The fact that "is the pope Catholic" is not structurally ambiguous and "call me a taxi" is occurred to me right after I hit the send button.  Not a good example.  

Herb

Herbert F. W. Stahlke, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of English
Ball State University
Muncie, IN  47306
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________________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Bruce Despain [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: December 7, 2009 5:49 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Pragmatics and Grammar

The analogous aspect of the two examples is clearly only in having "pragmatic solutions."  The interpretation of an rhetorical question might easily be pointed out by the expected answer being its salient content.  The yes-no question is not for information here but for a response to another yes-no question.  The "analogous example" requires the utilization of the ambiguous verb "call."   Both ready interpretations are imperatives.  The most likely one, of course, requires the interpretation of "me" to be an indirect object whereas the humorous one requires the "me" to be a direct object having its own complement.  Interpretation generally involves smoothing out rough edges cause by grammar.  Intentional discontinuities between the two make for a rich language.  I think linguistics has a lot to offer in this area.
________________________________________
From: Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar [[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of STAHLKE, HERBERT F [[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Sunday, December 06, 2009 9:12 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Dennis Baron's article

Bob,

Let me recommend Mira Ariel's superb /Pragmatics and Grammar/ (Cambridge 2008) for a detailed and thoughtful coverage of issues involved in the relationships between pragmatics and grammar.  I won't attempt to repeat her arguments here, but there is substantial evidence of such relationships.  By the way, your "Is the pope Catholic?" example is analogous to the "Call me a taxi" problem, which has a clear pragmatic solution.

Ariel's book is a great read.

Herb

Herbert F. W. Stahlke, Ph.D.
Emeritus Professor of English
Ball State University
Muncie, IN  47306
[log in to unmask]


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