Hi I think one point of Master's piece is that English DOES allow this construction, whereas other languages do not. He is a linguist. In one discussion of animate versus inanimate subjects by another linguist, for example, the text contained the following "the examples demonstrate... " not as an example, but as actual text in the discussion. The second point is that scientific writers make widespread use of this construction, which perhaps causes difficulty for speakers of other languages.
So I would say that the requirement for an animate subjects is not even technically correct for English. Take care Jim James M. Clark Professor of Psychology 204-786-9757 204-774-4134 Fax [email protected] >>> Carol DeVolder <[email protected]> 20-Mar-11 12:39:33 PM >>> Just to play devil's advocate, the rioters are demonstrating their dissatisfaction; the riots are evidence of that dissatisfaction. Examples are used [by someone] to demonstrate a point. It is the person who is demonstrating by using an example, it isn't the example that is doing the demonstrating. I agree that sometimes, although technically correct, a sentence can seem very awkward. Wasn't that Strunk and White's main argument--that sometimes you have to overlook the technically correct option in favor of what sounds better? Carol On Sun, Mar 20, 2011 at 12:28 PM, Jim Clark <[email protected]> wrote: > Hi > > I don't buy the criticism of "the data showed" or various similar > constructions. Do not the riots in the middle east demonstrate /show / > reveal something about the level of dissatisfaction there? Do not examples > demonstrate / show something? Are riots and examples any different than > data? > > I found some relevant references, including > > > http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6VDM-465D8DN-X&_user=10&_coverDate=12%2F31%2F1991&_rdoc=1&_fmt=high&_orig=gateway&_origin=gateway&_sort=d&_docanchor=&view=c&_searchStrId=1686012685&_rerunOrigin=google&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=fef6dde5ff1d413b2b3327c3db35677c&searchtype=a > > or for same abstract > > http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0889-4906(91)90013-M > > > See part III in the following > > > http://www.google.ca/url?sa=t&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CB0QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdialnet.unirioja.es%2Fservlet%2Ffichero_articulo%3Fcodigo%3D2526431%26orden%3D0&rct=j&q=verbs%20animate%20and%20inanimate%20subjects%20science%20writing&ei=HTSGTZ_eKfK80QHAy7XDCA&usg=AFQjCNHW_Qq1kIql7hjbiUfrhS853wMTzw > > or for same pdf > > > http://www.google.ca/url?q=http://dialnet.unirioja.es/servlet/fichero_articulo%3Fcodigo%3D2526431%26orden%3D0&ei=oTSGTbaJBMGR0QGSm_j1Bg&sa=X&oi=unauthorizedredirect&ct=targetlink&ust=1300642729067716&usg=AFQjCNGm8R8uivVZ75FFXKSmbGNXbIosrg > > > Interesting discussion (full text I think) here by same author as first > paper, Peter Master: > > > http://books.google.ca/books?id=NS-ArVhRmJ0C&pg=PA169&lpg=PA169&dq=verbs+animate+and+inanimate+subjects+science+writing&source=bl&ots=A8chLjBbgC&sig=nC1zDHdqQCFfE8xZLXS84xM5S8s&hl=en&ei=HTSGTZ_eKfK80QHAy7XDCA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=3&ved=0CCYQ6AEwAg#v=onepage&q=verbs%20animate%20and%20inanimate%20subjects%20science%20writing&f=false > > Master makes the point that non-native speakers of English may have > particular difficulty with the inanimate subject - animate verb > construction, which is allowed in English (and used widely in scientific > writing), but may not be allowed in other languages. He presents empirical > data on just how common this structure is in scientific writing. > > > Of course, authors trying to persuade editors / reviewers of the error of > their ways has highly variable outcomes! > > Take care > Jim > > > > > > James M. Clark > Professor of Psychology > 204-786-9757 > 204-774-4134 Fax > [email protected] > > >>> Carol DeVolder <[email protected]> 20-Mar-11 10:58:00 AM >>> > Hi Annette, > How about something like, "analysis of the data revealed..." or > "examination > of the data (results, etc.)...?" > Carol > > > On Sun, Mar 20, 2011 at 10:53 AM, Annette Taylor <[email protected] > >wrote: > > > I'm grappling with how to phrase some things in results sections > > especially. Because data are an inanimate thing they can't really "show" > or > > "demonstrate" anything. Nor can a study do anything such as "observe" or > > "define" so what kind of language do you all use. Is there some > boilerplate > > that works. > > > > I have a revision to an APA journal that asked me to fix these > things...and > > I'm struggling with the data especially. Lengthy rewriting of "the > study..." > > Finally fixed some of those problems. It came at a huge cost to precision > > and concise writing. > > > > Annette > > > > Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone > > --- > > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > > To unsubscribe click here: > > > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443341&n=T&l=tips&o=9499 > > > or send a blank email to > > leave-<leave-<leave-9499-177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> > 9499-177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> > > <9499-177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443...@fsulist.frostburg.edu> > 9499-177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > > > > > -- > Carol DeVolder, Ph.D. > Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology > St. Ambrose University > 518 West Locust Street > Davenport, Iowa 52803 > 563-333-6482 > > This e-mail might be confidential, so please don't share it. > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a891720c9&n=T&l=tips&o=9500 > > or send a blank email to > leave-9500-13251.645f86b5cec4da0a56ffea7a89172...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. > To unsubscribe click here: > http://fsulist.frostburg.edu/u?id=177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443341&n=T&l=tips&o=9504 > > or send a blank email to > leave-9504-177920.a45340211ac7929163a0216244443...@fsulist.frostburg.edu > -- Carol DeVolder, Ph.D. Professor and Chair, Department of Psychology St. Ambrose University 518 West Locust Street Davenport, Iowa 52803 563-333-6482 This e-mail might be confidential, so please don't share it. --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [email protected]. 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