Homework 4 - General Linguistics - Bùi Thị Mai Hoa

GENERAL LINGUISTICS
HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT – WEEK 4

Full name: Bùi Thị Mai Hoa - 21045247
Question 1: Syntax and Pragmatics (sentence and phrase structure,
different kinds of sentences and paragraph structure in relation to the use
of punctuation marks; politeness in language style/register, or formal vs.
informal register).
Rewrite the following story, supplying all necessary punctuation marks and
capitalizing proper letters to make it comply with standardized English writing
rules.
Where’s The B.C.
There was a rather old-fashioned lady, always quite delicate and
elegant, especially in language. She and her husband were planning a week’s
vacation in Florida, so she wrote to a campground and asked for a reservation.
She wanted to make sure the campground was fully equipped, but didn’t
know how to ask about the toilet facilities. She couldn’t bring herself to write
the word “toilet” in her letter. After much deliberation, she finally came up with
the old-fashion term, “bathroom commode”.
But after writing that down, she still thought she was being too forward.
So she rewrote the entire letter and referred to the bathroom commode merely
as the “B.C.” “Does the campground have its own B.C.” is what she actually
wrote.
Well, the campground owner wasn’t old fashioned at all and when he got
the letter, he just couldn’t figure out what the woman was talking about. That
“B.C.” business really stumped him.
He showed the letter to several couples, but they couldn’t imagine what
the lady meant either. So, the campground owner, finally coming to the
conclusion that the lady must be asking about the location of the nearest Baptist
Church. He sat down and wrote the following reply:
1
Dear Madam,
I regret the delay in answering your letter, but I now take pleasure of informing
you that a B.C. is located 9 miles north of the campground, and is capable of
seating 250 people at one time. It is located in a beautiful pine grove and is
opened only on Wednesdays and Sundays. I admit it is quite a distance away if
you are in the habit of going regularly, but no doubt you will be pleased to know
that many people take their lunches along and make a day of it. They usually
arrive early and stay late. My daughter met her husband in the B.C.
Sometimes it is so crowded, there are 5 to a seat. It may interest you to know

that right now, there is a supper planned to raise money to buy more seats. They
are going to hold it in the basement of the B.C.
It pains me very much not to be able to go more regularly, but it surely is not
due to lack of desire on my part. As we grow older, it seems to be more of an
effort, particularly in the cold weather.
If you decide to come down to our campground, perhaps I could go with you the
first time you go, sit with you, and introduce you to all the other folks. We will
be sure to get a seat up in the front where you can be seen by everyone.
Remember, we are a friendly community.
Sincerely,
Campground Owner
Question 2: Reference and Deixis; the role of linguistic and encyclopedic
knowledge: read the following story and answer the questions that follow!
a. A man appeared after the store-owner turned off the lights of his store.
(QUESTIONABLE)
We wonder that if the businessman and the store-owner are the same.
b. The thief was a man, not a woman. (TRUE) .
“a man appeared and demanded money” a man was a thief. A person is a
man, so its entailment he’s not a woman.
c. The man who appeared did not demand money. (FALSE)
A man did demand money.
2
d. The man who opened the cash register was the store-owner.
(QUESTIONABLE)
The story doesn’t say whether the owner was a man or a woman.
e. The store-owner took out the contents of the cash register and then ran out of
the store. It is FALSE.
The store-owner just opened the cash register and the thief took out the
contents of it and then ran out of the store.
f. After the man who demanded the money had taken out the contents of the
cash register, he fled as fast as he could. (QUESTIONABLE)
This sentence doesn’t say who taken out the contents of the cash register, so it’s
not clear as to whether the man who demanded the money also taken out the
contents of the cash register.
g. While the cash register did have money, the story doesn’t say how much.
(QUESTIONABLE)
Contents of the cash register is not detailed.
h.It was the daytime when the man appeared inside the store.
(QUESTIONABLE)
Time is not specified because the store may have lights all day.
Question 3: Explain the problems in the following account:
1. Flying planes can be dangerous.
This sentence has part-of-speech ambiguity. The possible meanings are: the
action of flying planes can be dangerous, and planes which fly can be
dangerous.
2. Chris owns large dogs and cats.
This sentence is structural ambiguity. The adjective “large” is linked to dogs but
not to cats.
3. Andrew will forget tomorrow.
The sentence is part-of-speech ambiguity, “tomorrow” is not a specific time.

