Wh-Questions are understood before polar-questions: Evidence from English, German, and Chinese

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-27
Author(s):  
Sara MORADLOU ◽  
Xiaobei ZHENG ◽  
Ye TIAN ◽  
Jonathan GINZBURG
Keyword(s):  
Interactive Learning ◽  
The Other ◽  
Corpus Study ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Wh Questions ◽  
Elicitation Studies

Abstract In this paper we consider the order of emergence of comprehension of wh-questions and polar-questions. We argue that considerations of complexity and input favour the earlier emergence of polar questions; on the other hand, if one assumes that question understanding emerges as a consequence of interactive learning this favours (certain) wh-questions, as well as a small subclass of polar questions. We offer corpus evidence from the Providence corpus that (a certain class of) wh-questions are in fact understood earlier than the polar-questions. We test this observation using elicitation studies on German and Chinese speaking children. Our results confirm the finding from the corpus study and are in line with an interactive learning perspective for the emergence of understanding of questions.

Divergent theories, converging evidence: The constructional semantics of competing future constructions

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-114
Author(s):  
Stefan Hartmann
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
The Other ◽  
Temporal Distance ◽  
Corpus Study ◽  
Distant Future ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Future Events ◽  
The One ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Lines Of Evidence

Abstract This paper investigates the alternation between two competing German future constructions, the werden + Infinitive construction and the futurate present, from a usage-based perspective. Two lines of evidence are combined: On the one hand, a pilot corpus study indicates that werden + Infinitive is more likely to be used for referring to distant-future events than to near-future events. However, syntactic factors seem to be at least as decisive as semantic ones for speakers’ choice between the two constructions. On the other hand, an experimental study taps into language users’ interpretation of sentences framed in one of the two constructions. It can be shown that the grammatical framing does not significantly affect participants’ estimates of the temporal distance of the events to which the stimuli sentences refer. This suggests that the meaning differences between the two constructions be more nuanced, e.g. pertaining to discourse-pragmatic functions.

scholarly journals Comparative alternation in y-adjectives

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Deborah Fengyi Chua
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Morphological Structure ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
The Other ◽  
Grammatical Function ◽  
Corpus Study ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Comparative Constructions ◽  
Shed Light

<p>There are two main ways of expressing the comparative in English adjectives. One is to precede the adjectival base with more and the other is to suffix -er to the base. For the group of adjectives ending in an orthographic -y and an /i/ sound, which I call the y-adjectives, the alternation between more and -er cannot be neatly explained by structural accounts, whether predominantly synchronic or diachronic. The idea of understanding this alternation with respect to a paradigm of comparative constructions is introduced in this thesis. This paradigm comprises a multitude of more and -er constructions (including those of y-adjectives) that share the grammatical function of the comparative. The goal of this thesis is to examine to what extent the comparatives of y-adjectives can be accounted for by the comparative constructions of other members in this paradigm, in addition to a set of syntactic, morphological and phonological considerations. Two empirical studies are reported: a study of the comparative constructions in seven corpora of British comedies spanning the 17th to the 20th centuries; and an experimental study where reading times in the context of comparative y-adjective constructions were observed in a series of self-paced reading tasks. In the corpus study, the morphology of y-adjective bases is found to be a significant predictor of their comparatives. Additionally, significant correlations are found between:   • the comparatives of y-adjectives and those of the disyllabic adjectives that are not y-adjectives (to which I have given the cover term of HANDSOME adjectives);  • the comparatives of y-adjectives and those of the monosyllabic adjectives; and  • the comparatives of y-adjectives and those of adverbs that share some formal features with y-adjectives.  The experimental study furthers an investigation of comparative alternation in y-adjectives in terms of the comparatives of HANDSOME adjectives and the morphological structure of y-adjective bases. In this study, pre-to-post treatment reading is found to be facilitated in y-adjective more comparatives by an exposure to multiple instances of more constructions from the HANDSOME adjectives. The more constructions from HANDSOME adjectives are also found to reduce facilitation in reading in morphologically simple y-adjectives paired with -er. On the other hand, the -er constructions from HANDSOME adjectives are found to reduce facilitation in reading in morphologically complex y-adjectives paired with more. The studies undertaken in this work indicate two important predictors of the comparatives of y-adjectives: the comparatives of HANDSOME adjectives; and the morphological structure of y-adjective bases. The involvement of the comparatives of HANDSOME adjectives as a predictor points to the importance of a paradigm of comparatives for an understanding of the comparatives of y-adjectives. The influence of this paradigm, combined with the influence of morphology, is argued to shed light on a question motivated by the diachronic literature on what could be suppressing the susceptibility of y-adjectives to the structural motivators for particular comparatives. Additionally, the potential for interpreting some unanticipated findings in terms of theories from psychological views on language, and in ways that remain coherent with paradigmatic and morphological viewpoints, is discussed.</p>

