Palinkasocsi  +  653663 Sun, 25 Jan 09 05:35 PM Dear Forum Users, Look at the following: Sarcasm is made manifest as explicit indices of quotation (that is/are even mimed by hand gesture), intonational misfits, etc. My question is: Which is better to use: the singular or the plural? Logic would opt for the plural but if we referred to mimicry itself as a (single) notion, then the singular would be better. What do you natives think? Many thanks. Palinkasocsi Palinkasocsi Joined on Mon, Nov 26 2007 Hungary Full Member 268 Plurals

	Clive  +  653699 Sun, 25 Jan 09 06:27 PM Hi, Look at the following: Sarcasm is made manifest as explicit indices of quotation (that is/are even mimed by hand gesture), intonational misfits, etc. My question is: Which is better to use: the singular or the plural? Plural, since 'that' seems to refer to 'indices'. Logic would opt for the plural but if we referred to mimicry itself as a (single) notion, then the singular would be better. The word 'mimicry' is not mentioned here, and I see no suggestion that it is the subiect. I don't understand the meaning of  the phrases explicit indices of quotation and intonational misfits. Clive Clive Joined on Thu, Oct 28 2004 Canada Veteran Member 29,582 El tango argentino es un pensamiento triste que se puede bailar (The tango argentino is a sad thought which can be danced) Enrique Santos Discépolo Plurals

	CalifJim  +  653807 Sun, 25 Jan 09 09:02 PM Palinkasocsi “Which is better to use: the singular or the plural?” I don't think it's wise to invent a new constituent for the sentence on the basis of your imaginings, so I don't believe the noun mimicry has anything to do with it. There are only two possible antecedents of that:  indices (plural) and quotation (singular).  So it's a matter of what the relative clause is about. Is it talking about indices that are even mimed by hand gesture? Or is it talking about quotation that is even mimed by hand gesture? Personally, I'm drawing a total blank on what either of these things might mean.  CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,385 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Plurals, Clauses, Nouns, Arts, Writing, Sentences, Speaking, Chat, Friendships

	Yankee  +  653813 Sun, 25 Jan 09 09:10 PM Personally, I think that's a sentence that more than just a few people might find worthy of being sarcastic about. Yankee Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006 Connecticut, USA Veteran Member 6,491 Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain Sentences

	Palinkasocsi  +  654756 Mon, 26 Jan 09 07:19 PM The original sentence is: These separators are made manifest as explicit indices of quotation (that are even mimed by hand gesture), intonational misfits and hyperformality (for the details, see Haiman 1990, 1998). Don't worry, it absolutely makes sense for cognitive linguists. Next time I will try to reveal my concerns by paraphrasing my sentences with more care so that you can understand my problem better. Thanks for the answers. Palinkasocsi Palinkasocsi Sentences

	Palinkasocsi  +  654760 Mon, 26 Jan 09 07:30 PM What do you think:  In writing sarcasm is made manifest in the form of quotation marks that is/are even mimed by hand gesture in speaking. is or are? P. Palinkasocsi Punctuation, Quotation Marks, Speaking, Chat, Friendships

	Clive  +  654765 Mon, 26 Jan 09 07:32 PM Hi, These lingists seem pretty cunning to me. Clive Clive

	CalifJim  +  654800 Mon, 26 Jan 09 08:23 PM Palinkasocsi “that are even mimed by hand gesture” It just dawned on me that this refers to the gesture that people make to show quotation marks ( "   " ) by raising their arms and moving two fingers of each hand, much as if they were holding rabbit puppets and making the rabbits' ears wiggle! Right? CJ CalifJim Punctuation, Quotation Marks

	Grammar Geek  +  654880 Mon, 26 Jan 09 10:06 PM A habit I am trying desperately to break my daughter of! Recently I read a transcripted interview in which the subject repeated said things like "native, well quote-unquote native dancers." So now the little finger-quote gesture is making its way into spoken speech. Palinosocsi, with the "qutoation marks" you need the plural. Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,652 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Plurals, Interviews, Speaking, Speeches