Specificity and objecthood in Tagalog

2016 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 639-688 ◽  
Author(s):  
JOSEPH SABBAGH
Keyword(s):  
Large Body ◽  
Noun Phrases ◽  
Semantic Function ◽  
High Position ◽  
Differential Behavior ◽  
Proper Name ◽  
Comprehensive Survey ◽  
Direct Objects ◽  
The One ◽  
The Relationship

The relationship between the semantic function of noun phrases and the way(s) in which they are realized morphosyntactically in a clause has been a topic of intensive research in the typological literature as well as for theories concerned with the syntax–semantics interface. Considering just noun phrases that function as direct objects, it has been shown for language after language that that there is a systematic relationship between the semantic function of an object (e.g. whether it is pronominal, definite, indefinite, etc.) and its morphosyntax (e.g. whether it requires special case marking, whether it triggers agreement, whether it exhibits special distribution in terms of word order, etc.). This paper aims to contribute to the already large body of evidence documenting the relationships between form and semantic function by providing a comprehensive survey of the morphosyntax of transitive constructions in Tagalog, focussing, specifically, on the relationship between the semantic function of the theme argument and the morphosyntactic strategies by which theme arguments are realized. Contrary to what previous studies have claimed, I show that specific noun phrases are attested as direct objects of active clause in Tagalog. An exception to this is pronoun and proper name themes, which must either be oblique marked to function as a direct object or be realized as a subject. Developing and expanding upon analyses in Rackowski (2002), I propose that the differential behavior of specific themes (pronoun/proper names on the one hand versus non-pronoun/proper name specific themes on the other) follows from a clausal architecture in which there are at least two VP-external positions to which specific themes must raise – a relatively high position for pronoun and proper name themes, and a position intermediate betweenvP and VP for all other specific themes. The distribution of syntactic positions available for the theme argument is claimed to follow from a proposal in Merchant (2006), pre-figured in Jelinek & Carnie (2003) and related work, that relational hierarchies of the type familiar from typological research – in particular, the definiteness hierarchy – are directly encoded in the phrase structure.

scholarly journals Proper name-marking via liaison in French

2019 ◽  
Vol 72 (4) ◽  
pp. 627-652
Author(s):  
Natascha Pomino ◽  
Elisabeth Stark
Keyword(s):  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Proper Names ◽  
Noun Phrases ◽  
The Other ◽  
Linguistic Change ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Relevant Point ◽  
Proper Name ◽  
The One

Abstract The liaison consonant [z] in French noun phrases has traditionally been assumed to function as a plural marker. The realization of “plural [z]” in N(oun)-A(djective)-combinations is becoming, however, very rare in naturalistic data – except for contexts which allow a proper-name reading. On the one hand, one might think that we are dealing with a recent phenomenon, the beginning of a potential linguistic change in French in the sense of exaptation, reuse of former morphophonological material such as plural markers to signal proper-namehood in the sense of ‘frozen morphology’. If this turns out correct, we expect the productivity of the new synchronic function to increase: New NA-combinations which function as proper names should be realized systematically with liaison, and proper name-marking via liaison should also become possible with other liaison consonants. On the other hand, we may be dealing with a (completed) diachronic process, in that only those NA-combinations which allowed liaison at the relevant point in time may have a liaison consonant in their univerbalized form. That is, new NA-combinations, even though they are used as proper names, do not display a liaison consonant, because liaison is no longer possible. The purpose of this paper was to investigate, based on empirical studies, whether liaison productively marks NA-combinations which function as proper names and distinguishes them from NA-combinations that count as common nouns, or whether we are dealing with a completed diachronic process. In view of the poor productivity observed, we argue that we are dealing with cases of univerbation.

scholarly journals Learnability in the second language acquisition of semantics: a bidirectional study of a semantic parameter

2006 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
pp. 498-523 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roumyana Slabakova
Keyword(s):  
Second Language Acquisition ◽  
Native Speaker ◽  
Universal Grammar ◽  
Target Language ◽  
Semantic Property ◽  
Negative Evidence ◽  
Proper Name ◽  
The One ◽  
Parameter Values ◽  
The Relationship

