Random: Ellipsis

I just happened to come across a good read from Wikipedia. Here's something interesting:

In linguistics, ellipsis or elliptical construction refers to the omission from a clause of one or more words that would otherwise be required by the remaining elements.

Varieties of ellipsis have long formed a central explicandum for linguistic theory, since elliptical phenomena seem to be able to shed light on basic questions of form-meaning correspondence: in particular, the usual mechanisms of grasping a meaning from a form seem to be bypassed or supplanted in the interpretation of elliptical structures, ones in which there is meaning without form.

In generative linguistics, the term ellipsis has been applied to a range of phenomena in which a perceived interpretation is fuller than that which would be expected based solely on the presence of linguistic forms. Central examples drawn from English include sluicing as in (1), Verb Phrase ellipsis (VP-ellipsis) as in (2), and noun phrase ellipsis (NP-ellipsis or N’-ellipsis) as in (3).

    (1) John can play something, but I don’t know what.
    (2) John can play the guitar; Mary can, too.
    (3) John can play five instruments, and Mary can play six.

In each case, the second clause can be understood as in (4)-(6).

    (4) John can play something, but I don’t know what John can play.
    (5) John can play the guitar and Mary can play the guitar, too.
    (6) John can play five instruments, and Mary can play six instruments.

Some examples of other elliptical phenomena are as follows:
* Example: Jessica had five dollars; Monica, three. (The verb "had" was omitted at the comma).  
* Example: What if I miss the deadline? (The verb phrase "will happen" was omitted, as in "What will happen if I miss the deadline").
* Example: Fire when ready. (In the sentence, "you are" is understood, as in "Fire when you are ready.").

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellipsis_%28figure_of_speech%29

I probably should... update

Well, I went for ACShooting trials today at HometeamNS this evening for both rifle and pistol.
I would say I fared fairly mediocre in Pistol and average in Rifle. Since the selection trials will be based purely on grouping, I think I would probably get into the rifle team than the pistol team. The J3 who conducted the trials said I would "definitely get into the Boy's Rifle team" but "it depends on the coach". I do want to join pistol as it is a new air weapon I get to learn, without donning on the heavy shooting suit, shoes and gloves.

Fun-O-Rama is coming up soon, on the 27th of March. Anybody interested please get your tickets from me at $10. Drop me an email or call me if you have my number.

Congratulations to all those who did well for GCE A' Levels.

Photo update for 24/2

Here's a photo update for my birthday (24/2)

 

 Class photo at WCP

 

 My birthday cake

  

After gobbling up everything

  

This is how disgusting it looks - but it tastes otherwise

  

Come on, we need to pose for the camera, right? 

 

The cake was 'melted' by the sun

THANK YOU TERESSA

Her wonderful birthday present for me - a hand-sewed bear.

:D

THANK YOU. I REALLY APPRECIATE YOUR HARD WORK, TIME AND TALENT!
I WILL TAKE CARE OF IT!

Well, the not so nice birthday

First of all, I would like to thank everyone who wished me a happy birthday yesterday!

Here's a list of the people who thanked me (well not all but just to name those I remember)
IF YOUR NAME ISN'T HERE PLEASE DO NOT BE SAD.

- Karen
- Darren
- Dad
- Mum
- Shao Lun
- Junyan
- An Hua
- Richard
- Leonard
- Qin Li
- Hongzhang
- Timotheus
- Huiyan
- Mabel
- Roshan
- Nadiah
- Ivan
- Candis
- Huai Shen
- Dennis
- Jing Wen
- Shermain
- Qin Ying
- Malcolm
- Wei Nian
- Darren Teo
- Teressa
- Rachel
- Clarence
- Leon
- Jingyi
- Aloisius
- Liqin
- Anyi 
1SD1
- Hui Yi
- Edison
- Ryan
- You Zhuan
- Sophy
- Shu Zhen
- Lynn
- Celestine (thanks for the cake)
- Amelia
- Carmina
- Winston
- Ryan De Cotta
- Olivia
- Tze Jin
- Nandini
- Mariko
- Vanessa
- Jiaying
- Jeremy
- Jia Ying
- Lilian
Nam
- Aloysius
- Wen Tjun
- Samantha
- Nicole
- Youjin
- Gregory
- Shu Zhen
- Mdm Beena


THANK YOU FOR YOUR WELL-WISHES


Anyway, it wasn't really a fantastic birthday except for the cake (thanks 1SD1). Though it isn't really nice looking -  which the photo when uploaded, will show -  it really tastes awesome!

My birthday 'gift' from the school was the best - 3 runs in one day. The first run involved running to school as I was almost late for school. The second run was during Mass PE. The final run was during Cross Country. It ended at 6pm and hence when I reached home it was around 8pm. There wasn't much time to celebrate. When I reached home, I just fell dead in bed at 8.10pm.

I slept for 9 hours.

* Pictures will be uploaded once it's on Facebook * 

[Video] Meltdown

A visually impossible penetration of a Singapore-dollar note through two ordinary rubber bands.

 

[Video] CNY Special - Spinx On Phone (Performance+Tutorial)

Welcome to Spinx

Spinx (pronounced Spin-ex) is a phone manipulation technique. Basically, it allows you to rotate your phone (or any device rectangular in shape) continuously by 'bouncing' off your hand. It is a demonstration of skill. People have asked me how to perform this phone bouncing technique. This is a video that teaches you how to 'bounce' your phone.

It will take about 2 weeks of practise to get it well executed. Before trying, ensure you have a soft landing surface such as a bed in case you'd drop your precious phone. Spinx is best done with a ice-cream shaped phone that isn't as wide as the phone in the video. However, with sufficient practise, any phone/device is able to 'bounce' off your hand.

Happy Chinese New Year!

Happy Chinese New Year!

1SD1

 

1SD1 - 14 pretty babes & 9 hunks

My Ultimate Blue Laptop

I finally bought my Vaio laptop from Harvey Norman with a 5-year warranty.

Specifications:
Sony Vaio VPC CW26FG
Core i5-520
4GB DDR3
500GB Harddrive
DVD supermulti
Nvidia GT330M
Multicard reader
Wireless LAN a/b/g/n
Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
14.1" WXGA
1.3 MP webcam
Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit
2.4kg with batt
 
And pictures -

 

The entire set of goodies; from left to right: Bag, Mousepad, 8GB Thumbdrive, Bluetooth mouse

Laptop

 

Closer look at the Bluetooth mouse (free but worth $99)

 

Free 8GB Sandisk thumbdrive

 

Steelseries mousepad (not free - bought from school $13)

 

The classic laptop casing 

 

Open it and you'll find a quick start guide and a manual

 

  

And the laptop

 

AC adapter and power plug

 

My new beautiful purplish-blue laptop