Date sent: Tue, 14 Sep 1999 23:56:53 +0900
Subject: Re: Just Because Construction
From: "Kensei Sugayama" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
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These constructions (and those contributed by Nik and me) are
quite interesting. What distinguishes them from the JUST
BECAUSE one is the verb: BE seems not to exercise syntactic
(categorial) control over its dependents at all:
At the table is where I eat.
Where I eat is at the table.
Eat is what I do at the table.
What I do at the table is eat.
So I can eat is why I have a table.
Why I have a table is so I can eat.
etc.
Hmmm
> Joe wrote:
>
> > There are other nonnominal subjects:
> >
> > (4) a. Near the fire is warmer.
> > b. By the bed is fine.
> > c. Under the seat would be better.
>
> PPs as subjects were once discussed indetail in JL a few years ago. I
> cannot remember the author. What is different with these from the
> 'just because' examples. There seems to be nominal status of PPs
> above. Say, PPs referring to the place can be referred to by
> pronouns, which suggests that they are an instance of nouns.
>
> Best
>
> Kensei
> ******************************************
> Kensei Sugayama
> Department of English
> Kobe City University of Foreign Studies
> 9-1, Gakuen-higashi-machi
> Nishi-ku, Kobe 651-2187
> Japan
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>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> '-M : Joseph Hilferty <[log in to unmask]>
> ^ : <[log in to unmask]>
> '-M" : 1999"N9O14" 16:14
> O- : Re: Just Because Construction
>
>
> >
> > Kensei Sugayama wrote:
> > >
> > > Coming back to the JUST BECAUSE construction, my question is 'IS
> that
> > > the only environment where the BECAUSE clause appears as subject?'
> In
> > > other words, can you think of any place where the (just) because
> > > clause appears as subject other than before 'does not mean ....'
> >
> > First, let me say that it's good to see that everyone (Mark, And,
> Jasp,
> > Kensei, and myself) seems to agree that "because" is the subject. I
> > say this because, at first, I entertained the possibility that this
> was
> > a subjectless construction.
> >
> > I personally can't think of any other pattern that takes "because"
> > as the subject.
> >
> >
> > > If
> > > there is none, ca we say that it is a formulaic or
> conventionalised
> > > construction.
> >
> > As Jasp pointed out, you have to have "just because"--just "because"
> > won't do!
> >
> > (1) a. Just because I think Tinky Winky's cool doesn't mean I like
> > the Teletubbies.
> >
> > b. * Because I think Tinky Winky's cool doesn't mean I like
> > the Teletubbies.
> >
> > You also need the "doesn't":
> >
> > (2) a. Just because Bill Gates uses Linux doesn't mean that he
> > wants you to do the same.
> > b. * Just because Bill Gates uses Linux means that he wants
> > you to do the same.
> >
> > "Mean" as a complement of "doesn't" is definitely prototypical of
> > the construction, but I think that there are some other verbs that
> > can be used here too (they seem to take optional that-clauses):
> >
> > (3) a. Just because you work hard doesn't mean (that) you're going
> > to be rich.
> > b. Just because you work hard doesn't guarantee (that) you're
> > going to be rich.
> > c. *? Just because you work hard doesn't get you rich.
> >
> >
> > > I think this construction is a bit odd, because what
> > > occupies the subject position is a subordinate clause whose head
> is
> > > 'because', which does not have a nominal status in itself.
> Therefore
> > > the subject status of this because clause is thought to be given
> by
> > > the device of 'quote' as Jasper says.
> >
> > There are other nonnominal subjects:
> >
> > (4) a. Near the fire is warmer.
> > b. By the bed is fine.
> > c. Under the seat would be better.
> >
> > Joe
> > __________________________________________________________
> > Home page: http://lingua.fil.ub.es/~hilferty/homepage.html
> >
> >
> >
>
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