Re: syllepsis?

From: Ron Hardin (rhhardin_at_mindspring.com)
Date: 03/10/05 

Date: Thu, 10 Mar 2005 23:55:34 GMT

Peter T. Daniels wrote:
> > ``Should, or intends to, regulate'' would pass my filter; but I think
> > it's still syllepsis actually, with a disagreement whether ``regulate''
> > is a to-infinitive or a bare infinitive. But it's sort of formal, suggesting
> > a cut-and-paste alternative anyway.
>
> > On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.
>
> So all you're complaining about is the omission of commas? Jeez.

Commas suggest that you read the sentences separately, in which case there's
no interference between the two constructions.

The interference though is the point.

The way you untangle ``He should regulate his behavior,'' continuing past
the ``should,'' is apparently not the way you untangle ``He intends to regulate
his behavoir,'' continuing past ``intends to,'' with differences happening
at the artificial boundaries introduced by the conjunction. 

-- 
Ron Hardin
rhhardin@mindspring.com
On the internet, nobody knows you're a jerk.

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