Language evolution from a cognitive-grammar perspective

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-464
Author(s):  
Reyadh Aldokhayel
Keyword(s):  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Language Evolution ◽  
Cognitive Grammar ◽  
Departure Point ◽  
Nominative Case ◽  
Accusative Case ◽  
Semantic Function ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Baseline Case ◽  
Classical Arabic

Abstract This paper considers language evolution from a cognitive-grammar (CG) perspective taking Classical Arabic Case Marking (CACM) as a case in point and a departure point. It is argued that the accusative case is diachronically the baseline case mark, designating the Objective Scene (OS) and demarcating an object of perception in the initial stage of maximal subjectivity in which the ground (G) is totally implicit. Such maximum is then attenuated through a process of objectification such that g entities are gradually put onstage to fulfill the functions of identification and predication. The nominative case, then, figures to mark such emerging entities in their baseline, immediate status. This conception of G with its functions is later extended to mark entities external to G, which gives rise to the full, nominative-marked, baseline existential core (C∃) comprising the existential predicate (P∃) and the existential subject (S∃). The truncation (T) of a verb’s nominative case is argued to fulfill the semantic function of situating a process out of existential reality yielding the existential predicate minus (P-∃), which represents a basic elaboration on baseline C∃. Processes being extensions from perception, the accusative case attenuates to mark entities (D) that demarcate processes, implementing the semantic function of processual modification. Finally, a genitive-marked entity (RP) is proposed to implement the semantic function of referential modification, anchoring and referencing the conceptions of all those facets of reality.

Evidence of Perspective-Taking Constraints in Children's On-Line Reference Resolution

2002 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 329-336 ◽  
Author(s):  
Aparna S. Nadig ◽  
Julie C. Sedivy
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Data ◽  
Language Processing ◽  
Perspective Taking ◽  
Common Ground ◽  
Production Task ◽  
Reference Resolution ◽  
Mutual Knowledge ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
On Line ◽  
Early Effects

Young children's communication has often been characterized as egocentric. Some researchers claim that the processing of language involves an initial stage that relies on egocentric heuristics, even in adults. Such an account, combined with general developmental difficulties with late-stage processes, could provide an explanation for much of children's egocentric communication. However, the experimental data reported in this article do not support such an account: In an elicited-production task, 5- to 6-year-old children were found to be sensitive to their partner's perspective. Moreover, in an on-line comprehension task, they showed sensitivity to common-ground information from the initial stages of language processing. We propose that mutual knowledge is not distinct from other knowledge relevant for language processing, and exerts early effects on processing in proportion to its salience and reliability.

Morphological and Abstract Case

2008 ◽  
Vol 39 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-101 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julie Anne Legate
Keyword(s):  
Prima Facie ◽  
Nominative Case ◽  
Accusative Case ◽  
Abstract Case ◽  
Split Ergativity ◽  
The Relationship

This article examines the relationship between abstract and morphological case, arguing that morphological case realizes abstract Case features in a postsyntactic morphology, according to the Elsewhere Condition. A class of prima facie ergative-absolutive languages is identified wherein intransitive subjects receive abstract nominative Case and transitive objects receive abstract accusative Case; these are realized through a morphological default, which is often mislabeled as absolutive. Further support comes from split ergativity based on a nominal hierarchy, which is shown to have a morphological source. Proposals that case and agreement are purely morphological phenomena are critiqued.

scholarly journals The Derivation of Wh-Questions in Najrani Arabic

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (5) ◽  
pp. 181
Author(s):  
Saud A. Mushait
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
Nominative Case ◽  
Case Assignment ◽  
Accusative Case ◽  
Phase Approach ◽  
Wh Questions ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Edge Feature

