194 L. MICHELLE CUTRER
nude can be controlled by either John or the model. Thus, the semantics of
the state predicate, along with pragmatics, determine the eligible control
ler. Because state predicates are purely descriptive and do not indicate
actions or events, the control rules based on the causality of events do not
apply. The state predicate, such as nude or raw, will be controlled by the
NP which is compatible with that property. In cases where there are two
NPs which can have that associated property, the control facts are ambigu
ous. The semantic account correctly predicts this ambiguity. The analysis of
state predicates presented above is but a sketch. However, it indicates that
control phenomena in non-infinitival complements might also be usefully
analyzed by looking at verb semantic and pragmatic parameters.
4. Conclusion
In this paper, I have presented an analysis in which a wide variety of control
phenomena can be accounted for by appealing to verb semantics, pragmatic
factors, and clause linkage conditions. Not only can control of the subject
gap be accounted for along these parameters, but also control of the object
gap in purpose clauses. We have seen that pragmatics and real world
knowledge may influence the choice of controller with verbs which are
semantically ambiguous, evoke recipient controllers with verbs which
optionally participate in "transfer" constructions, and suggest possible con
trollers in arbitrary control relationships. In this analysis of control, the dis
tribution of control structures, the occurrence of control relations and the
choice of controller can be accounted for using principles of RRG which are
independently motivated within the theory, without need of lexically
marked exceptions.
Notes
* This paper is a revised and abridged version of my M. A. thesis, which appeared in
Davis Working Papers in Linguistics, vol. 2. I would like to thank Robert Van
Valin for his tireless help, Farrell Ackerman for his thorough comments and criti
cisms, Maria Manoliu-Manea, James Gallant, Ron Langacker and Jeff Elman.
