scholarly journals Postposing and Information Structure in English and Farsi/Persian

2014 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 48-55
Author(s):  
Soheila Shafiei
Keyword(s):  
Information Structure ◽  
Initial Position ◽  
New Information ◽  
The Right ◽  
Canonical Position

Abstract The term postposing denotes any construction in which a phrasal constituent appears to the right of its canonical position, leaving its initial position either empty or occupied by an expletive. Ward and Birner (2004) argue that postposed constructions preserve the old-before-new information structure paradigm in English. The present paper investigates postposed constituents in Persian to find out the information structure paradigm of such constructions. The data have been taken from 34 interviews. The findings show that various constituents might undergo postposing in spoken Farsi (known as Tehrani dialect), and, in contrast to English, NPs were found to be triggered in postposed position when the referent was hearer-old.

The syntax, information structure, and prosody of German ‘VP’-fronting

2019 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-283
Author(s):  
Vera Lee-Schoenfeld ◽  
Anya Lunden
Keyword(s):  
Information Structure ◽  
Experimental Studies ◽  
High Tone ◽  
New Information ◽  
Verb Phrases ◽  
Vp Fronting ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Right ◽  
Definiteness Effect

Abstract This paper explores fronted verb phrases in German, drawing attention to the difference between passive/unaccusative VPs and fronted agentive vPs. While both kinds of verb phrases have been discussed in the literature as being frontable, it has been largely overlooked that fronted vPs typically come with a certain kind of post-fronting context and a rise-fall or bridge-contour intonation, which is characteristic of I-topicalization. We observe that, unlike VPs, agentive vPs essentially need to be I-topics, with a high tone at the right edge of the fronted domain, in order to be frontable. Given the special context required for fronted vPs, the situation described by the vP does not contain new information but must already have been under discussion and is now being commented on. We present the results of two experimental studies and appeal to the thetic/categorical distinction to offer a new angle on the definiteness effect that has been associated with fronted verb phrases. We propose that a subject-containing fronted vP is associated with a thetic rather than the default categorical judgment, which means that the fronted subject and predicate form only one information-structural unit (a topic) rather than two (topic and comment). Contributing to the literature on theticity, we observe that, unlike in non-fronting thetic statements, the subject in fronted vPs cannot be a true definite. We attribute this to clashing intonation restrictions on theticity in non-fronting constructions versus theticity in just the fronted portion of a sentence.

scholarly journals Locative Inversion as an Alternation Phenomenon in Setswana: The Case of Lexical Functional Grammar Theory

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 1-13
Author(s):  
Setumile Morapedi
Keyword(s):  
Noun Phrase ◽  
Information Structure ◽  
Initial Position ◽  
Functional Grammar ◽  
Structure Approach ◽  
Syntactic Structures ◽  
Lexical Functional Grammar ◽  
New Information ◽  
The Subject ◽  
Locative Inversion

The paper has examined locative inversion constructions in Setswana, showing that the pre-posed locative phrase in these constructions is not the subject as it is viewed by other linguists in the literature. It has been argued, in this paper, that locative phrase occurs in the sentence initial position to perform the topic function which sets the scene for the focused noun phrase that alternates with it (locative phrase). The analysis has been achieved through information structure approach, showing the locative phrase that occurs in sentence initial position is a discourse phenomenon showing given information, and that the focused post-verbal noun phrase is new information that is emphasised on. Also, an appeal is made to Lexical Functional Grammar Approach to explain different ways of representing syntactic structures such as constituent structure and the functional structure.

scholarly journals The clause-initial position in L2 Swedish declaratives: Word order variation and discourse pragmatics

2010 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ute Bohnacker
Keyword(s):  
Word Order ◽  
Information Structure ◽  
Initial Position ◽  
Structural Level ◽  
Verb Second ◽  
Advanced Learners ◽  
L1 Transfer ◽  
New Information ◽  
Types Of Information ◽  
Transfer Of Information

