for all you zeugmaphiles out there...

[Dennis R. Preston]

Metaphorically or even semantically (and in some cases grammatically)
distinct conjoinings are always interesting. I once had an MA
candidate years ago who did an experimental (grammaticality judgment)
survey, beginning with such absurdities as "He looked up her number
and then the stairwell." I remember being surprised at the number of
things found acceptable which we thought would be ruled out,
particularly the conjoining of these verb+particle and verb+PP forms
(which I find very ugly, although I'm not really happy with some of
the metaphoric conjoinings either - "He climbed the ladder of success
and his back stairs all in one day").

dInIs (who, fortunately, will not run for public office and be
branded a zeugmaphiliac, by Fox News or anybody else)









Headline in today's NYT Sports Section, p. D1:


Jones Makes Team, and a Statement

The reference is to Marion Jones, the track and field star recently
under investigation by the Anti-Doping Agency for using illegal
performance-enhancing drugs, which she has vigorously denied doing.
In previous trial heats for the U.S. Olympic team, Jones turned in
disappointing performances and there was some thought she might not
make the team, but yesterday she turned in a strong performance
(23'4") in the long jump.  So she made (= qualified for) the team,
and thereby (metaphorically) made a statement that the rumors of her
athletic demise were somewhat exaggerated.  Clearly very different
senses of "make" involved here that the headline writer intentionally
(one assumes) elided.

larry


--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic,
        Asian and African Languages
Wells Hall A-740
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1027 USA
Office: (517) 353-0740
Fax: (517) 432-2736