An odd phrase

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pdh0224
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An odd phrase

Post by pdh0224 »

Dear teacher,

Lang was through his long career singularly unaltered; he never changed his point of view; what he liked and admired as a youth he liked and admired as an elderly man.


Q : I think there should be a comma or "and" like this.

=> "what he liked and admired as youth ,(and what) he liked and admired as an elderly man."

What do you think?

Q2 : I believe "what" refers to "his point of view", doesn't it?


All the best,
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Alan
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Post by Alan »

Q1: while a comma might be used on account of the sheer length of the phrase, it is unnecessary; the NP is a fronted object.

Q2: nominal relative 'what' means, as always, 'the thing(s) that...'.
pdh0224
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Post by pdh0224 »

while a comma might be used on account of the sheer length of the phrase, it is unnecessary; the NP is a fronted object :?: .
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I think the phrase means "What he liked and admired as a youth is same as what he liked and admired as an elderly man."
What does "the NP is a fronted object" you mentioned mean?
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Alan
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Post by Alan »

Yes, that is indeed the meaning.

NP 'What he liked and admired as a youth' is the object of the verbs 'liked and admired' (as an elderly man). It is placed before the verbs, making it a fronted object.
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