The study investigates the relationship between input, UG (Universal Grammar) parameter values, and the native language in the acquisition of a purely semantic property that is superficially unrelated to its syntactic trigger, The Bare Noun/Proper Name parameter (Longobardi, 1991; 1994; 1996; 2001; 2005). On the one hand, English and Italian bare nouns have identical syntactic form and distribution, but differ in available interpretations. On the other hand, proper names display cross-linguistic constant meaning but variable word order. Variation in this respect can be accounted for by a parameter that is set to one value in English and another one in Italian. A bidirectional study of the two properties was conducted. Individual results calculated with the native speaker accuracy as the cut-off point for successful acquisition indicate that parametric restructuring is attested in both learning directions. In the English [.arrowright] Italian direction, the lack of one native interpretation in the target language (a contracting of the grammar) is achieved in the absence of negative evidence, in a Poverty of the Stimulus situation. In both directions, the semantic property is acquired based on input and/or positive evidence for the syntactic side of the parameter.

scholarly journals The relationship between creativity and mental illness: a systematic review

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tayebeh Ourtani
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mental Illness ◽  
Mental Disorders ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Large Body ◽  
British Library ◽  
Controversial Issues ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The One ◽  
The Relationship

The association between creativity and mental disorders has been a subject of long-standing debate. And it is one of the most controversial issues in the field of creativity and psychopathology research. Despite the fact that engaging in creative activities has a wide range of benefits for mental health the concept of creativity/ mental illness has been widespread. On the one hand, a large body of anecdotal and empirical supports this association (e.g.Simonton, 2010; Andreasen, 2008; Johnson et al., 2012). On the other hand, some scholars argued that the creativity/ psychopathology connection is a traditional legend, and the empirical research in this area has many shortcomings, especially in terms of methodology (e.g. Sawyer, 2012; Schlesinger, 2009).This study conducted a systematic review to investigate the link between creativity and mental illness. Various electronic databases were used to find selected studies: including, Google Scholar, PubMed (Medline), Science Direct, and PMC (NCBI). Also, British Library, Core, and EThOS were applied to search for grey literature. In this paper, 24 studies have been reviewed that they are involved 6,525,664 participations. 21 reviewed studies provided some indications to support a positive link between creativity and psychopathology. 1 study proposed a negative link, and two studies suggested that there is no relationship. Altogether, the results displayed that there is a significant positive correlation between creativity and sub-clinical mental disorders. According to this study, not only creativity was introduced as a by-product of certain sub-clinical mental disorders (e.g., bipolar disorder, schizotypy) but it also identified as a treatment for some severe mental disorders (e.g., depression and addiction).

scholarly journals Adjectives as terms

Terminology ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 76-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kaarina Pitkänen-Heikkilä
Keyword(s):  
Plant Morphology ◽  
Noun Phrases ◽  
The Other ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The One ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
The Relationship

This paper discusses terminology in the field of plant morphology, where nearly half of the terms are adjectives. What are adjectives as terms like? How are they differentiated from adjectives in the general language? How should adjectives be treated in terminological description and terminography? For example, the relationship between an adjective and the object it characterizes differs from the relationship between a noun and the object to which it refers. For a systematic definition, adjectives have often been changed to nouns in terminological dictionaries: property names derived from adjectives or modifiers of noun phrases. This article argues that such a method is not applicable in plant morphology because, on the one hand, that kind of nouns does not occur in the texts that describe plants and, on the other hand, because of the semantic changes it may cause. The article also proposes some new tools for the description and definition of adjectival terms.

