Section 2.1

Semantics 1中谷 健太郎 <kentaron@konan-u.ac.jp>

1 Handouts available from: http://www.konan-u.ac.jp/hp/nakatani/KC/

Exam I（Done）Exam II（6/18）Exam III (7/23)

Syntactic alternation and lexical concepts

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Terminology

Case-marking is widely attested in many languages.Four major “Cases” are:

Nominative CaseAccusative CaseDative CaseGenitive Case

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Dative alternation

1. Give a muffin to a moose.2. Give a moose a muffin.

3. John slid the glass to her.4. John slid her the glass.

5. Danielle brought the cat to her mother.6. Danielle brought her mother the cat.

Prepositional dative construction

Double-object dative construction

Alternation rule: V NP1 to NP2 ⇔ V NP2 NP1

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This alternation rule can be applied to novel words1. Could you fax the document to me?2. Could you fax me the document?

3. Bob emailed the message to her.4. Bob emailed her the message.

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Exceptions!

1. Goldie drove her car to the lake.2. *Goldie drove the lake her car.

3. The pilot flew the plane to Paris.4. *The pilot flew Paris the plane.

??Alternation rule: V NP1 to NP2 ⇔ V NP2 NP1

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Exceptions, #2!

1. Lend me your ears!2. *Lend your ears to me!

3. She gives us a headache.

4. ??She gives a headache to us.

??Alternation rule: V NP1 to NP2 ⇔ V NP2 NP1

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Problem of the rule acquisition

Some verbs allow: V NP1 to NP2 ⇔ V NP2 NP1Others allow V NP1 to NP2 but *V NP2 NP1Yet others allow V NP2 NP1 but *V NP1 to NP2

How can native speakers distinguish these three types of constructions, without having been given instructions from anybody??

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Object next to the verb = Focus of the change

1. Give a muffin to a moose.2. Give a moose a muffin.

→ the change in muffin→ the change in moose

9 In (1), the change applied to the muffin is the movement of the muffin.What about (2)? What kind of “change” can you observe in the state of the moose?

Lexical conceptual structure of the dative constructions1. To-dative (Prepositional dative)

x give y to z Lexical conceptual structure: x ACT-ON y ⇒

2. Double-object dative x give z y Lexical conceptual structure: x ACT-ON y ⇒

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Why exceptions?

1. Annette sent a package to her daughter.2. Annette sent her daughter a package.

3. Annette sent a package to London.4. *Annette sent London a package.

5. Cherie gave Jim a headache.6. ??Cherie gave a headache to Jim.

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Exceptions explained

1. Goldie drove her car to the lake.2. *Goldie drove the lake her car.

3. The pilot flew the plane to Paris.4. *The pilot flew Paris the plane.

??Alternation rule: V NP1 to NP2 ⇔ V NP2 NP1

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Exceptions explained

1. Lend me your ears!2. *Lend your ears to me!

??Alternation rule: V NP1 to NP2 ⇔ V NP2 NP1

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Another type of dative alternation

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Benefactive dative alternation

Double-object constructions can also be derived from benefactive dative constructions1. I bought a toy for my son.2. I bought my son a toy.

3. I baked a delicious cake for her.4. I baked her a delicious cake.

http://www.girlsaskguys.com/guys-behavior/q127103-how-can-find-myself-nice-boyfriend-who-tall

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Can’t buy me love (The Beatles, 1964)Can't buy me love, love

I'll buy you a diamond ring my friend if it makes you feel alright I'll get you anything my friend if it makes you feel alright 'Cause I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

I'll give you all I got to give if you say you love me too I may not have a lot to give but what I got I'll give to you I don't care too much for money, money can't buy me love

Can't buy me love, everybody tells me so Can't buy me love, no no no, no

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Cry Me a River (Julie London, 1955)

i. Now you say you're lonely You cry the whole night through Well, you can cry me a river Cry me a river I cried a river over you

ii. Now you say you're sorry For being so untrue Well, you can cry me a river Cry me a river I cried a river over you

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To alternate or not to alternate

When double-object dative doesn’t work1. He ate onions for his girlfriend (because she doesn’t like them).2. *He ate his girlfriend onions.

3. He fixed a sandwich for me. / He fixed me a sandwich.4. He fixed my car for me. / ??He fixed me my car.

5. He opened the door for her.6. ??He opened her the door.

7. He opened the beer for her.8. He opened her the beer.

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Lexical conceptual structure of the benefactive dative constructions1. for-dative:

x buy y for z Lexical conceptual structure: x BUY y ⇒

2. Benefactive double object x buy z y Lexical conceptual structure: x BUY y ⇒

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Benefactive dative alternation

When double-object dative doesn’t work1. He ate onions for his girlfriend (because she doesn’t like them).2. *He ate his girlfriend onions.

3. He fixed a sandwich for me. / He fixed me a sandwich.4. He fixed my car for me. / ??He fixed me my car.

5. He opened the door for her.6. ??He opened her the door.

7. He opened the beer for her.8. He opened her the beer.

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