tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post997820067188742232..comments2024-02-28T05:25:12.859-05:00Comments on English, Jack: Defenders of the pronounBretthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02870575277556244419noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post-18782960536369548792007-08-23T23:26:00.000-05:002007-08-23T23:26:00.000-05:00OK, I think I understand this a little better now....OK, I think I understand this a little better now.<BR/><BR/>Dummy subjects do seem to create problems -- though replacing clauses doesn't seem to be so much.<BR/><BR/>I don't know. Obviously I'm not a linguist, just a dabbler. Most of what I know is from an introductory course and random web searching to find inspiration for conlangs.GAChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11756535843412579846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post-79856956318869342772007-08-23T19:41:00.000-05:002007-08-23T19:41:00.000-05:00I suppose you could get yourself out of that trap ...I suppose you could get yourself out of that trap by saying that 'that' and 'what' here are determiners, not pronouns.Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02870575277556244419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post-61195740316494388192007-08-23T19:15:00.000-05:002007-08-23T19:15:00.000-05:00I suppose "who" is "which person" and "what" is "w...I suppose "who" is "which person" and "what" is "which thing" - or "that person/thing" in relatives (but then, what is "that" replacing?)...The Ridger, FCDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538111197270563075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post-92098402490300397412007-08-23T16:10:00.000-05:002007-08-23T16:10:00.000-05:00Yes, usually pronouns replace NPs, but it's hard t...Yes, usually pronouns replace NPs, but it's hard to think what 'who' or 'what' might replace. Dummy subjects such as 'there' and 'it' are another problem. And as The Ridger has pointed out, you can have cases like: "When he's angry, you'll know it" where 'it' is replacing 'he's angry'.Bretthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02870575277556244419noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post-68041315334937193492007-08-23T15:39:00.000-05:002007-08-23T15:39:00.000-05:00Nouns are noun phrases. :-)However, pronouns repla...Nouns are noun phrases. :-)<BR/><BR/>However, pronouns replace anything from one noun to a massive complex clause. This is how you can tell they're pronouns. (Hint: what does "this" replace?)<BR/><BR/>As to the question - because they can speak and therefore they know what grammar is. They have an emotional connection to "knowing the language" which is, I suppose, connected to all the insults (lazy, sloppy, ignorant) that get applied to people whose usage differs from others'.The Ridger, FCDhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01538111197270563075noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post-83748712539478600902007-08-23T14:09:00.000-05:002007-08-23T14:09:00.000-05:00In my Linguistics 101 class, we were taught that p...In my Linguistics 101 class, we were taught that pronouns usually replace an entire noun phrase, rather than a noun. That doesn't cover "the new you" -- though I suppose that in that instance "you" would be a noun. Was I taught wrong, or am I missing the point?GAChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11756535843412579846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31830497.post-41370728126736375202007-08-23T09:35:00.000-05:002007-08-23T09:35:00.000-05:00Or even that grammar should be studied scientifica...Or even that grammar should be studied scientifically in the first place.alienvoordhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15185665427021380867noreply@blogger.com