Chapter 8, Words and Sentences: The Interface between Morphology and Syntax Video Solutions, Introducing Morphology

Problem 1

Consider the sentences below and discuss how the passive is formed in Swahili. Use sentences $(\underline{8})-(\underline{10})$ in this chapter to help you gloss these sentences. Vitale (1981: 23, 31)
a. Juma a-li-fungua mlango 'Juma opened the door'
b. mlango u-li-fungu-liwa 'The door was opened'

Mayank Tripathi

Numerade Educator

Problem 2

Consider the prefix out-in English:
a. Fenster ran.
b. *Fenster ran Letitia.
c. Fenster outran Letitia.
d. *Fenster outran.
Describe the effect that the prefix out- has in sentences (a)-(d). Now, think of other verbs formed with out- in English. Does out- have a consistent effect on the argument structure of verbs it attaches to?

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04:42

Problem 3

Although phrasal compounds may seem somewhat exotic to you, they appear not infrequently in journalistic writing, especially in headlines, and in more informal writing, for example, on the sports pages or in feature writing. Choose your favorite newspaper and try to find two examples of phrasal compounds. Share your examples with classmates and try to analyze what sorts of phrases can occur as the first elements of your compounds.

Chris Kalnmals

Numerade Educator

01:26

Problem 4

Discuss the difference in argument structure and in verbal morphology between the pairs of sentences below:
a. Malagasy (Austronesian) (Keenan and Polinsky 1999: 604) i. mijaly Rabe suffers Rabe 'Rabe suffers' ii. mampijaly an-dRabe Rasoa
makes-suffer A c c-Rabe Rasoa
'Rasoa makes Rabe suffer'
b. Chichewa (Niger-Congo) (Mchombo 1999: 506)
i. Kalúlú akuphíká maûngu
Hare is cooking pumpkins
'The hare is cooking pumpkins'
ii. Kalúlú akuphíkíra mkángó maûngo
Hare is cooking lion pumpkins
'The hare is cooking pumpkins for the lion'

Emily Himsel

Numerade Educator

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Problem 5

Consider the English sentences below:
a. The water boiled.
b. Fenster boiled the water.
a. The tomatoes grew.
b. Letitia grew the tomatoes.
a. The door opened.
b. Roddy opened the door.
First discuss the difference in argument structure between the (a) sentences and the (b) sentences. Then compare these sentences to the Swahili sentences in (8) (see p. 170). Discuss the differences between the Swahili sentences and the ones here.

Lauren Long

Numerade Educator

Problem 6

Musqueam (Salish) exhibits an interesting set of morphologically related verbs that differ in valency. Analyze the following forms and describe both the affixes used and their effects on argument structure (Suttles 2004: 235) (note that the first two examples are a bit different from the second two):
$$
\begin{array}{|c|c|c|c|c|c|}
\hline \text { háy } & \text { 'finish' } & \text { shá'? } & \text { 'finished' } & \text { shá'? st?xw } & \text { 'have it finished' } \\
\hline \text { tólqt } & \text { ‘dip it’ } & \text { s?éla } & \begin{array}{l}
\text { 'in the } \\
\text { water' }
\end{array} & \text { s?élqstaxw } & \begin{array}{l}
\text { 'keep it in } \\
\text { the water' }
\end{array} \\
\hline \text { xé' 't't } & \text { 'measure } & \text { t'sx? e?é 't } & \begin{array}{l}
\text { 'measured, } \\
\text { marked' }
\end{array} & \text { sx? e?étetstaxw } & \begin{array}{l}
\text { 'blaze (as a } \\
\text { trail), designate } \\
\text { (as a time)' }
\end{array} \\
\hline \text { ?áyt } & \text { 'fixit' } & \text { s????? } & \text { 'right' } & & \text { 'keep it on course' } \\
\hline
\end{array}
$$

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Problem 7

For each of the adjectives below, check in COCA whether you can find the morphological comparative and superlative, the periphrastic comparative and superlative, or both. For example, for the adjective pure, you'd look for purer, more pure, purest, and most pure. See what you find and discuss the factors that seem to influence the choice of the morphological and periphrastic forms.
weird
winning (as in $a$ winning team)
happy
famous
1. As we will see in Chapter 11, not all morphologists believe that there is a strict - or even fuzzy separation between morphology and syntax.
2. The relative case is the case of the transitive subject in West Greenlandic.
3. T/A means 'tense/aspect'; D O means 'direct object'.
4. Bauer $(1993: 396-7)$ actually shows that there are several suffixes that make verbs passive in Maori.

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