Introduction to Linguistics - Extra Practice with Semantic Rules I and II James Madison University

NOTE: This is not a required assignment. If you want, however, you may submit it in class on 2/25/20 as a replacement for one missing/skipped assignment. An answer sheet will be handed out on that date, for study purposes.

1. Examine the following lexical entries for the verbs "float" (an intransitive verb that can form a VP without a complement) and "drop" (which is transitive, i.e. which requries an NP complement) and then answer the questions below. (Note that, just for html formatting reasons, semi-colons rather than angle brackets are being used both to separate both the individual elements in the set of meanings for "float" and also to separate one pair from another in the meaning of "drop.")
   FLOAT: {boat; raft; bubble; cloud; leaf}
   DROP: { Charlie, pumpkin; Bernice, watermelon; Buddy, bone; Vic, package; Margo, pumpkin}
   
   1. Based on semantic rules I and II, what is the meaning of each of the following:
      
      1. A cloud floats.
      2. An angel floats.
      3. Buddy drops a pumpkin.
      4. Francois drops a pumpkin.
      5. Vic drops a package.
   2. Based on just semantic rule II, what is the meaning of each of the following:
      
      1. drops a watermelon
      2. drops a pumpkin
      3. drops a key

      ---

      

      ---