Reducible clause complements

[nschneid]

p. 638:

In our notation this would be:

(PP
    :Head (P :t "although")
    :Comp (Clause
        :Head (VP
            :PredComp (AdjP [moderately rich]))))

Are we OK with a headless VP? Or would it be better to indicate the ellipsis somehow?

[BrettRey]

I think this confuses clausal semantics with clausal syntax. Just looks like a PP with an AdjP complement to me.

[nschneid]

Hmm...isn't there a great deal of overlap between what can be a canonical PredComp (e.g. with become or seem), and what can occur in this construction with although (and if and so on)?

• Although careful/*carefully, John missed a spot.
• Although awake, John was not paying attention.
• Although behind schedule, the project will not cost an inordinate amount.
• Although a pain in the neck, the problem can be solved.

Note that despite does NOT license these, nor does it license a full clause:

• *Despite careful/he was careful, John missed a spot.

Saying that although licenses a Clause, full or reduced—while despite does not—seems straightforward to me.

[BrettRey]

for and as license predicative complements. Why not although?

[nschneid]

In "see him as intelligent" or "take him for a fool", we would treat the entire PP as a PredComp, right? Whereas although-PPs are adjuncts.

[nschneid]

Oh I see, p. 636:

The full-clause paraphrase doesn't work, as pointed out in the first excerpt I posted. The question is whether this alternation with a full clause is important enough to be given common abstract structure in the tree, or whether it just reflects something historical.

[BrettRey]

I think it's best just to think of it as different possible complements.

[nschneid]

Are the same kinds of potentially clausal phenomena possible in as-PredComps and although-PredComps?

What about negation:

• As treasurer I recommend we increase the fees.
• *As not treasurer I recommend we increase the fees.
• Although treasurer, you do not have exclusive budgetary authority.
• Although not treasurer, you have exclusive budgetary authority.

Do you share these intuitions? If so they could be explained by saying there's a clause level in the "although" case that is not present with "as".

[BrettRey]

I do. That's a very nice observation. Anything else like that?

[nschneid]

I think adjuncts of reason go more readily with although-PPs:

• ?As treasurer because his father was, John is subject to accusations of nepotism.
• Although treasurer because his father was, John is highly qualified in his own right.

[nschneid]

What to do with:

• "What actions can be considered as betraying one's own country?"

Is this VP-as-PredComp? Clause-as-PredComp?

[BrettRey]

Yeah, I'm not sure. Same thing with predicative adjuncts like [Owing money to my stupid bank,] I have to live very frugally.