Re: translation exercise

Yes, but what you describe is more pragmatic then
semantic. It goes beyond the bare meaning of the
sentence. The border between semantic and pragmatic is
of course not a very precise one. I think that "to
take home" doesn't mean "in order to have a drink, or
sex, or anything else", although what we know of human
society codes could suggest it. But it is possible to
take somebody home without any idea of that sort
underlying.

The phrase also suggests that the locutor is female
ant that X is male (without having listened to the
singer's voice), but that's also purely pragmatic.
They might be homosexual for instance. There is no
mark for male or female gender in it.

--- "Mark J. Reed" <markjreed@...> wrote:
> On Sun, Jan 25, 2004 at 10:35:44AM -0800, Philippe
> Caquant wrote:
> > I analyse the sentence "I know who I want to take
> me
> > home" like that:
> >
> > Main predicate : S = (X Takes Locutor Home)
> > X = Agent (human being)
> > To take (to escort) = verbal concept (semes:
> movement
> > + comitative + protection)
> > Locutor = Patient (human being)
> > Home = (directional) locative complement (meaning:
> > Locutor's [usual living] Place)
>
> Interesting.  I definitely interpret "home" as the
> home of X, not the
> locutor.  The setting (suggested by the title
> "Closing Time") is a bar,
> and the intent of the line is that singer knows
> which of the other patrons
> he would like to go home with after the bar closes
> to continue partying,
> have sex, whatever.
>
> -Mark

=====
Philippe Caquant

"Le langage est source de malentendus."
(Antoine de Saint-Exupery)

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