A presentation on Ellipsis Seminar pp Grammar.pptx

Grammar

1. Ellipsis and Substitution Substitution Ellipsis To delete some elements To substitute some elements with others Our house is quite different from theirs . ( We have substitution because the origin phrase is "their house")

2. Quasi Ellipsis and Virtual Ellipsis Grammatical Variants morphological form Do-construction Quasi Virtual Homomorph Our house is quite different from their house/ theirs . She understands the problem better than he does . his = his house Note: No quasi ellipsis is there in sentences like: She would understand the problem better than he would . Because it is not a regular variant of the given construction.

3. Classification of Ellipsis

4. a. Anaphoric : the interpretation depends on what comes before . It is the dominant type of formal ellipsis Examples: When can I see you? ˄Tomorrow. = You can see me tomorrow. Where have they gone? ˄home = They have gone home . b. Cataphoric : the interpretation depends on what comes after. Examples : If you have been˄, thanks for listening. = If you have been listening to me , thanks for listening. If you want me to ˄, I ‘ll lend you my pen. = If you want me to lend you my pen , I’ll lend you my pen . Recoverability Type: Textual Ellipsis The interpretation depends on what is said or written in the linguistic context.

5. Recoverability Type: Situational Ellipsis The interpretation depends on knowledge of extralinguistic context. Cases of Situational Ellipsis Declarative sentences a. Ellipsis of Subject alone b. Ellipsis of Subject + operator a. ˄Beg your pardon. ˄Don’t know what to say. (I …) b. ˄Sorry I couldn’t be there . (I am…..)

6. Interrogative sentences a. Ellipsis of Subject + operator b. Ellipsis of operator alone a. ˄ Happy? = Are you….. , Are they ….. , Is he/she …., b. ˄ You hungry? = Are Other cases a. Ellipsis of an article b. Ellipsis of a preposition a. ˄ Friend of mine told me about it . (A ….) b. ˄ Course he is there. (Of …) Cases of Situational Ellipsis

7. Structural Ellipsis The interpretation depends on knowledge of grammatical structure, often confined to written language. Omission of determiners, pronouns, operators and other closed-class words in Block Language (headlines, Book titles, diaries, notes....) Examples: We are staying ˄another two weeks. = for

8. Formal Type Formally speaking, elliptical constructions are of three categories: Initial Ellipsis : Initial elements are ellipted (Subject and operator) (ellipsis on the left) e.g . He will come later, if ˄ at all . = he comes - Medial Ellipsis : medial elements of a unit are omitted. It is a structural illusion which results from looking at too large a constituent in the sentence. It is often treated as a special case of either initial or final ellipsis. e.g., His recent performance of Macbeth is the best ˄ he has ever done . - Final Ellipsis : Final elements are ellipted . (Ellipsis on the right) e.g., I have eaten more than you ˄. = have eaten

9. Functional Type Ellipsis General Special It is typically final and anaphoric. (1) General General Ellipitical NPs Elliptical Clauses Ellipsis in Wh -Clause Ellipsis in To -infinitive Ellipsis of an entire clause

10. General Ellipsis 1) Elliptical NPs (Nouns with pre and/or postmodifiers ) e.g ., My own camera , like Peter’s ˄, is new. a ) Adjectives and nouns as heads Helen is the older girl, but Julie is the taller˄ . b ) Ellipsis of Modifiers The second novel she wrote was very different from the first ˄. (Ellipsis here is (Head + postmodifier ))

11. General Ellipsis 2) Elliptical Clauses: (a number of cases p. 12 in the seminar) Example: I am happy if you are ˄. ( Complement ) 3 ) Ellipsis in Wh -Clause (The only part that remains is the wh -word) e.g. Somebody has hidden my notebook, but I don't know who/why/where ˄. 4) Ellipsis in to-infinitive clause ( The only part that remains is the particle to) e.g. You can borrow my pen, if you want to ˄. 5) Ellipsis of an entire clause You can borrow my pen, if you want ˄. If I am going too fast, please warn me (that I am going too fast)

12. Special Ellipsis

13. 1. A. Nonfinite Clause: Although (he was) exhausted by the climb, he continued his journey. B. Verbless Clauses: While (she was) at Oxford, she was active in the dramatic society.     2. In coordination e.g. I told him to go home , but he wouldn't ˄. (Final ellipsis ) Special Ellipsis

14. 3. In comparative clauses It allows both initial and final ellipsis. Ambiguity may occur. e.g. My uncle loved that dog more than his family (loved that dog). (Final ellipsis) My uncle loved that dog more than (my uncle loved) his family. (Initial ellipsis) In appended clauses An appended clause can be regarded as an elliptical clause (usually parenthetical or an afterthought). e.g. I caught the train – just. ( = I only just caught the train)

15. Summary