University of Florida Homepage
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Variation in Exceptive Structures

Exceptives Questionnaire

Download Questionnaire Outline

Introduction to the Questionnaire

Questionnaire Outline

The following outline is a guide to the core information to collect when investigating data on exceptives. Examples should be fully aligned and glossed using the Leipzig Glossing Conventions.

1.0 – Language morphosyntax
1.1 – Language name, ISO code, genetic affiliation

ISO code, dialect information (if relevant), genetic affiliation, number of speakers, endangerment level

1.2 – Predominant morphological type, with examples

In what areas of the grammar does the language show bound morphology? What is/are the predominant type(s) of morphology (isolating, agglutinating, fusional, polysynthetic)? Give illustrative examples, particularly in morphological domains that will show up in exceptives.

1.3 – Word order

What is/are the basic, unmarked word order(s)? Give simple examples. Provide discussion of relevant controversies or debates, with references, if appropriate.

1.4 – Case marking

Give a description of the case system, if any.

1.5 – Focus constructions

Describe syntactic constructions that the language has to convey focus (new information), such as displacement or clefting. Give illustrative examples and descriptive generalizations if possible. Provide references as appropriate to avoid long presentations.

2.0 – Basic exceptive constructions
2.1 – Exceptive markers

What are the exceptive markers in the language? If appropriate, discuss any synchronic or diachronic connection to other connectives in the language. Discuss whether the exceptive markers show an exceptive/additive ambiguity.

2.2 – Lexical category investigations

Provide evidence for the lexical category of selected exceptive markers, for example, as coordinating conjunctions, adverbs, prepositions, complementizers, or other.

3.0 – Word order in exceptives
3.1 – Positions for the exceptive phrases

What are the positional options of exceptive phrases? Minimally consider adjacent to associate, clause-initial, clause-final. Consider examples with the associate in different positions, at least subject and object. It may be necessary to address parenthetical placement and intonation. Are there morphosyntactic differences when exceptive phrases are in different positions that might suggest a distinction between free and connected exceptives?

3.2 – Connected exceptives

For examples that are tentatively identified as connected exceptives, where in the nominal does the exceptive phrase appear?

3.3 – Free exceptives

For examples that are tentatively identified as free exceptives, where can the exceptive phrase appear?

4.0 – Constituency evidence for connected exceptives

Provide evidence for the existence of connected exceptives, where the associate and the exceptive phrase form a constituent. Any number of constituency tests may be used. The two below are merely suggestions as they have proven cross-linguistic applicability.

4.1 – Coordination
4.2 – Displacement
4.3 – Other

5.0 – Characteristics of the associate

It is widely claimed that there are syntactico-semantic restrictions on the associate, which may vary according to whether the exceptive is a free or connected exceptive. The most well-known restriction is the Quantifier Constraint:

  1. Quantifier Constraint
    The NP that a connected exceptive phrase associates with must denote a universal or negative universal quantifier. Free exceptive phrases are not so restricted.

5.1 – Quantificational associates

Test a variety of associate types in both free and connected exceptives. Some semantic categories to consider are the following:

  1. universal quantifiers: every, all, no
  2. non-universal quantifiers: most (of), many (of), few (of)
  3. mass quantifiers: much, little
  4. definite noun phrases
  5. indefinite noun phrases
  6. kind referring and generic noun phrases
  7. superlative noun phrases
  8. numeral noun phrases, e.g. three girls, at least/at most/exactly two dogs
  9. universal noun phrases with a cardinality restriction: both, neither
  10. wh-phrases

5.1.1 – Free exceptives
5.1.2 – Connected exceptives
5.2 – Implicit associates

Document the (in)ability of exceptive phrases to appear with implicit associates. It is worth distinguishing two kinds of implicit associates. First are those which arguably have no syntactic presence, such as an unexpressed time or place adverbial. Second are those in which there is arguably an unexpressed, null argument, which may be required for argument structure reasons. The latter may be realized in the syntax by pro.

6.0 – Characteristics of the exception
6.1 – Categorial options

What are the categorial options for exceptives phrases in free and connected exceptives? Minimal phrase types to test are NP, PP, and CP.

6.1.1 – Free exceptives
6.1.2 – Connected exceptives
6.2 – Case marking on nominal exceptions

For free and connected exceptives in which the exceptive is a nominal, what are the case marking options for the exception? Describe the case marking for associates in different case positions. Is there a fixed case? Is there case matching? Are there multiple options?

6.2.1 – Free exceptives
6.2.2 – Connected exceptives
6.3 – Other

Are there other restrictions of interest on the exception?

7.0 – Clausal exceptives

This section of the questionnaire explores the possibility of clausal exceptives in the language. Both free and connected exceptives should be tested. The specifics of the diagnostics are discussed in more detail in another document.

7.1 – Possible expression of full clause exceptions
7.2 – Multiple exceptions
7.3 – Sluicing interpretations
7.4 – Clausal/speaker-oriented adverbs
7.5 – Preposition stranding
7.6 – Internal reading with ‘same, different’
7.7 – Binding domain effects
7.8 – Island sensitivity
7.9 – Other

8.0 – Problematic data

Use this section to summarize any findings that are unexpected or mysterious, either within the context of the language or the larger cross-linguistic picture of exceptive typology.

9.0 – Additional observations and comments

Use this section to provide any insight you might have on the data and/or its analysis.

10.0 – Consultants

Give ethnographic information about consultants: number used, age and gender, language expertise (multilingualism), education levels, where they have lived, which languages they use in which settings, etc.

References