Grammars and Lexicons: Fall Term 2003
Homework #4
Due: Wednesday, October 8, 2003


Use the data from Van Valin, Chapter 2, Problem 3.  
Do Tasks 1-5 below.

Task 1: 

Fill in the table below. One row is done as an example.  Include one
sentence number for each word form.  

You can reformat the table in Word, Excel, Tex, etc., but you don't have to.  

======================================================================
          subj.   obj.  loc.  instr.    recip.  ben.  agent   exp.
                                                      pass.   hungry
                                                              desid.

child

children

mother

elephant

elephants

stick            wati         wati kontuh (4)
                 (13)         watiyaal (9)
bird

bread

shirt

book

rice

bed
===========================================================================

subj. = subject
obj. = object
loc. = locative
instr. = instrument
recip. = recipient
ben. = benefactive
agent pass. = agent of passive
exp. hungry desid. = experiencer of "be hungry" and desideratives
  ("desiderative" is the word that linguists use for "want")

Task 2:
a.  In the table, what is nominative case used for?
b.  What is accusative case used for?
c.  What is dative case used for?
d.  What is instrumental case used for?

Task 3:
a.  How do you form a desiderative (want) sentence in Malayalam?
b.  How do you form a passive sentence in Malayalam?

Task 4:  Reflexive Pronouns
a.  In sentences 32 and 35, what is the grammatical relation of the
    antecedent of "swantam"?  
b.  What grammatical relation cannot be the antecedent of "swantam"?
c.  In sentences 33 and 36, what is the grammatical relation of the
    antececent of "awante"?
d.  What grammatical relation cannot be the antecedent of "awante"?
e.  Hypothesis 1:  The experiencer of a desiderative is a subject.
    Hypothesis 2:  The experiencer of a desiderative is not a subject.
    Which hypothesis is supported by example 34?
f.  Why?

Taks 5:  Controllers and Controllees of Adjunct Clauses
a.  In sentence 37, what is the grammatical relation of the
    controller?
b.  In sentence 37, what is the grammatical relation of the
    controllee? 
c.  In sentence 38, can a recipient with dative case be the
    controller?
d.  In sentence 43, can a recipient with dative case be the
    controllee? 
d.  In sentences 39 and 40, can a direct object be the controller?
e.  Hypothesis 1:  A dative experiencer is a subject. 
    Hypothesis 2:  A dative experiencer is not a subject. It is like
    other datives, for example, dative recipients. 
    Which hypothesis is supported by sentence 41?
f.  Why?
g.  Which hypothesis is supported by sentence 42?  
h.  Why?
i.  Hypothesis 1:  Dative and nominative NPs can be controllers and
    controllees of adjunct clauses. 
    Hypothesis 2:  Subjects can be controllers and controllees of 
    adjunct clauses.
    Which hypothesis is supported by sentence 43?

****Change to "Which Hyp is disproven by 43?" Because 43 is a
    counterexample to Hyp 1*****

j.  Why?
k.  Hypothesis 1:  Agents and experiencers can be controllers and
    controllees of adjunct clauses. 
    Hypothesis 2:  Subjects can be controllers and controllees of
    adjunct clauses. 
    Which hypothesis is supported by sentences 44 and 45?

****Hyp 1 is true as stated*****

l.  Why?