Income inequality

2017 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 2-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert Alan Baron
Keyword(s):  
Income Inequality ◽  
New Ventures ◽  
Large Body ◽  
Personal Perspective ◽  
Extensive Literature ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The One ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Motivation To Work

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explain why (based on an extensive body of research findings) efforts to reduce income inequality may have negative effects on motivation and the desire to excel. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents the author’s personal perspective on income inequality and efforts to reduce it. However, these views are grounded in extensive literature concerning the nature of “fairness,” and the harmful effects of weakening the link between performance or effort on the one hand, and rewards on the other. Breaking this connection may be especially harmful for entrepreneurs, who have strong beliefs that the hard they work in building their new ventures, the more likely are these companies to be successful. Findings The paper presents what, it is hoped, provides a broadened framework within which to examine the causes and income inequality, definitions of “fairness,” and the potential effects of efforts to reduce such inequality. Practical implications By weakening the relationship between performance and rewards, efforts to reduce income inequality involving large tax increases may weaken the relationship between performance (accomplishment) and rewards, thus reducing motivation to work hard and achieve excellence. Social implications Understanding the negative implications of government-funded programs designed to reduce income inequality helps to clarify the potentially detrimental effects of such programs – effects that are neither intended not expected by proponents of such efforts. Originality/value The effects of efforts to reduce income inequality have not previously been examined in the context of their negative implications for human motivation to work hard and attain excellence in any endeavor – implications suggested by a large body of relevant research.

scholarly journals Linguistic choices for the identity of “China” in the discourse of Czech Sinologists

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 ◽  
pp. 153-165
Author(s):  
Melissa Shih-hui Lin
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Analysis ◽  
Critical Discourse Analysis ◽  
Noun Phrases ◽  
The Other ◽  
Critical Discourse ◽  
International Affairs ◽  
The Social ◽  
The One ◽  
Linguistic Units ◽  
The Relationship

This paper utilizes critical discourse analysis (CDA) to disclose the relationship between the lexical or textual device choices of the term “China” in the discourse of Czech Sinologists and how they tried to construct the identity of “China” in interviews collected by Professor Olga Lomová and her student Anna Zádrapová from 2010 to 2011.The analysis will focus on how the Czech Sinologists talk about their “China” and evaluate the term “China” in the discourse, within their experiences, and in the context of the social and cultural situation of the time. On the one hand, this paper will discuss the textual devices which convey the term “China” in the interviews of the Czech Sinologists, in the form of linguistic units, such as nouns, adjectives, noun phrases, verbal phrases and so on, and on the other hand, investigate how their identities of “China” are reflected through their choices of lexical or textual devices.Mongolian Journal of International Affairs Vol.19 2014: 153-165

Discourse Prominence and Pe-marking in Romanian

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (2) ◽  
pp. 298-332 ◽  
Author(s):  
Klaus von Heusinger ◽  
Sofiana Chiriacescu
Keyword(s):  
Noun Phrases ◽  
Web Based ◽  
Activation Level ◽  
Topic Shift ◽  
Direct Objects ◽  
Referential Expressions ◽  
Object Marking ◽  
The One ◽  
Two Parameters ◽  
High Level

AbstractReferential expressions are used to introduce and continue reference to entities with particular referential properties, but also with particular discourse properties. In this paper we investigate the referential and discourse properties of pe-marked indefinite direct objects in Romanian, which are an instance of Diff erential Object Marking (DOM). Pe-marking is generally obligatory for definite noun phrases but optional for indefinite ones. The optionality of pe marking with indefinite descriptions constitutes the focus of the present article. We will show that, on the one hand, pe with indefinite descriptions allows the realization of referential properties such as specific or wide scope readings, but that on the other hand, pe also signals discourse prominence, in particular in such contexts where referential properties are neutralized. We assume three parameters for discourse prominence, namely referential persistence, the topic-shift potential and the type of anaphoric referring expressions. We used these three parameters in a web-based story continuation experiment. The findings of the experiment revealed several interesting patterns: (i) that pe -marked direct objects are referentially more persistent than their unmarked counterparts, (ii) that pe -marked direct objects show a systematic preference to become topics two or three sentences after being introduced in the discourse, and (iii) that (modified) definite NPs were chosen to refer back to the referent of the marked as well as to the referent of the unmarked direct object. On the basis of the first two parameters we conclude that the relevant discourse contribution of pe is to signal to the hearer that subsequent information about that referent will follow, whereas the third parameter indicates that the referent of the pe -marked indefinite is not necessarily associated with a high level of activation. The general findings of the experiment support Kehler et al.'s (2008) intuition to differentiate between referential persistence and the activation level of the referent.