Discourse-structuring functions of initial adverbials in English and Norwegian news and fiction

2014 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-92 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hilde Hasselgård
Keyword(s):  
Information Management ◽  
Initial Position ◽  
The Other ◽  
Lower Degree ◽  
Corpus Study ◽  
Contrastive Focus ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
New Information ◽  
Initial Placement ◽  
Discourse Functions

This paper explores the discourse-structuring functions of initial adverbial adjuncts in English and Norwegian news and fiction. Such discourse functions have to do with discourse linking and information management. The corpus study reveals frequency differences in the use of initial adjuncts across the languages, which are to some extent connected with an overall greater frequency of adjuncts in Norwegian. While initial adjuncts in fiction often signal cohesive relations, those in news are more typically due to backgrounding of less important information or to framing/scene-setting for the clause message. Norwegian initial adjuncts are even less likely than English ones to convey new information; on the other hand, initial position is to a lesser extent associated with contrastive focus in Norwegian. This, together with the higher frequency of initial adjuncts in Norwegian, suggests that initial placement of adjuncts carries a lower degree of markedness in Norwegian than in English.

scholarly journals Comparative alternation in y-adjectives

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Deborah Fengyi Chua
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Morphological Structure ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
The Other ◽  
Grammatical Function ◽  
Corpus Study ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Comparative Constructions ◽  
Shed Light

<p>There are two main ways of expressing the comparative in English adjectives. One is to precede the adjectival base with more and the other is to suffix -er to the base. For the group of adjectives ending in an orthographic -y and an /i/ sound, which I call the y-adjectives, the alternation between more and -er cannot be neatly explained by structural accounts, whether predominantly synchronic or diachronic. The idea of understanding this alternation with respect to a paradigm of comparative constructions is introduced in this thesis. This paradigm comprises a multitude of more and -er constructions (including those of y-adjectives) that share the grammatical function of the comparative. The goal of this thesis is to examine to what extent the comparatives of y-adjectives can be accounted for by the comparative constructions of other members in this paradigm, in addition to a set of syntactic, morphological and phonological considerations. Two empirical studies are reported: a study of the comparative constructions in seven corpora of British comedies spanning the 17th to the 20th centuries; and an experimental study where reading times in the context of comparative y-adjective constructions were observed in a series of self-paced reading tasks. In the corpus study, the morphology of y-adjective bases is found to be a significant predictor of their comparatives. Additionally, significant correlations are found between:   • the comparatives of y-adjectives and those of the disyllabic adjectives that are not y-adjectives (to which I have given the cover term of HANDSOME adjectives);  • the comparatives of y-adjectives and those of the monosyllabic adjectives; and  • the comparatives of y-adjectives and those of adverbs that share some formal features with y-adjectives.  The experimental study furthers an investigation of comparative alternation in y-adjectives in terms of the comparatives of HANDSOME adjectives and the morphological structure of y-adjective bases. In this study, pre-to-post treatment reading is found to be facilitated in y-adjective more comparatives by an exposure to multiple instances of more constructions from the HANDSOME adjectives. The more constructions from HANDSOME adjectives are also found to reduce facilitation in reading in morphologically simple y-adjectives paired with -er. On the other hand, the -er constructions from HANDSOME adjectives are found to reduce facilitation in reading in morphologically complex y-adjectives paired with more. The studies undertaken in this work indicate two important predictors of the comparatives of y-adjectives: the comparatives of HANDSOME adjectives; and the morphological structure of y-adjective bases. The involvement of the comparatives of HANDSOME adjectives as a predictor points to the importance of a paradigm of comparatives for an understanding of the comparatives of y-adjectives. The influence of this paradigm, combined with the influence of morphology, is argued to shed light on a question motivated by the diachronic literature on what could be suppressing the susceptibility of y-adjectives to the structural motivators for particular comparatives. Additionally, the potential for interpreting some unanticipated findings in terms of theories from psychological views on language, and in ways that remain coherent with paradigmatic and morphological viewpoints, is discussed.</p>

scholarly journals The degree of grammaticalization of gotta, gonna, wanna and better: A corpus study