The study explores the derivation of wh-questions in Najrani Arabic and attempts to answer the following questions: (i) Can wh-questions in Najrani Arabic be derived in VSO or SVO or both?, and (ii) How can Najrani Arabic wh-questions be accounted for within Chomsky’s (2001,2005, 2013,2015 ) Phase approach? The objective of the study is to present a unified analysis of the derivation of wh-questions in Najrani Arabic and show the interaction between Najrani Arabic data and Chomsky’s Phase framework. It has been shown that Najrani Arabic allows the derivation of wh-questions from the argument and non-argument positions in VSO word order. Given this, we assume that VSO is the unmarked order for the derivation of wh-questions in Najrani Arabic. In VSO, the subject DP does not raise to Spec-TP because the head T does not have the EPP feature: the latter attracts movement of the former. The verb raises to the head T of TP, while the subject DP remains in-situ in Spec-vP. Moreover, in Najrani Arabic intransitive structures, the phase vP does not have a specifier because it does not have an external thematic argument whereas in transitive constructions the vP has. Concerning case assignment, the phase vP merges with an abstract tense af (fix) on the head T, which agrees with and assigns invisible nominative case to the subject wh-word man ‘who’. We assume that the phase head C is the probe and has the Edge feature which attracts the raising of the subject wh-phrase to Spec-CP. Besides, we argue that the light transitive head v has an Edged feature which attracts the raising of the object wh-phrase aish ‘what’ to be the second (outer) specifier of vP. Being the phase head, the v probes for a local goal and finds the object wh-phrase aish; the v agrees with and assigns accusative case to the object wh-phrase aish. As the TP merges with a null interrogative head C, the phase head C has an Edge feature that attracts the raising of the object wh-word aish to Spec-CP for feature valuation. Following this, the null copies of the moved entities left after movement receive a null spellout in the phonological level and, hence, cannot be accessed for any further operation.

scholarly journals A case of collision in principles of language description?

2014 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-146
Author(s):  
Roland Wagner
Keyword(s):  
Main Part ◽  
Nominative Case ◽  
Lexical Unit ◽  
Object Position ◽  
Accusative Case ◽  
Language Description

Abstract In the article, I deal with an apparent case of incoherence within the framework of Functional Generative Description (FGD) in treating certain reflexive constructions. According to the principle that differences between valency frames are constitutive for establishing different lexical units (e.g., Žabokrtský and Lopatková, 2007), the occurrences of vnímat in (i) Vnímá syna jako soka and (ii) Sám se vnímá jako síla ochraňující divadlo have to be assigned to two different lexical units, as there is a difference in the formal marking of the Effect-argument (jako+accusative case in (i), jako+nominative case in (ii)). On the basis of the commutation test (e.g., Panevová, 2008) which identifies the reflexive clitic se in (ii) as an object-clitic, both occurrences of vnímat have to be, however, assigned to the same lexical unit as the only difference between vnímá syna in (i) and vnímá se in (ii) consists in the lexical filling of the object position. In the main part of the text, I review two different strategies to remedy the conflict between the two principles. I point out certain implications of both strategies and conclude by pleading for a solution within the framework of Modified Valency Theory (Karlík, 2000a)

scholarly journals The Syntax of Arabic Vocatives

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hussein Al-Bataineh
Keyword(s):  
Internal Structure ◽  
Syntactic Structure ◽  
Proper Names ◽  
Basic Structure ◽  
Nominative Case ◽  
Case Assignment ◽  
Case Alternation ◽  
Accusative Case ◽  
Indefinite Article ◽  
Case Marking

This paper examines the syntactic structure of Arabic vocatives, focusing on Case-marking of vocatives. The assignment of accusative and nominative Case can be accounted for in the light of Hill (2017) and Larson (2014)’s proposals. Hill (2017) provides the basic structure of the vocative phrase, and Larson (2014) proposes the internal structure of DP. The combination of these proposals explains the derivation of Arabic vocatives and their Case alternation. This paper argues that indefinite vocatives are assigned accusative Case only if they are merged with an overt D -n, otherwise a nominative Case surfaces on the noun by default. Proper names have the same analysis since the presence of the indefinite article-n is a prerequisite for accusative Case assignment. Concerning vocatives as heads of Construct States, N-to-D movement takes place in order to assign [+def] feature to D and is assigned accusative Case once D raises to the light d. Regarding vocatives in demonstrative phrases, D-to-d movement is blocked because of the intervening constituent Dem, indicating that this operation is subject to the adjacency condition. The same analysis is applicable to definite vocatives occurring with the particle ʡayyuha.

scholarly journals Secondary predication and default case

2001 ◽  
Vol 26 ◽  
pp. 113-125
Author(s):  
Youngjun Jang ◽  
Siyoun Kim
Keyword(s):  
Small Clause ◽  
Nominative Case ◽  
Accusative Case ◽  
Default Case ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Secondary Predication

This paper compares secondary predication constructions (including small clause complements, resultatives, and/or depictives) in English and Korean and argues that these two typologically different languages employ different modes of satisfying the Case Filter (Chomsky 1981) with regard to the Case of the subjects of secondary predication constructions. More specifically, we argue that the subject of the secondary predicate in English is Accusative Case-marked by the higher governing verb, while that in Korean is Nominative Case-marked by default. Evidence for default Nominative Case will be provided from Korean and other languages.  

Case alignment in Kabyle Amazigh

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 353-379
Author(s):  
Lydia Felice
Keyword(s):  
The State ◽  
Free State ◽  
Nominative Case ◽  
Accusative Case ◽  
African Languages ◽  
Default Case ◽  
Alignment System ◽  
Morphological Patterns

Abstract This paper examines the state alternation in Kabyle, arguing that state is the morphological realization of Case. The free state is accusative case, and the construct state is nominative case. Taking morphological patterns and syntactic distribution into account, Kabyle is found to be a Type 2 marked nominative language. Both states, or cases, are morphologically marked. The free state is the default case. This analysis accounts for the bulk of the distribution of free state and construct state nouns, and situates Kabyle as belonging to a typologically rare alignment system that is concentrated in Afroasiatic and African languages.

Scavenging, the stag hunt, and the evolution of language

2011 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 447-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
BRADY CLARK
Keyword(s):  
Game Theory ◽  
Communication Systems ◽  
Language Evolution ◽  
Empirical Support ◽  
Evolution Of Language ◽  
Stag Hunt ◽  
Initial Stage ◽  
Theory Of Language ◽  
Early Hominin

This article evaluates Derek Bickerton's 2009 theory of language evolution. Bickerton argues that language was the result of a need to recruit individuals to help in the scavenging of carcasses of megafauna. The signals used for recruitment at the earliest stage of language evolution were iconic and could be used to refer to objects outside the sensory range of the receiver(s). Bickerton's scenario is an example of what is described in game theory as a stag hunt. We can, by recasting Bickerton's scenario as a stag hunt, identify criteria that any account of the transition to language must satisfy. There are several hurdles we would need to jump over to demonstrate that Bickerton's model is valid. First, not much is known about early hominin scavenging. While the available evidence is compatible with Bickerton's scenario, it is compatible with other scenarios as well. Second, Bickerton argues that, at the initial stage of language evolution, signals were grounded in salient aspects of the environment. The empirical support for natural salience as a determinant of the communication systems used at the earliest stages of language evolution is mixed at best; communication systems can arise spontaneously in the absence of natural salience. Third, maintaining communication systems is nontrivial because of the incentive to deceive.

Formy znakhidnoho vidminka mnozhyny imennykiv – nazv istot v ukrayinsʹkiy narodniy i literaturniy movi

2021 ◽  
pp. 19-37
Author(s):  
Larysa Kolibaba
Keyword(s):  
Typical Feature ◽  
Literary Language ◽  
Nominative Case ◽  
Accusative Case ◽  
History Of ◽  
Genitive Case

The article investigates the regularities of the use of two forms of the accusative case of the plural of the nouns – the names of creatures in the Ukrainian folk and literary language. Special attention is paid to the form that coincides with the nominative case and is a typical feature of the folk language. The history of the entry of the form of the accusative case of the plural, common with the nominative case, into the system of inflexion of nouns of the Ukrainian literary language is traced. The area of distribution of each of the forms of the accusative case of the plural is determined. The list of nouns – the names of unpersons, which in the accusative case of the plural have the form of the nominative case, is offered. The causes and consequences of the expulsing of the forms of the nominative case of the plural by the forms of the genitive case in nouns – the names of creatures in the modern Ukrainian literary language – are clarified. It is stated that valid morphological literary norm does not correspond to the grammatical traditions of the Ukrainian folk language, because the forms, common to the nominative case, predominate in the folk language, whereas the forms, identical to the genitive case, prevail in the literary standard.

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