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VP Conjunction, Relative Clauses

Ling 406/802

Read Meaning and Grammar, Ch 7.3-7.4

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Conjunction Reduction Analysis

• In [TP1 and TP2], parts of TP2 that are identical with parallel parts of

TP1 can be deleted. This deletion happens in phonology, so does not

affect meaning.

(1) a. Sam likes Gandalf and hates Gollum.

b. Sam likes Gandalf and Sam hates Gollum.

• But full and reduced [TP1 and TP2] do not always have the same

meaning.

(2) a. Every hobbit is short or fat.

b. Every hobbit is short or every hobbit is fat.

(3) a. An elf knows Gandalf and loves Aragorn.

b. An elf knows Gandalf and an elf loves Aragorn.

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Syntax of VP Conjunction

• VP $ VP Conj VP

• Examples

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Semantics of VP Conjunction

• Problem: So far, we have defined conjunctions to be sentential

operators, operating on formulas. But now, it looks like we need to

allow conjunctions to operate on predicates.

Can we keep conjunctions as sentential operators and yet allow

predicates to be conjoined?

• Solution: !-abstraction

For any 1-place predicates,

[Pred1 " Pred2] = !x[Pred1(x) " Pred2(x)]

[Pred1 # Pred2] = !x[Pred1(x) # Pred2(x)]

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Translating Every hobbit is short or is fat

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Translating Every hobbit is short or every hobbit is fat

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Translating An elf knows Gandalf and loves Aragorn

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Translating An elf knows Gandalf and an elf loves Aragorn

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Conjunction of 2-place Predicates

• For any 2-place predicates,

[Pred1 " Pred2] = !x !y[Pred1(x)(y) " Pred2(x)(y)]

[Pred1 # Pred2] = !x !y[Pred1(x)(y) # Pred2(x)(y)]

• Translate An elf knows and loves Aragorn.

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VP Conjunction with Quantifier

(4) Pippin [VP1 is cheery] and [VP2 knows every song]

• Problem: In order to translate/interpret (4), every song has to undergo

QR at LF. But it cannot move and adjoin to TP because movement out

of coordinate structure is highly constrained.

(5) *[Every song]1, [TP Pippin [VP1 is cheery] and [VP2 knows t1]

• Solution: QR to VP, and !-abstraction

[VP [NPi [every %] [VP …ti…] ]& = !y'xi[%&(xi)$VP&(y)]

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Translating Pippin is cheery and knows every song

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Syntax of Relative Clauses

(6) a. a bow [whichi Legolas owns t1]

b. the hobbit [who2 t2 has the ring]

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Semantics of Relative Clauses

• Relative clauses are 1-place predicates derived from sentences

The trace of the fronted wh-relative pronoun is interpreted as a

variable. The wh-relative pronoun behaves as a !-abstractor over that

variable.

[CP whi C’]& = !xi[C’&]

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• Relative clauses modify a head noun.

[N’ N CP]& = N& " CP& = !y[N&(y) " CP&(y)]

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Translating Gimli breaks a bow which Legolas owns