In a recent study of the clause-initial position in verb-second declaratives (the prefield), Bohnacker & Rosén (2008) found significant differences between native Swedish and German concerning the frequencies with which constituents occurred in the prefield, as well as qualitative differences concerning the mapping of information structure and linear word order: Swedish exhibited a stronger tendency than German to place new information, the so-called rheme, later in the clause. Swedish-speaking learners of German transferred these patterns from their L1 to German. Their sentences were syntactically well-formed but had Swedish-style prefield frequencies and a strong pattern of Rheme Later, which native Germans perceive as unidiomatic, as an acceptability judgment and a rewrite-L2texts task showed. The present study extends Bohnacker & Rosén's work in three ways. Learners of the reverse language combination (L1 German, L2 Swedish) are investigated to see whether similar phenomena also manifest themselves there. Secondly, written and oral data from highly advanced learners are examined to see whether the learners’ persistent problems can be overcome by extensive immersion (3, 6 and 9 years of L2 exposure). Thirdly, besides investigating theme–rheme (old vs. new information), some consideration is given to another information-structural level, background vs. focus. The learners are found to overuse the prefield at first, with non-Swedish, German-style frequency patterns (e.g. low proportions of clause-initial expletives and high proportions of clause-initial rhematic elements). This is interpreted as evidence for L1 transfer of information-structural or discourse-pragmatic preferences. After 6 and 9 years, a substantial increase in clause-initial expletive subjects, clefts and lightweight given elements is indicative of development towards the target. The findings are related to current generative theorizing on the syntax-pragmatics interface, where it is often maintained that the integration of multiple types of information is one of the hardest areas for L2 learners to master.

Why Has There Been No People’s Power Rebellion in North Korea?

2018 ◽  
pp. 1-34
Author(s):  
Andrew Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
North Korea ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Political Elite ◽  
Information Control ◽  
Al Jazeera ◽  
The North ◽  
New Information ◽  
Effective System ◽  
The Right

One scenario put forward by researchers, political commentators and journalists for the collapse of North Korea has been a People’s Power (or popular) rebellion. This paper analyses why no popular rebellion has occurred in the DPRK under Kim Jong Un. It challenges the assumption that popular rebellion would happen because of widespread anger caused by a greater awareness of superior economic conditions outside the DPRK. Using Jack Goldstone’s theoretical expla-nations for the outbreak of popular rebellion, and comparisons with the 1989 Romanian and 2010–11 Tunisian transitions, this paper argues that marketi-zation has led to a loosening of state ideological control and to an influx of infor-mation about conditions in the outside world. However, unlike the Tunisian transitions—in which a new information context shaped by social media, the Al-Jazeera network and an experience of protest helped create a sense of pan-Arab solidarity amongst Tunisians resisting their government—there has been no similar ideology unifying North Koreans against their regime. There is evidence of discontent in market unrest in the DPRK, although protests between 2011 and the present have mostly been in defense of the right of people to support themselves through private trade. North Koreans believe this right has been guaranteed, or at least tacitly condoned, by the Kim Jong Un government. There has not been any large-scale explosion of popular anger because the state has not attempted to crush market activities outright under Kim Jong Un. There are other reasons why no popular rebellion has occurred in the North. Unlike Tunisia, the DPRK lacks a dissident political elite capable of leading an opposition movement, and unlike Romania, the DPRK authorities have shown some flexibility in their anti-dissent strategies, taking a more tolerant approach to protests against economic issues. Reduced levels of violence during periods of unrest and an effective system of information control may have helped restrict the expansion of unrest beyond rural areas.

Rheme before theme in the noun phrase

2008 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 894-915
Author(s):  
Carlotta Viti
Keyword(s):  
Noun Phrase ◽  
Information Structure ◽  
Ancient Greek ◽  
New Information ◽  
Prague School

Information structure in the noun phrase remains unexplored or limited to the study of the s-form and the of-form in English, which are interpreted from the perspective of the Prague School. Accordingly, the prenominal s-form is chosen if the possessor expresses old information; conversely, if the possessor expresses new information, the postnominal of-form is preferred. Ancient Greek, however, indicates that this is not the sole pattern attested. In our data, drawn from Herodotus, a postposed genitive refers to the topic of the immediately preceding clauses, and has no semantically compatible referent around it. Preposed genitives denote new or discontinuous participants, and are used in contrastive and emphatic contexts. In this case, the principle “rheme before theme” can be identified.

We Need a Fresh Start in Southern Africa

1975 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 44-47
Author(s):  
Willard R. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Southern Africa ◽  
Fresh Start ◽  
Congressional Hearings ◽  
New Information ◽  
The Right

My statement is not an attempt to convey new information. Indeed, anyone reading simply the record of the Congressional hearings will have all the essential and relevant facts. Why is it that we have been ever searching for but never coming to the truth? Why do we listen but never hear, look but never see, manipulate but never truly feel? Perhaps we express the right facts but the wrong values?

scholarly journals Discourse Intonation and Information Structure: An Empirical Study of Existential There Constructions in Non-native Spontaneous Speech

2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-153
Author(s):  
Judit Nagy
Keyword(s):  
Language Learners ◽  
Information Structure ◽  
Sentence Type ◽  
Spontaneous Speech ◽  
New Information ◽  
Different Types ◽  
Discourse Intonation ◽  
Problematic Area ◽  
Accented English ◽  
The Given

