Extracting Information

Unprocessed data I suppose they must be,

thought Lydia, shrugging, and wondering also whether the modern tendency, which was American in origin, to tell everybody everything before they'd even got the first olive off the cocktail stick had percolated as far as here.

(people) tell everybody everything. Ag Goal Th SU IO DO

Steps in processing Delimit the domain of the predicate (minima

l clause). Identify the participants. Distinguish arguments from adjuncts. Find referents Label arguments Assign GFs.

Delimiting the domain Types of sentences;

Simple: 1 clause I put the book on the shelf.

Compound: 2 or more ‘equal’ clauses I put the book on the shelf, but someone must have taken it. for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Complex: main clause and subordinate clause(s) I put the book on the shelf because I was finished with it. because, if, when,

Subordinate clauses Clauses that behave like adjuncts, modifier

s or arguments for a main clause. I will call you when I have some interesting i

nformation.[time adjunct] I will send you the book you have been look

ing for. [modifier] I believe that I have some interesting inform

ation for you.[DO]

Delimiting the domain 140 played rather a dirty trick on me

because he didn't tell me that I was expected to make a speech.

140 played rather a dirty trick on me because he didn't tell me that I was expected to make a speech.

Difficulties in delimiting O K, and I'd like you to be able to tell me no

t only something about him, her, but also obviously the three things that you don't currently know.

You tell me [not only X but also Y].

Difficulties Nothing, she told herself, could be worse

than this uncertainty, this sense of impending disaster.

[She] told [herself] [(that) nothing could be worse than this uncertainty, this sense of impending disaster].

Identifying participants Battling Elsie Stringer, 71, from Billingham, will tell

Euro MPs British pensions should be raised to equal those of all the other member countries.

who, what, to whom

Modifiers and clausal arguments who: Elsie Stringer to whom: MPs what: to raise pensions

[Battling Elsie Stringer, 71, from Billingham], will tell [Euro MPs] [ British pensions should be raised to equal those of all the other member countries].

Limit of clausal arguments He had to be in Amsterdam next week, he told he

r, and Rio in November, so they decided to get married in Brussels in the last week of October.

He had to be in Amsterdam next week, he told her, and Rio in November,

[He] told [her] [he had to be in Amsterdam next week, and Rio in November]

Arguments and adjuncts You told her about Shinko, after all, for no r

eason, gratis, thank you very much, I'll do the same for you some day.

[You] told [her] [about Shinko], {after all}, {for no reason, gratis,}

Arguments and adjuncts: order They are the love of my life, the only thing I live fo

r,'; 73-year-old Mrs Cass told magistrates at Wakefield, West Yorkshire.

[73-year-old Mrs Cass] told [magistrates] {at Wakefield, West Yorkshire} [‘they are the love of my life, the only thing I live for’].

Arguments and adjuncts:shared adjuncts When I started playing with white men I wa

s called a Nazi, a traitor and was told I would be put up against a wall and shot.

{When I started playing with white men} [I] was called a Nazi, a traitor and was told [I would be put up against a wall and shot].

Referents: pronouns If, as Defence Secretary Malcolm Rifkind sa

id (according to your report today) `;the Cold War is over';, would he therefore tell us why we still need Trident?

Hidden arguments Wait for the look on Harriet Shakespeare's face to tell you

who you are.

who tells?

The look on Harriet Shakespeare's face tells you who you are.

Hidden arguments If someone wants to buy a printer or 20 disk

ettes from us it would be pointless to tell them they'll have to go elsewhere.

Who tells? We tell them they'll have to go elsewhere.

Hidden arguments Even so, there is no unchallengeable rule b

ook or authority you can turn to which will tell you exactly what is standard and what is not.

Who tells? book… which will tell you exactly what is st

andard and what is not.

Hidden arguments Subject of infinitives: ‘I asked him to come.’;

‘I want to go.’ Referent of relative pronoun: ‘Let me talk to

the guy who wrote this.’

Missing arguments Tell them this is their programmed.

Who tells?

Missing arguments Unless, that is, two groups happen to tell

each other and it turns out that both have had the same or similar experiences.

Tell what?

Missing arguments John drinks. --> John drinks alcohol.

* gin, water, coffee, liquids

John smokes. --> John smokes cigarettes. * Marlboros, a pipe

Every morning I read. --> I read a book. * The newspaper, Robinson Crusoe, printed matter

John drives. --> John drives a car. * a Toyota, a motorcycle, a truck, a vehicle

Missing arguments Mother baked some potatoes. Mother baked. (something) John teaches math. John teaches . (something) Mary vacuumed the carpet. Mary vacuumed. (somewhere)

Missing arguments Mary dressed the doll. Mary dressed. (herself) John shaved the dog. John shaved. (himself) Mary washed the dishes. Mary washed. (herself)

Missing arguments I waved a scarf. I waved. (hands) I pointed the gun. I pointed. (finger) I rinsed the cups. I rinsed. (hair, mouth)

Missing arguments Some missing arguments are understood in

fixed ways. Some arguments are clear from the

context. Sometimes, a missing argument signals a

special meaning. In winter you can look out of the window and tell

it's 2°C outside. tell= understand