21.1078, Disc: Ross's Rule

[linguist at LINGUISTLIST.ORG]

LINGUIST List: Vol-21-1078. Fri Mar 05 2010. ISSN: 1068 - 4875.

Subject: 21.1078, Disc: Ross's Rule

Moderators: Anthony Aristar, Eastern Michigan U <aristar at linguistlist.org>
            Helen Aristar-Dry, Eastern Michigan U <hdry at linguistlist.org>
 
Reviews: Monica Macaulay, U of Wisconsin-Madison  
Eric Raimy, U of Wisconsin-Madison  
Joseph Salmons, U of Wisconsin-Madison  
Anja Wanner, U of Wisconsin-Madison  
       <reviews at linguistlist.org> 

Homepage: http://linguistlist.org/

The LINGUIST List is funded by Eastern Michigan University, 
and donations from subscribers and publishers.

Editor for this issue: Elyssa Winzeler <elyssa at linguistlist.org>
================================================================  

To post to LINGUIST, use our convenient web form at
http://linguistlist.org/LL/posttolinguist.cfm.

===========================Directory==============================  

1)
Date: 02-Mar-2010
From: Joe Calabrese < calabj at unr.edu >
Subject: Ross's Rule
 

	
-------------------------Message 1 ---------------------------------- 
Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:16:25
From: Joe Calabrese [calabj at unr.edu]
Subject: Ross's Rule

E-mail this message to a friend:
http://linguistlist.org/issues/emailmessage/verification.cfm?iss=21-1078.html&submissionid=2613894&topicid=5&msgnumber=1
  


R.L Trask mentions two rules in 'Language: The Basics,' (pp. 34) one of
which is referred to by Trask as 'Ross's rule', or the complex noun phrase
constraint.

1. Example: 'The guests who arrived in a car are ready to go home.'

Does Ross's rule say we can't ask a (grammatical question) about the car in
the relative clause?

How about 'Which car did the guests who are ready to leave arrive in?' 

2.  Concerning the 'complex noun phrase constraint': We can't ask a
question about the car in 'The rumor that John has stolen a car is
completely untrue.'

But, isn't the following a grammatical question about the car?

'Which is the car that the false rumor claims John has stolen?'

I appreciate any attention you might give to this. 


Linguistic Field(s): Syntax




-----------------------------------------------------------
This Year the LINGUIST List hopes to raise $65,000. This money will go to help 
keep the List running by supporting all of our Student Editors for the coming year.

See below for donation instructions, and don't forget to check out our Space Fund 
Drive 2010 and join us for a great journey!

http://linguistlist.org/fund-drive/2010/

There are many ways to donate to LINGUIST!

You can donate right now using our secure credit card form at  
https://linguistlist.org/donation/donate/donate1.cfm

Alternatively you can also pledge right now and pay later. To do so, go to: 
https://linguistlist.org/donation/pledge/pledge1.cfm

For all information on donating and pledging, including information on how to 
donate by check, money order, or wire transfer, please visit: 
http://linguistlist.org/donation/

The LINGUIST List is under the umbrella of Eastern Michigan University and as 
such can receive donations through the EMU Foundation, which is a registered 
501(c) Non Profit organization. Our Federal Tax number is 38-6005986. These 
donations can be offset against your federal and sometimes your state tax return 
(U.S. tax payers only). For more information visit the IRS Web-Site, or contact 
your financial advisor.

Many companies also offer a gift matching program, such that they will match 
any gift you make to a non-profit organization. Normally this entails your 
contacting your human resources department and sending us a form that the 
EMU Foundation fills in and returns to your employer. This is generally a simple 
administrative procedure that doubles the value of your gift to LINGUIST, without 
costing you an extra penny. Please take a moment to check if your company 
operates such a program.

Thank you very much for your support of LINGUIST! 
-----------------------------------------------------------
LINGUIST List: Vol-21-1078