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b-hebrew - Re: Re[3]: ex 26 + 36.8ff, (36.29)

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  • From: Doug Kasten <doug.kasten AT juno.com>
  • To: dwashbur AT nyx.net, b-hebrew AT franklin.oit.unc.edu
  • Subject: Re: Re[3]: ex 26 + 36.8ff, (36.29)
  • Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1999 15:29:51 EST


Dave,

I'm not exactly following everything pertaining to this thread. However,
I thought I spotted serious problems with your examples below. Comments
after your four examples.

On Wed, 27 Jan 1999 22:36:57 -0700 "Dave Washburn" <dwashbur AT nyx.net>
writes:
>Peter,
>> I am now starting to understand your privative model, thank you for
>> the explanation. Presumably you would say that an English simple
>> present is unmarked. So, consider:
>>
>> 1. This morning I read the newspaper.
>> 2. Every morning I read the newspaper.
>> 3. *This morning I write a letter to my mother.
>> 4. Every morning I write a letter to my mother.
>>
>> Why is 3 not permissible (except perhaps in a rather special
>discourse
>> context), whereas 1 is OK? Because there is an alternative form:

#3 IS possible, as is #1 with pronunciation 'reed'. Imagine this
context, which is perhaps not common but not at all contrived:
I get up early one morning and there're a million things to do.
My wife wants me to fix whatever and with firmness in my voice I say,
"This morning I read the paper and I write a letter to my mother." This
expresses a volitional aspect to the predication, as well as an immediacy
perhaps beyond "I'm going to....". Perhaps I've identified your special
discourse context, but I don't consider it unusual in any way.

>>
>> 5. This morning I wrote a letter to my mother.
>>
>> But how does your model account for this difference in behaviour
>> between "read" and "write"?
>
>The above examples assume that "read" is the same word in both
>sentences, but it's not. In spoken language the former is
>pronounced "red" and the latter "reed," as you know. The
>"alternate form" for "read" is present, it's just not represented as
>such in the written script. Hence, in the "real" language there is no
>
>difference in behavior.
>
>Dave Washburn
>http://www.nyx.net/~dwashbur
>A Bible that's falling apart means a life that isn't.
>
Peace,
Doug
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