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1.3 Compound and Noun Phrase Ambiguities

English words can combine to form compound words, sometimes referred to simply as compounds (such as car-phone, windmill, golf club). (For discussion of compounds, see Linguistics, pp. 32-35 and 50-52.) A major indicator that a sequence of two words is a compound is that the relative prominence (emphasis, stress) occurs on the first word. Consider the words green and house. The sequence green house is a compound if green is emphasized (represented here as GREEN house). A GREEN house is a building, usually made of glass, in which plants are grown. However, if the word house is stressed (green HOUSE), then the sequence green house is not a compound but a noun phrase that is composed of the adjective green modifying the noun house. Thus, a green HOUSE is a house that is green.

There are other differences between noun phrases and compounds. First, the comparative -er, which attaches to adjectives (richer, smaller, etc.), can attach to green in the noun phrase green HOUSE to yield greener house. The compound interpretation is not possible in this case. Second, in the case of the noun phrase green HOUSE additional adjectives may be conjoined with green. For example, someone who talks about a green and yellow house is still referring to a house that is (in part) green. However, the expression and yellow cannot interrupt the members of a compound (*GREENandyellowhouse).

Like simple nouns, compounds can be ambiguous. In fact, a compound can acquire a second or third meaning through the creative use of language. For example, egg roll can be used to refer either to a certain kind of Chinese food or to an activity that takes place (e.g., at the White House) around Easter.

Humor often taps heretofore mthought-of ambiguities. For each pair of drawings, you are to determine (1) whether the combination of words under the drawing is an ambiguous compound (a compound that is associated with two different meanings, like the example egg roll) or (2) whether the combination of words can be understood either as a compound or as a noun phrase (like the example green HOUSWGREEN house). Study the drawings and answer questions A, B, and (optionally) C.

3. Big-Top

4. Cat-Food

Questions

A.Which combinations of two words are ambiguous compound nouns? (List them by number.)

B.Which combinations of two words could be either a noun phrase or a compound noun? (List them by number.)

C.(Optional) Either draw or describe a drawing or situation similar to the pairs found in this exercise. That is, find a case of (1) a compound that has two possible meanings or (2) a case of a sequence of words that are interpretable either as a compound or as a noun phrase.

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1.4 Word Building 7: -ness Affixation (English)

For this exercise, consider the following words:

Questions

State the word formation rule for the affix -ness, using the following format (see

Linguistics, pp. 35-40):

A.Phonological change

B.Category change

1.What part of speech does -ness attach to? That is, what is the part of speech of the words in list I?

2.What is the part of speech of the derived word? That is, what is the part of speech of the words in list II?

C.Semantic change

What meaning change is caused by the suffix -ness? That is, in the ideal case, what element of meaning does it contribute?

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7.5 Word Building 2: -li ke Aflixation (English)

Examine the data in lists I and II and answer questions A-F. It will be helpful to review the material in Linguistics on parts of speech (pp. 19-23).

Questions

A.The morpheme like combines with a word of what category (part of speech)? That is, what category is X in X-like?

B.The words in list I1 all belong to what category?