Page 1 of 1
What factors...
Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 6:03 am
by fluffyhamster
What factors account for the prosody indicated?
A: Take a look at this. It's a solar car.
B: A solar car?
A: That's right. It uses solar energy.
B: Is it fast?
A: Yes, very fast.
B: Whose car IS it?
A: It's mine, of course. It's a present from my uncle.
Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:01 am
by metal56
Isn't it "Who would have such a fantastic/ridiculous car as this/that?". Or "who do we know who has a car such as that?", etc.
Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:28 am
by fluffyhamster
Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:42 am
by metal56
The questioner could still have a negative view of the vehicle.
Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 7:51 am
by Anuradha Chepur
"What a fantastic car!!" (Never mind whose it is)
Is what is intended, probably.
Posted: Tue Dec 19, 2006 8:43 am
by metal56
Anuradha Chepur wrote:"What a fantastic car!!" (Never mind whose it is)
Is what is intended, probably.
Or it's a rhetorical question meaning "I suppose it's your car, as you are spoiled/spoilt rotten and always getting such presents."
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 1:20 am
by fluffyhamster
Thanks for the answers.
Yes, AC, the person asking doubtless thinks the car is fab - after all, the extract is from a jolly old junior high school textbook in Japan.
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:00 am
by metal56
<Yes, AC, the person asking doubtless thinks the car is fab>
"Doubtless"? Are you sure?
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:18 am
by fluffyhamster
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:21 am
by fluffyhamster
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:41 am
by metal56
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 7:53 am
by fluffyhamster
Yes, public indeed (as in 'lav'); I didn't mean that I own it, but that some might think it yet another questionable thread begun by yours truly (which it probably is).

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:28 am
by metal56
<I didn't mean that I own it, but that some might think it yet another questionable thread begun by yours truly >
Err...
Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:36 am
by fluffyhamster
Oh, is that your wife calling you, metal? (
Quick, guys, what else can I say to distract him from continuing typing?)

Posted: Wed Dec 20, 2006 8:41 am
by metal56
fluffyhamster wrote:Oh, is that your wife calling you, metal? (
Quick, guys, what else can I say to distract him from continuing typing?)

: