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Subclause Reform: Difference between revisions
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The '''Subclause Reform''' is a proposal that changes the grammar of subclauses to fix some ambiguities | The '''Subclause Reform''' is a proposal that changes the grammar of subclauses to fix some ambiguities and make them more naturalistic. It is inspired by the [[Mö|mö proposal]] and builds on insights from the article [https://www.sfu.ca/~kmoulton/Moulton_CPs.pdf CPs: Copies and Compositionality].<ref>See also [https://people.umass.edu/scable/LING753-SP20/Handouts/6.Moulton-2015.pdf Arguments Against CPs as Arguments], which presents the article in a more compelling lecture format and provides additional discussion.</ref> | ||
== Motivation == | == Motivation == | ||
In official Toaq, [[Content clause|content clauses]] have the exact same grammar as the main clause of a sentence, and can appear wherever a [[determiner phrase]] might appear. But this grammar actually turns out to be ambiguous! Consider the following sentence: | In official Toaq, [[Content clause|content clauses]] have the exact same grammar as the main clause of a sentence, and can appear wherever a [[determiner phrase]] might appear. But this grammar actually turns out to be ambiguous! Consider the following sentence: | ||
{{Example|Feq jí ꝡä za ruqshua râo ní nuaq.}} | {{Example|Feq jí ꝡä za ruqshua râo ní nuaq.}} | ||
Which verb does the adjunct {{T|râo ní nuaq}} modify? It's not clear where the subclause ends. This example could mean either "I | Which verb does the adjunct {{T|râo ní nuaq}} modify? It's not clear where the subclause ends. This example could mean either "I sense that tonight, it's going to rain" or "Tonight, I sense that it's going to rain". | ||
Another tricky thing is that in official Toaq, you can underfill verbs, for example by using a transitive verb intransitively: | Another tricky thing is that in official Toaq, you can underfill verbs, for example by using a transitive verb intransitively: | ||
{{Example|Leo nháo da.}} | {{Example|Leo nháo da.}} | ||
Now how would we say "It delights me that they tried"? If we allow verbs in subclauses to be underfilled, this also creates ambiguity | Now how would we say "It delights me that they tried"? If we allow verbs in subclauses to be underfilled, this also creates ambiguity: | ||
{{Example|Jaıca ꝡä leo nháo jí.}} | {{Example|Jaıca ꝡä leo nháo jí.}} | ||
Again, it's not clear where the subclause ends, because {{T|jí}} could belong to either the inner or outer clause, depending on which verb is underfilled. Clearly, we need a better solution. | Again, it's not clear where the subclause ends, because {{T|jí}} could belong to either the inner or outer clause, depending on which verb is underfilled. Clearly, we need a better solution. | ||
== Content clauses == | == Content clauses == | ||
To avoid ambiguity when a content clause has a trailing adverb, we say that subclauses starting with {{T|ꝡä}}/{{T|lä}}/etc. can only appear at the very end of a clause, coming ''after'' the outer clause's trailing adverbs: | To avoid ambiguity when a content clause has a trailing adverb, we say that subclauses starting with {{T|ꝡä}}/{{T|lä}}/etc. can only appear at the very end of a clause, coming ''after'' the outer clause's trailing adverbs:<ref>This word order is created by a remnant movement pattern: the CP starts in verbal argument position, then it moves up above TP, and finally the "remnant" of TP moves up above CP.</ref> | ||
{{Example|Zaı jí, ꝡä jıa tao nháo hóq nhûq súq.|I hope that they will do it for your sake.}}{{Example|Zaı jí nhûq súq, ꝡä jıa tao nháo hóq.|I hope for your sake that they will do it.}} | {{Example|Zaı jí, ꝡä jıa tao nháo hóq nhûq súq.|I hope that [they will do it for your sake].}}{{Example|Zaı jí nhûq súq, ꝡä jıa tao nháo hóq.|I hope for your sake that they will do it.}} | ||
Normally, such a clause will fill in the final slot of the verb. But if you want to use a content clause as the subject of a transitive verb, for example, then you can use the word {{T|có}}, which is a lot like the 'it' in English "'''It''' delights me '''that''' they tried".<ref>Syntactically, we understand {{T|có}} as a trace of type <math>\text{e}</math> that the CP leaves behind when it moves. This trace may be covert if it occurs in the verb's final slot.</ref> | Normally, such a clause will fill in the final slot of the verb. But if you want to use a content clause as the subject of a transitive verb, for example, then you can use the word {{T|có}}, which is a lot like the 'it' in English "'''It''' delights me '''that''' they tried".<ref>Syntactically, we understand {{T|có}} as a trace of type <math>\text{e}</math> that the CP leaves behind when it moves. This trace may be covert if it occurs in the verb's final slot.</ref> | ||
{{Example|Gı có, ꝡä tı súq ní.|It's good that you're here.}}{{Example|Jaıca có jí, ꝡä leo nháo.|It delights me that they tried.}} | {{Example|Gı có, ꝡä tı súq ní.|It's good that you're here.}}{{Example|Jaıca có jí, ꝡä leo nháo.|It delights me that they tried.}} | ||
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{{Example|Feq jí, ꝡá za ruqshua râo ní nuaq ía.|I sense that it's going to rain tonight.}} | {{Example|Feq jí, ꝡá za ruqshua râo ní nuaq ía.|I sense that it's going to rain tonight.}} | ||
This dummy argument {{T|ía}} corresponds to the 'it' in the English translation; it doesn't refer to anything, but is necessary for the sentence to be grammatical. | This dummy argument {{T|ía}} corresponds to the 'it' in the English translation; it doesn't refer to anything, but is necessary for the sentence to be grammatical. | ||
== See also == | |||
* [[Clause Reform]], which builds off of Subclause Reform | |||
== Footnotes == | |||
<references /> | |||