NameSection1.3 Compound and Noun Phrase Ambiguities
English words can combine to form compound words, sometimes referred to
simply as compounds (such as car-phone, windmill, golf club). (For discussion of
compounds, see Linguistics, pp. 32-35 and 50-52.) A major indicator that a
sequence of two words is a compound is that the relative prominence (emphasis,
stress) occurs on the first word. Consider the words green and house. The sequence
green house is a compound if green is emphasized (represented here as GREEN
house). A GREEN house is a building, usually made of glass, in which plants are
grown. However, if the word house is stressed (green HOUSE), then the sequence
green house is not a compound but a noun phrase that is composed of the
adjective green modifying the noun house. Thus, a green HOUSE is a house that is
green.
There are other differences between noun phrases and compounds. First, the
comparative -er, which attaches to adjectives (richer, smaller, etc.), can attach to
green in the noun phrase green HOUSE to yield greener house. The compound
interpretation is not possible in this case. Second, in the case of the noun phrase
green HOUSE additional adjectives may be conjoined with green. For example,
someone who talks about a green and yellow house is still referring to a house that
is (in part) green. However, the expression and yellow cannot interrupt the
members of a compound (* GREENandyello whouse).
Like simple nouns, compounds can be ambiguous. In fact, a compound can
acquire a second or third meaning through the creative use of language. For
example, egg roll can be used to refer either to a certain kind of Chinese food or
to an activity that takes place (e.g., at the White House) around Easter.
Humor often taps heretofore mthought-of ambiguities. For each pair of
drawings, you are to determine (1) whether the combination of words under the
drawing is an ambiguous compound (a compound that is associated with two
different meanings, like the example egg roll) or (2) whether the combination of
words can be understood either as a compound or as a noun phrase (like the
example green HOUSWGREEN house). Study the drawings and answer questions
A, B, and (optionally) C.