Re: THEORY: more questions

Mark J. Reed wrote:
> On Wed, Nov 26, 2003 at 08:14:36PM +0000, Stephen Mulraney wrote:
>
>>but the rightpondian version definitely requires a
>>'to' to introduce the recipient.
>
>
> So in your dialect, "write" cannot take an INDIRECT object?
> So while "sing me a song" is unobjectionable, "write me a letter"
> is incorrect?
Both are correct. Only "write me X", where X=nothing or an adverbial
phrase, is outrageous.

>
> Or is it only when the direct object is left off that it's odd?
> "Sing" is in that category for me; while "write me" sounds perfectly
> natural, "sing me" is way wrong, unless it's a request to hear the
> third note of the scale.  And bare "give me", while not as wrong as
> "sing me", has a strong non-native feel.
That's exactly it. Actually, Tim's post contains a perfect summary of
the issue, if it's still not clear.

>>My, I've moved up in the world: I used to contribute to the YAEPTs.
>>Now I'm working on YAEDTs! Excellent....
> D=dialect?
Sure :)


--
She wolde weep, if that she saugh a mous        Stiofán Ó Maoilbreanainn
Kaught in a trappe, if it were deed or bledde.     ataltane@ataltane.net
       -- Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales, GP.144-145