Since clause conjunctions do not always appear in
surface structure, who is to say that they must exist in
deep structure? And, if they do exist, how do they
exist? For example, in the "since" vs. "because" query,
in deep structure does the clause conjunction exist as
a word (Which one?), an idea (causation), or as a
function (subordination)? Aren't we getting into
ontological arguments here? I'm not sure of how this
applies to the high-school or undergraduate college
classroom.
Just asking,
Ed V.
 
>>> MIKE MEDLEY
<[log in to unmask]> 11/05/97
10:29pm >>>
> ------------------------
> for every additional clause in a sentence there will
always be another clause
> conjunction to integrate it in.
> ---------------------------------
 
Sandie Holt responded to the above statement with the
following
question (which I expect she raised not to get an
answer, but to make
a point about the questionable statement above).
 
>
> What about a sentences with 2 clauses and only a
semi-colon between them?
>
Perhaps, we could say that the semi-colon itself
functions as a
conjunction.  That is probably how readers process it.
 
An important additional consideration may be that the
'conjunction'
or 'complementizer' words do not always appear in the
surface
structure (they are deletable or optional).  Therefore, it
will not
appear to students that there is a conjunction
integrating the
additional clause.  Examples:
 
My sister told me she would arrive on Tuesday.   (two
clauses, no
'integrating conjunction')
 
My sister, concerned about my health, came to visit
me last Tuesday.
(again two clauses, one reduced, but no integrating
conjunction).
 
 
 
 
**********************************************************************
R. Michael Medley       VPH 211                Ph: (712)
737-7047
Assistant Professor     Northwestern College
Department of English   Orange City, IA  51041
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