Misreading Egypt

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jesse Schotter
Keyword(s):  
New Media ◽  
Narrative Form ◽  
Experimental Film ◽  
Tower Of Babel ◽  
Avant Garde ◽  
Sergei Eisenstein ◽  
History Of ◽  
The One ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Modern Technologies

The first chapter of Hieroglyphic Modernisms exposes the complex history of Western misconceptions of Egyptian writing from antiquity to the present. Hieroglyphs bridge the gap between modern technologies and the ancient past, looking forward to the rise of new media and backward to the dispersal of languages in the mythical moment of the Tower of Babel. The contradictory ways in which hieroglyphs were interpreted in the West come to shape the differing ways that modernist writers and filmmakers understood the relationship between writing, film, and other new media. On the one hand, poets like Ezra Pound and film theorists like Vachel Lindsay and Sergei Eisenstein use the visual languages of China and of Egypt as a more primal or direct alternative to written words. But Freud, Proust, and the later Eisenstein conversely emphasize the phonetic qualities of Egyptian writing, its similarity to alphabetical scripts. The chapter concludes by arguing that even avant-garde invocations of hieroglyphics depend on narrative form through an examination of Hollis Frampton’s experimental film Zorns Lemma.

Researching (with) Major Food Retailers

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 33-39 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Evans
Keyword(s):  
Food Systems ◽  
Academic Research ◽  
Social Scientists ◽  
Major Food ◽  
Food Retailers ◽  
Food Retailer ◽  
The One ◽  
The Uk ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Opening Up

This paper considers the relationship between social science and the food industry, and it suggests that collaboration can be intellectually productive and morally rewarding. It explores the middle ground that exists between paid consultancy models of collaboration on the one hand and a principled stance of nonengagement on the other. Drawing on recent experiences of researching with a major food retailer in the UK, I discuss the ways in which collaborating with retailers can open up opportunities for accessing data that might not otherwise be available to social scientists. Additionally, I put forward the argument that researchers with an interest in the sustainability—ecological or otherwise—of food systems, especially those of a critical persuasion, ought to be empirically engaging with food businesses. I suggest that this is important in terms of generating better understandings of the objectionable arrangements that they seek to critique, and in terms of opening up conduits through which to affect positive changes. Cutting across these points is the claim that while resistance to commercial engagement might be misguided, it is nevertheless important to acknowledge the power-geometries of collaboration and to find ways of leveling and/or leveraging them. To conclude, I suggest that universities have an important institutional role to play in defining the terms of engagement as well as maintaining the boundaries between scholarship and consultancy—a line that can otherwise become quite fuzzy when the worlds of commerce and academic research collide.

Choice Of Technique And The Volume Of Saving (A Re-Examination Of The Cobb-Douglas Model)

1968 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 606-617
Author(s):  
Mohammad Anisur Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Production Function ◽  
Development Policy ◽  
Social Goals ◽  
The Other ◽  
Economic Development Policy ◽  
Labour Intensity ◽  
The One ◽  
Choice Of Technique ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this paper is to re-examine the relationship between the degree of aggregate labour-intensity and the aggregate volume of saving in an economy where a Cobb-6ouglas production function in its traditional form can be assumed to give a good approximation to reality. The relationship in ques¬tion has an obviously important bearing on economic development policy in the area of choice of labour intensity. To the extent that and in the range where an increase in labour intensity would adversely affect the volume of savings, a con¬flict arises between two important social objectives, i.e., higher rate of capital formation on the one hand and greater employment and distributive equity on the other. If relative resource endowments in the economy are such that such a "competitive" range of labour-intensity falls within the nation's attainable range of choice, development planners will have to arrive at a compromise between these two social goals.

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