3
4. One morning I shot an elephant in my pajamas.
This sentence has a structural ambiguity. The prepositional phrase “in my

pyjamas” is not clearly referred to the speaker or the elephant.
5. She cannot bear children.
This sentence has a lexical ambiguity. The verb “bear” means “endure” or
“continue to have something”.
6. He has polished shoes.
This sentence has part-of-speech ambiguity. Polished could be an adjective

describing the shoes or a verb referred the action in the past.
7. The panda eats shoots and leaves.
The sentence has part-of-speech ambiguity – “shoots” and “leaves” are nouns
referring to the food that the panda eats or they are verbs referring to the actions
of the panda after eating.
8. Fruit flies like bananas.
This sentence has part-of-speech ambiguity and lexical ambiguity. The word
“flies” has two meanings: an insect if it is a noun, if it is a verb, it refers to the
action of the fruit.
9. Bún chả ngon hay bún chả ngon?
This sentence has lexical ambiguity. The possible meanings of “chả”: not or
type of food.
10. Cột điện cao thế hay cột điện cao thế?
This sentence has lexical ambiguity and part of speech ambiguity. The word
“cao” has more than one meaning which is tall (an adjective) or electric pole (a
noun phrase when goes with “thế”).
11. Mất mạng hay là mất mạng?
4
This sentence has lexical ambiguity. “Mất mạng” has two possible meanings:
some interruption of the Internet or death.
12. Hổ mang bò lên núi hay hổ mang bò lên núi?
This sentence has lexical ambiguity and part-of-speech ambiguity. When

“mang” goes with “hổ”, it is one type of snake – rắn hổ mang, if “mang” is a
verb, it means to bring something to the mountain.
13. Năm con hổ đang đến hay là năm con hổ đang đến?
This sentence has lexical ambiguity. “Năm” has two meanings which are the the
year of tiger is coming or five tigers.
14. The sentence “QUYẾT ĐỊNH LIỀU TIÊM CHO TRẺ 5-11 TUỔI hay
QUYẾT ĐỊNH LIỀU TIÊM CHO TRẺ 5-11 TUỔI?” has lexical ambiguity
and part-of-speech ambiguity. The word “liều” is both noun and verb. If it is
a noun, it means “ liều thuốc hay nói cách khác là loại thuốc se tiêm cho trẻ
em”, if it is a verb, it means “ liều lĩnh làm một điều gì đó mà không đảm bảo
về kết quả sẽ xảy ra”
Question 4: Trong đoạn tin sau có vấn đề ngữ pháp gì? Giải thích tại sao?
It doesn’t have context.

Đoạn tin trên thiếu bối cảnh, người đọc hoặc người nghe không hiểu chiếc xe đã
tông trực diện vào cái gì?

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GENERAL LINGUISTICS

HOMEWORK ASSIGNMENT – WEEK 4

Sometimes it is so crowded, there are 5 to a seat. It may interest you to know

Question 3: Explain the problems in the following account:

1. Flying planes can be dangerous.

2. Chris owns large dogs and cats.

3. Andrew will forget tomorrow.

The sentence is part-of-speech ambiguity, “tomorrow” is not a specific time.

This sentence has a structural ambiguity. The prepositional phrase “in my

5. She cannot bear children.

6. He has polished shoes.

This sentence has part-of-speech ambiguity. Polished could be an adjective

7. The panda eats shoots and leaves.

8. Fruit flies like bananas.

9. Bún chả ngon hay bún chả ngon?

11. Mất mạng hay là mất mạng?

12. Hổ mang bò lên núi hay hổ mang bò lên núi?

This sentence has lexical ambiguity and part-of-speech ambiguity. When

It doesn’t have context.

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