It is not absolutely clear that inferences regarding the logical role ...

[diamondcutter]

It is not absolutely clear that inferences regarding the logical role of a nonrestrictive relative clause or a coordinate clause have precisely the same status as those pertaining to the role played by a free adjunct or absolute.

Source: The Semantic variability of Absolute Constructions, Gregory T. Stump

I don’t quite understand this sentence. I have two questions.

1. What’s the object of “regarding”?
2. What’s the subject of “have”?

 

[5jj]

What do you think the objects might be? There is no trick here.

 

[diamondcutter]

Thanks, 5jj.
I thought “regarding” was a verb and looked "regarding...as..." as a whole thing, but now I know it’s a preposition meaning “about” and “pertaining to” also means “about”. I think I understand the sentence. The structure of it is this.

It is not absolutely clear that inferences (regarding the logical role of a nonrestrictive relative clause or a coordinate clause) have precisely the same status as those (pertaining to the role played by a free adjunct or absolute).

The “regarding” phrase works as the attributive to “inferences” and the “pertaining to” phrase is the attributive to “those”.

Am I right?

 

[Tarheel]

In my opinion most native speakers would have trouble with that sentence, so it's no surprise that you did.

I have lived my whole life not having to know what that means.