rarity of preposition stranding

[Angus Grieve-Smith]

  On 10/2/2010 1:08 PM, Frederick J Newmeyer wrote:
> And nothing (I think) that explains why, despite its typological rarity and therefore possible 'nonfunctionality', English has steadily expanded its stranded preposition possibilities over the centuries, from topicalizations ('John, I would never talk to') to wh-questions ('Who did you talk to') to passives ('John was talked to').
     All you need to explain that is analogical extension.

On 10/2/2010 1:12 PM, Daniel Everett wrote:
> But one could also ask why country music isn't found in Africa.

     I thought you knew to always double-check your data!

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=9450072

-- 
				-Angus B. Grieve-Smith
				grvsmth at panix.com