2015 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dagmar Machová
Keyword(s):  
American English ◽  
The Other ◽  
Corpus Study ◽  
Modal Verbs ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Web Forums ◽  
British National Corpus ◽  
Clausal Negation ◽  
High Degree ◽  
National Corpus

Abstract The paper studies the degree of grammaticalization of the structures gotta, gonna, wanna and better. The study presumes that the semantics of these structures – more precisely their modal polyfunctionality (i.e. the ability to express deontic and epistemic meaning at the same time) – has an impact on their morphosyntactic properties. Using corpora (predominantly the British National Corpus and the Corpus of Contemporary American English) and web forums, the paper studies in detail the level of independence of gotta, gonna, wanna and better from their respective auxiliaries (have and be) and the development of the operator properties of these structures typical for central modals (i.e. inversion in questions, compatibility with clausal negation and occurrence in elliptical contexts). It demonstrates that gonna and gotta are partially grammaticalized, especially with respect to the independence of their auxiliaries, but they do not syntactically behave as modals. The verb wanna behaves as a modal morphologically but not syntactically. On the other hand, better is grammaticalized to a high degree, and it does demonstrate both the morphology and syntax of central modal verbs.

scholarly journals Where corpus methods hit their limits: The case of separable adjectives in Bambara

Rhema ◽  
2018 ◽  
pp. 34-49
Author(s):  
V. Vydrin
Keyword(s):  
West Africa ◽  
Body Part ◽  
The Other ◽  
Supplementary Data ◽  
Corpus Study ◽  
Part Of Speech ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Reference Corpus ◽  
Corpus Data

Separable adjectives represent a morphosyntactic subcategory of the part of speech of adjectives in Bambara (< Manding < Mande < Niger-Congo, Mali, West Africa). A separable adjective is a compound lexeme consisting of a noun root designating most often a body part, a qualitative verb root and a connector -la- ~ -lan- or -ma- ~ -man-. When used predicatively, the final component of a separable adjective (the qualitative verb root) is split from the rest of the form by the auxiliary word ka or man. Separable adjectives express mainly human qualities (moral or physical), and their semantics are very often idiomatic. The productivity of this subclass is limited. In order to establish an inventory of the separable adjectives, two approaches have been followed: elicitation and a search in the Bambara Reference Corpus (which included roughly 4,110,000 words at the time of this study). The potentially imaginable number of lexemes of this type equals 570 (15 noun roots × 19 qualitative verb roots × 2 connectors). Elicitation provided 75 separable adjectives, and the corpus study, 25, 3 of which are absent from the elicitated list. This experiment proves that in studies of derivative morphology, when a linguist needs to fill out a matrix, elicitation cannot simply be replaced by a corpus study. On the other hand, the corpus data provides invaluable supplementary data that cannot be obtained through elicitation

scholarly journals Status turcyzmów "marama" i "maramica" we współczesnym języku chorwackim

2020 ◽  
Vol 55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Przemysław Fałowski
Keyword(s):  
Language Policy ◽  
Present Article ◽  
The Other ◽  
Corpus Study ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
The Status ◽  
And Function

