Negation

Hello, Pastel ! Thank you for your reply.

I understand you. I am the first to admit that my view is restricted within my narrow ... I dare say ... theoretical point of view !

But what I wanted to say is a little bit different. As you said, what is important is the scope of negation. I agree with you about that.

But how could we construct sentences (3) and (4) in a compositional way...? In the existing framework, as far as I'm aware of, we cannot put ONLY or into the scope of negation. In order to achieve this we should think up some technical devices. (Is it possible in the first place...?)

On the other hand, sentence-negation and verb-phrase-negation are easy to put into the existing framework.

So I thought: we can understand not only as a verb-phrase modifier, but also as a sentential complement... and sent my post.

I'm sorry if I don't make myself clear. Anyway, this matter is really interesting. I will think it over again. Thank you very much, Pastel !

Hi, Roro!

Cleft sentences are useful in writing beacue it's not easy to use intonation to stress written language.

we cannot put ONLY or into the scope of negation.

I partially disagree. Yes, ESL teachers(or others) can use underline, bracket, or whatever devices to hightlight the emphasis on the board. Yet, I'd say it's not suitable in formal writing. But for advertising business, it could be another business. Who knows?

He has not lived here for five years.

Scenario:Has he lived here for 5 years? No, not him. It's his wife.
==> "not" negates "subject"

There are some I can think of now,
==> It is not Josh who has lived here for 5 years, but his wife.
==> It is not Josh but his wife who has lived here for 5 years.
==> The perosn who has lived here for 5 years in not Josh but his wife.
==> It's Josh's wife who has lived here for 5 years, not himself.
==> Josh's wife is the person who has lived here for 5 years, not Josh himself.


I have to go now. Let's see if anyone follows up. It IS interesting!



Au revoir!


Pastel