Print out this page and fill in your answers with pen or pencil.                                                               Name_________________
Due in class Monday, September 10.  Late homeworks will not be accepted. 

PART 1.                                                                                                                                       Discussion section__________

English expressions can labelled as  be `wrong' for several reasons:
  A.  They disagree with Standard English usage but are normal and appropriate in some colloquial or nonstandard dialect.
  B.  They disagree with ANY native variety of English.
  C.  The usage may be innappropriate given the social context of the speech.

In which of these ways are the following phrases or sentences `wrong'? Write the appropriate letter from above before each line.

_____   1.  `Yellow' pronounced `yelluh' rather than `yellow'.

_____   2.  `I dint go to the store yet', rather than `I didn't go to the store yet'.

_____   3.  `He ain't got no sense'

_____   4.  `Mr. President, your answer to my question sucks', rather than, say, `Mr. President, I' don't think you have fully answered my question'.

_____   5.  `That book not is on table'

_____   6.  `I seen him leave town'.

_____   7.  Are y'all comin or what?

_____   8.  Three car come round corner yesterday.

PART 2.

Words in languages are actually quite imprecise - much less precise than they seem to be when you listen to a sentence in context.  Because of our rapid and automatic interpretation of utterances, this vagueness is not easy for us to see. All we are aware of is the interpretation that is appropriate in that particular context -- even if a great deal of world-knowledge and common sense was required to find that interpretation.

In the following two phrases, the words CHICKEN and RUN both refer to quite different things and events in each case. The context-specific interpretation is supplied below each.

a. In the yard, the CHICKEN RAN from the dog.
        BIRD/ANIMAL,   MOVED QUICKLY

b. In the kitchen, the CHICKEN soup RAN over the stove.
        KIND OF MEAT,   OVERFLOWED

Here are some sentences using the word EYE or EYES. For each case, write down the interpretation of EYE or EYES that is appropriate for that specific case. The first one is supplied for you.

1.  Cats have good eyes.
      ORGANS OF VISION

2.  Mary has a good eye for style.
 

3.  They flew the plane into the eye of the hurricane.
 

4.  The eyes of the skull were hollow.
 

5.  In the eyes of the poor, this problem looks very different.
 

6.   We are building with an eye toward future needs.
 

7.   Cut out the eyes before baking those potatoes.
 

Do the same thing for the word SAFE below. Notice how much intelligence and knowledge (even guessing) is required to interpret
the meaning of the word in each case.  You have to basically invent a scenario of how one might be injured to figure our what SAFE would mean in each case.  Again the first example is done for you to suggest a style of answer to use in the others.

8.  Is this water safe?
        WONT CAUSE ILLNESS

9.  The jewels are safe in my glove compartment.
 

10.  If you invest in bonds, your money will be safe.
 

11.  Is it safe to bet on that horse?
 

12.   Have a safe trip home.
 

13.  The batter was safe on first base. (in a baseball game)
 

14.  The playground on the corner is safe.