The Status of Turkish Loanwords marama and maramica in Modern CroatianThe present article aims to investigate the status, frequency and function of Turkish loanwords marama and maramica in modern Croatian. This study attempts to compare views of Croatian linguists on these lexemes with their practical usage recorded in online corpora. The analysis demonstrates that a purist language policy applied in Croatia, especially in the 1990s, resulted in a change of status of marama and maramica in standard Croatian: these originally stylistically neutral lexemes came to be regarded as regionalisms, “worse” words or even Serbisms. On the other hand, the corpus study under discussion indicates that the loanwords marama and maramica are still popular in journalistic and official texts, where they appear in a number of new contexts. Status turcyzmów marama i maramica we współczesnym języku chorwackimGłównym celem publikacji jest zbadanie statusu, frekwencji i funkcji turcyzmów marama i maramica we współczesnym języku chorwackim. Artykuł stanowi próbę konfrontacji poglądów na temat badanych leksemów, formułowanych przede wszystkim przez chorwackich lingwistów, z uzusem poświadczonym w korpusach językowych. Badania pokazują, że purystyczna polityka językowa prowadzona w Chorwacji, przede wszystkim w latach 90. XX wieku, skutkowała zmianą statusu wspomnianych słów w standardowym języku chorwackim: te początkowo neutralne stylistycznie wyrazy zaczęto określać mianem regionalizmów, form gorszych, a nawet serbizmów. Z drugiej strony analiza korpusu pokazuje, że leksemy marama i maramica są nadal bardzo popularne w tekstach publicystycznych i urzędowych, gdzie pojawią się w licznych nowych kontekstach.

scholarly journals Marcadores del discurso derivados de los verbos de percepción

Revue Romane ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-31 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sanne Tanghe ◽  
Marlies Jansegers
Keyword(s):  
Discourse Markers ◽  
The Other ◽  
Corpus Study ◽  
Parallel Corpus ◽  
The Past ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Formal Behaviour

Despite the growing interest in discourse markers over the past two decades, few studies are dedicated to the interlinguistic comparison of discourse markers. By means of a corpus-based approach the present study proposes a comparison between the discourse markers derived from verbs of perception in Italian (guarda/guardi, senti/senta) and Spanish (mira/mire, oye/oiga). The results of a comparable corpus study reveals that the discourse markers sharing the original perception modality display a similar formal behaviour (mira/mire ~ guarda/guardi, oye/oiga ~ senti/senta). From the parallel corpus on the other hand it results that the most frequent equivalent of mira/mire is senti/senta, which can be linked to the original semantics of both verbs. These two main observations confirm the relevance of a parallel corpus as a complementary source to a comparable corpus when comparing phenomena in two (or more) languages. This combined corpus approach brings about not only interlinguistic insights but provides at the same time knowledge about the relation and uses of the discourse markers within the languages.

scholarly journals On double access, cessation and parentheticality

2015 ◽  
Vol 25 ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Gordon Altshuler ◽  
Valentine Hacquard ◽  
Thomas Roberts ◽  
Aaron Steven White
Keyword(s):  
The Other ◽  
Corpus Study ◽  
Past Work ◽  
Other Hand

Arguably the biggest challenge in analyzing English tense is to account for the double access interpretation, which arises when a present tensed verb is embedded under a past attitude—e.g. John said that Mary is pregnant. Present-under-past does not always result in a felicitous utterance, however—cf. #John believed that Mary is pregnant. While such oddity has been noted, the contrast hasnever been explained. In fact, English grammars and manuals generally prohibit present-under-past. Work on double access, on the other hand, has either disregarded the oddity (e.g. Abusch 1997: 39) or treated it as a reflex of a particular dialect (e.g. Kratzer 1998: 14). The goal of the paper is to argue—based on a corpus study—that a present-under-past sentence is grammatical, but modulated by two, interacting pragmatic phenomena: cessation and parentheticality.

A study of cometary eruptions through OH radio-lines

1999 ◽  
Vol 173 ◽  
pp. 249-254
Author(s):  
A.M. Silva ◽  
R.D. Miró
Keyword(s):  
Short Duration ◽  
Growth Curves ◽  
The Other ◽  
Initial Mass ◽  
Radio Lines ◽  
Other Hand ◽  
Sudden Rise

AbstractWe have developed a model for theH2OandOHevolution in a comet outburst, assuming that together with the gas, a distribution of icy grains is ejected. With an initial mass of icy grains of 108kg released, theH2OandOHproductions are increased up to a factor two, and the growth curves change drastically in the first two days. The model is applied to eruptions detected in theOHradio monitorings and fits well with the slow variations in the flux. On the other hand, several events of short duration appear, consisting of a sudden rise ofOHflux, followed by a sudden decay on the second day. These apparent short bursts are frequently found as precursors of a more durable eruption. We suggest that both of them are part of a unique eruption, and that the sudden decay is due to collisions that de-excite theOHmaser, when it reaches the Cometopause region located at 1.35 × 105kmfrom the nucleus.

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