**Linguistics

Challenge Problem Set 1: -ian and -ish

[Critical and Creative Thinking; Challenge]

In the text we claimed that the suffixes -ian and -ish markadjectives. Consider the following sentences:

a) The Canadian government uses a parliamentary system ofdemocracy.

b) The Canadian bought himself a barbeque.

c) The prudish linguist didn’t enjoy looking at theinternet.

d) We keep those censored copies of the book hidden to protectthe sensibilities of the prudish.

What should we make the words ending in -ish and -ian insentences (b) and (d)? Are they adjectives? If not, how can weaccount for the fact that these words end in -ish and -ian? Thereare many possible answers to this question.

Carnie, Andrew. Syntax, 3rd Edition. WileyProfessional, Reference & Trade, 20120820. VitalBook file.

In thinking about your answer for (b), consider that thefollowing words could replace Canadian in sentence a): American,French, Spanish, Turkish, Polish. In thinking about your answer for(d), consider what happens if you try to replace the last the withother determiners (sensibilities of the prudish).