+Pass] V\___ r epair ed had
(2)
been being repaired ( Kaoru: t his line is not required)
a beacon
A beacon had been being repaired.
[+Pass] is behind the establishment of the barrier to A Beacon which blocks the assignment of Case (-Nom) to it. Starting at the top, T needs a verbal host. It is blocked at V which already has an operator in its suffix position. To satisfy the need for a V host, the dummy verb HAVE is inserted--T governs [+Pass]. which conditions the choice of HAVE.
March 2000
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File: 322.MT.S00.ans.fm
L322
Midterm Exam
The same, except BE is selected since R governs [+Prog]. The same, except BE is selected since Asp governs [+Pass]. [+Pass] needs a host; the features associated with [+Pass] are copied down to V. Since the verb ELOPE is not irregular, [+Pass] is to be assigned to a suffix of the verb. Hence, the verb splits into a stem and an inflectional suffix. In the last stage, all the morphemes are splled out (green on the colourized tree).
III.
What motivates the insertion of dummy verbs and how is each dummy verb selected? Given an example in your explanation. You may use either I or II to explain or your answer. (10) If an operator is marked for requiring a verbal host, a verb host must be found for it. The operator must govern the potential landing site. If an operator has already been copied to the verbal head position, this site is closed (in English) to any more operator features. To fulfill the host requirement, a second strategy is required: insert a dummy verb. (first question). The choice of a dummy verb includes head (or chain) government. If the operator requiring a host (head)-governs a [+Perf], HAVE is inserted. If the operator (head)-governs either [+Prog] or [+Pass], the dummy verb BE is inserted.
IV.
What principle(s) do the following structures violate? Explain with the correct form of the sentence (a derivation is not required here): (20) (3)
a.
*This students ed ing buy a car.
b.
*A jackal ated a rabbit.
The intended sentences are: (4)
a.
These students were buying a car.
b.
A jackal had eaten a rabbit.
‘This students’: these two words fail to agree for the feature Plural. ‘-ed’: it requires a host. (3a) ‘ing’: it requires a host. (3a) ‘ated’: The feature [+Past] is assigned to EAT deriving ated. [+Perf] governs this position as the feature is assigned to EAT, which derives ‘eaten’. The feature [+Perf] must be assigned to this position first as it is closer. (3b)
March 2000
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File: 322.MT.S00.ans.fm
Contemporary Linguistics Analysis
Midterm Exam
Two operators are not permitted to be assigned to the suffix feature of an English verb.[+Past] is excluded from this position; a dummy verb must be inserted to function as the host for [+Perf]. The dummy verb must be HAVE, since [+Past] (head-)governs [+Perf].
March 2000
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File: 322.MT.S00.ans.fm
