flip-flop predicates

[David Tuggy]

     Bert.Peeters at utas.edu.anu writes:
In my own usage of Dutch (Flemish, the Belgian variety), "wat mankeer je" is mos
tly
used not to enquire about a person's ailments, but about what (s)he appears to b
e
missing. For ailments, I'd rather say "wat mankeert er" (and I would translate i
t
as
"what is it that ails"). Even so, the problem is the same verb would never be us
ed
in the answer, and I think Leon Stassen's usage wouldn't differ from mine in thi
s
respect. Therefore, oblique marking on the ailment is unverifiable and it's not
a
complete flip-flop.

Bert

--

Dr Bert Peeters
Acting Head
School of English & European Languages & Literatures
University of Tasmania
GPO Box 252-82
Hobart TAS 7001, Australia

Tel.: +61 (0)3 6226 2344
Fax.: +61 (0)3 6226 7631
E-mail: Bert.Peeters at utas.edu.au
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