Summary CAN .1 Primitive Syntax
5.42.4 Summary
Our corpus yielded the following syntactic combinations: CAN THINK CAN SAY CAN DO CAN BE GOOD The following combinations were missing from our data: CAN HAPPEN CAN BE BAD 332Chapter 6 Analysis and Conclusion
In this chapter, we will be examining the raw results of our corpus search together with my own native intuitions to evaluate the viability of each of the syntactic valences in HCE. A gap in our data, that is, the absence of examples of a given syntactic valence, requires explanation. We need to explain why it is there and whether it should be interpreted as serious evidence against the existence of a particular valence. A gap might be incidental, the result of a defect in the NSM syntactic specification. Also, since the syntax of some primitives is unsettled, occasionally two alternative universal frames are proposed for the same meaning. For example, the frame YOU ARE A GOOD PERSON is a proposed alternative to the standard frame YOU ARE GOOD. Presumably, finding either one of these frames will establish that HCE has access to that meaning. A gap may be accidental, that is, we have so few examples of a given primitive that the probability of finding an example in the appropriate syntactic frame is relatively small. On the other hand, a gap may be systematic. If the gap manifests itself systematically for a particular class of syntactic constructions, this would indeed be persuasive evidence against the existence of a particular syntactic valence. For example, the most recent version of NSM which has not yet been as throughly investigated contains the primitive FAR. Our corpus contains examples of YOU ARE FAR, but no examples of I AM FAR. Should this be regarded as an accidental gap in the data? Or is there a real problem with the proposed valence? Both native intuition and common sense reject the latter possibility. First of all, FAR is relatively rare in our corpus. Secondly and more importantly, there is no principled reason why, in a given language, one would be able to say I AM FAR but not be able to say YOU ARE FAR. It simply doesn’t make any sense. Suppose, however, FAR was never predicated of people in HCE, but always of places. This kind of gap would be far more serious.6.1 YOU, I, SOMEONE, and PEOPLE
There were no problems with YOU, I, and SOMEONE as subjects to the mental predicates THINK, KNOW, WANT, SAY, and FEEL. There is, however, a possible problem with the primitive PEOPLE. Earlier, I argued that contrary to the NSM proposal, the primitive PEOPLE did not combine with the NSM determiners and quantifiers. While determiners and quantifiers allow us to refer to individuals, the primitive PEOPLE does not. In the same way, is it possible that FEEL is a property of individuals and not of groups? I don’t think so. I think rather the absence of the combination PEOPLE FEEL is an accidental gap. Both FEEL and PEOPLE are relatively infrequent lexical items. More importantly, sentences such as the following sound perfectly fine to me: 128 pipo fio baed if dei no kaen heop m aut ‘People feel bad if they can’t help someone out’ 129 pipo fio baed if no mo nating fo du ‘People feel bad if there is nothing to do’Parts
» e Book 61 Stanwood Adequacy Hawaii Creole English
» Concerning the present study Contents of chapters The hypothesis
» The NSM specification Introduction
» Falsification of hypothesis Validity of results
» Naturalness NSM as an approach to semantic analysis
» Substitutability NSM as an approach to semantic analysis
» How substitution works for articles
» Substituting one level at a time
» Directionality An overview of Natural Semantic Metalanguage
» The search for semantic primitives
» About the forms of primitives
» Cross-linguistic equivalence An overview of Natural Semantic Metalanguage
» The NSM specification An overview of Natural Semantic Metalanguage
» Specific concerns about the current NSM proposal
» Conclusion X feels like this
» History Hawai‛i Creole English
» Language attitudes Hawai‛i Creole English
» HCE and cognition Hawai‛i Creole English
» Standard English and cognitive development Linguists on the equality of languages
» Pattern of variation What to study
» The primitives Importance of primitives History and status of primitives
» Organization of following sections
» HCE candidates Examples of aimi
» HCE Candidates Examples of yu
» HCE candidates SOMEONE .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of samwan Examples of prsn
» Examples of sambadi SOMEONE .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of gai SOMEONE .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates Examples of pipo
» HCE candidates Examples of samting
» Examples of ting Examples of wat
» HCE candidates THINK .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of tink THINK .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates KNOW .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of no KNOW .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates SAY .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of sei SAY .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of tel SAY .1 Primitive Syntax
» Primitive Syntax HCE candidates
» Examples of laik WANT .1 Semantics
» Examples of wan WANT .1 Semantics
» HCE candidates FEEL .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of fio FEEL .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates Examples of du
» HCE Candidates Examples of dis
» HCE Candidates Examples of seim
» HCE Candidates Examples of ada
» Examples of eos OTHER .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates Examples of wan
» HCE Candidates Examples of tu
» HCE Candidates Examples of lats
» Examples of maeni MUCHMANY .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of mach MUCHMANY .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of pleni MUCHMANY .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates Examples of aw
» Examples of aweiz ALL .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of evribadi ALL .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of evriwan ALL .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates Examples of gud
» HCE Candidates HCE Examples Examples of baed
» HCE Candidates Examples of big
» HCE Candidates SMALL .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of smaw SMALL .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of lido SMALL .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates Examples of veri
» Examples of rili VERY .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates Examples of wen
» Examples of taim WHEN .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of samtaim WHEN .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates AFTER .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of aefta AFTER .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of aeftawad AFTER .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates Examples of bifo
» HCE Candidates WHERE .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of pleis WHERE .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of wea WHERE .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates Examples of anda
» Examples of andanit UNDER .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates ABOVE .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of abav ABOVE .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates PART .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of pat PART .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates KIND OF .1 Primitive Syntax
» X IS kain OF Y X IS THE SAME kain AS Y
» HCE Candidates LIKE .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of laik LIKE .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of jaslaik LIKE .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates Examples of bikaz
» Examples of kaz BECAUSE .1 Primitive syntax
» HCE Candidates IF .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of if IF .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Examples Examples of dondi’n
» Examples of no NOT .1 Primitive Syntax
» Examples of neva NOT .1 Primitive Syntax
» HCE Candidates Examples of kaen
» Summary CAN .1 Primitive Syntax
» YOU, I, SOMEONE, and PEOPLE SOMETHING and FEEL
» The other mental predicates: THINK, KNOW, SAY, WANT
» Activities and events: DO and HAPPEN Evaluators: GOOD, BAD
» Qualities: BIG, SMALL Intensifier: VERY Temporal: TIMEWHEN, AFTER, and BEFORE
» Locative: PLACEWHERE, UNDER, ABOVE
» PartonomyTaxonomy: PART OF, KIND OF LIKE
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