The function of ‘that’
Hello, everyone,
“A defining element of catastrophes is the magnitude of their harmful consequences. To help society prevent or mitigate damage from catastrophes, immense effort and technological sophistication are often employed to assess and communicate the size and scope of potential or actual losses. This effort assumes that people can understand the resulting numbers and act on them appropriately.
However, recent behavioural research casts doubt on this fundamental assumption. Many people do not understand large numbers. Indeed, large numbers have been found to lack meaning and to be underweighted in decisions unless they convey affect (feeling). As a result, there is a paradox that rational models of decision-making fail to represent. On the one hand, we respond strongly to aid a single individual in need. On the other hand, we often fail to prevent mass tragedies – such as genocide – or take appropriate measures to reduce potential losses from natural disasters. This might seem irrational but we think this occurs, in part, because as numbers get larger and larger, we become insensitive; numbers fail to trigger the emotion or feeling necessary to motivate action.“
I wonder if the ‘that’ in the underlined part is a conjunction leading an appositive clause, or an objective relative pronoun filling the gap – the omitted object of verb ‘represent’, while I prefer to the latter.
Would appreciate on your opinions.
*source;
Top answer
deepcosmos there is a paradox that rational models of decision-making fail to represent. deepcosmos an objective relative pronoun filling the gap – the omitted object of verb ‘represent’ Correct. , the gap.
- deepcosmos there is a paradox that rational models of decision-making fail to represent.
- deepcosmos an objective relative pronoun filling the gap – the omitted object of verb ‘represent’ Correct.
- , the gap.
- deepcosmos I wonder if the ‘that’ in the underlined part is a conjunction leading an appositive clause No, because that construction wouldn't have a gap.
- The presence of this gap is what should lead you to think you're dealing with a relative clause.
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deepcosmosthere is a paradox that rational models of decision-making fail to represent.
deepcosmosan objective relative pronoun filling the gap – the omitted object of verb ‘represent’
Correct. You noticed the omitted object, i.e., the gap.
deepcosmosI wonder if the ‘that’ in the underlined p
0deepcosmosthere is a paradox that rational models of decision-making fail to represent
I see a paradox that rational models of decision-making fail to represent as a noun phrase where "paradox" is the head of the phrase and content that-clause as a complement in the NP.
I see it in parallel with the phrase "the fact
0deepcosmos... As a result, there is a paradox that rational models of decision-making fail to represent. On the one hand, we respond strongly to aid a single individual in need. On the other hand, we often fail to prevent mass tragedies – such as genocide – or take appropriate measures to reduce potential losses from natural disasters. This
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