Re: I need some help from native speakers of Japanese


B. Ito wrote:
"Ray" <raymondaliasapollyon@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:1146738161.055003.137820@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

B. Ito wrote:
"Ray" <raymondaliasapollyon@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
Are you referring to the English model I've given, on which I asked you
to build a corresponding Japanese sentence?
If so, "where" indeed can be related to the embedded clause, just like
"What do you think that he has eaten?"

A cross-clausal movement process has applied.

ーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーーー
Really? "A cross-clausal movement
process" ?
This is my first experience. I have to study such English grammar first.


Yes, movement transformations can apply across clausal boundaries.
You might want to read some intro books to syntax in the Chomskyan
tradition if you still have some doubts.


Does it mean that "Where do you think that he has gone?" is exactly
same as "Where do you think that he has gone?"

You've typed two identical sentences, so I don't quite get your
question.
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Sorry. This is the most important point.

Does Chomsky say "Where do you think that he has gone?"
has the same meaning as "Where do you think he has gone?" has?

They are identical as far as the propositional meaning is concerned,
despite some possible non-propositional difference between the two. In
both, "where" can be interpreted either with the matrix clause or with
the embedded one.



Or it seems that you want to study any little difference in the nuance
between the two different English sentences translated into Japanese,
doesn't it?

My first question is just a warm-up. I am more interested in the
question I re-formulated in my previous post, the one involving the
"because" clause.

Ray



Under the "cross-clausal movement process", does the following English
sentence possible?

"Why do you think that he has gone?"

Yes, it's totally grammatical.
In fact, "why" can be construed not only with the embedded clause but
also with the matrix one. A similar sentence made by H. Lasnik and M.
Saito quoted in An introduction to Government and Binding Theory by
Liliane Haegeman is "why do you think that he left early?" with "why"
originating from the embedded clause.




Which of the following two meanings does this peculiar English sentence
have?


1) "Tell me why he has gone, if you can."
2) "You think he has gone. Tell me the reason why you think so."

(I'm sure the sentence like "When do you think that he has gone?" would
logically be nonsense.)


Both interpretations are available.
--------------------------------------------------------
Really? Thank you.


------------------------------------------------
B. Ito


cf. "Where do you think he has gone?"
"Anata wa kare ga doko he itta to omoi masuka?"
(Tell me where he has gone, if you know it.)

Is the sentence you've given grammatically correct and express what I
have in mind?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As far as I know (or I've studied) English, the corresponding Japanese
meaning would be correct.


Ray


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