Abstract The management of given and new information is one of the key components of accomplishing coherence in oral discourse, which is claimed to be a problematic area for language learners (Celce-Murcia, Dörnyei, and Thurrell 1995: 14). Research on discourse intonation proposes that instead of the given/new dichotomy, givenness should be viewed as a continuum, with different types of accessibility (Baumann & Grice 2006). Moreover, Prince (1992) previously categorized information structure into Hearer-old/Hearer-new and Discourse-old/Discourse-new information. There is consensus on the fact that focus or prominence associated with new information is marked with nuclear pitch accent, and its main acoustic cue, fundamental frequency (f0) (Ward & Birner 2001: 120). Non-native intonation has been reported to display numerous differences in f0 range and patterns compared to native speech (Wennerstrom 1994; Baker 2010). This study is an attempt to address the issue of marking information structure in existential there sentences by means of f0 in non-native spontaneous speech. Data originates from task-based interactions in the Wildcat Corpus of Native- and Foreign-Accented English (Van Engen et al. 2010). This paper examines two issues: (1) information structure in relation to the notions of givenness and different types of accessibility (Baumann & Grice 2006) and to Prince’s (1992) multidimensional taxonomy and (2) the use of f0 peaks to mark the prominence of new information. Several differences were measured among native speakers regarding the use of f0, sentence type, and complexity.

scholarly journals Short-Term Memory Comparison Of Students Of Faculty Of Medicine Pelita Harapan University Batch 2015 Between The Handwriting And Typing Method

Medicinus ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (4) ◽  
pp. 108
Author(s):  
Caroline Widjaja ◽  
Stefanus Satria Sumali
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Study ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
P Value ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Typing Method ◽  
Term Memory ◽  
New Information ◽  
Study Population ◽  
The Right ◽  
Experimental Study Design

<p>Introduction : A lot of research has been done to determine if handwriting or typing note influenced short-term memory, however, the results obtained are still controversial. Therefore this study is structured to see the effect of note taking methods by handwriting and typing on short-term memory.</p><p>Aim : The aims of this study were to increase the performance of students in Faculty of Medicine Pelita Harapan University as well as providing the right and effective method of taking notes.<strong></strong></p><p>Method : Experimental study design was chosen in this study. Study population is students of faculty of medicine Pelita Harapan University batch 2015. 40 samples will be divide randomly into two, one group will take a note by handwriting and another by typing. Each group is required to watch a video about 15 minutes long.  The results were analyzed statistically using T-test.</p><p>Result : The average of  new information that can be remembered by group that take a note by handwriting significantly (p&lt;0,05) higher than group than take a note by typing with a p-value of 0,009.</p><p>Conclusion : Take a note by handwriting allows people to remember more new information than typing.</p>

scholarly journals The Profile of Cognitive Conflict with Intervention in Understanding Algebra of Students at Pangkep State Polytechnic of Agriculture

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita Nita Sari
Keyword(s):  
Research Method ◽  
Zero Divisor ◽  
Cognitive Conflict ◽  
Quadratic Inequality ◽  
New Information ◽  
Determining Set ◽  
Written Test ◽  
The Right ◽  
Descriptive Qualitative

ABSTRACTThe study aims at obtaining information on the profile of cognitive conflict of students by giving intervention on understanding Algebra of students at Pangkep State Polytechnic of Agriculture. The research method employed descriptive qualitative. The study involved the students who experienced cognitive conflict as a sample. The instruments used in collecting the data were written test and interview. Each of the students delivered his or her answer; he or she would be given new information that could trigger cognitive conflict.The result of the study reveal that (1) the students experienced cognitive conflict in determining set of completion on inequality that did not have a zero divisor. Based on students understanding, quadratic inequality that difficult to be factored or the factors were not integers that did not have solutions, (2) the students experienced cognitive conflict in solving equation that had infinite solutions. The students tended to work procedurally without identifying relational elements formed by the expressions. The subjects did not see the objects produce in first step that showed experession on the left was equal to the expression on the right side, (3) the students experienced cognitive conflict in determining set of completion on inequality segment.ABSTRAK Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk memperoleh informasi tentang profil konflik kognitif mahasiswa dengan pemberian intervensi terhadap pemahaman aljabar mahasiswa Politeknik Pertanian Negeri Pangkep. Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah deskriptif kualitatif. Penelitian ini melibatkan mahasiswa yang mengalami konflik kognitif sebagai sampel. Untuk pengumpulan data, instrumen yang digunakan adalah soal tertulis dan wawancara. Setiap mahasiswa selesai menyampaikan jawaban, akan diberikan informasi baru yang dapat memicu terjadinya konflik kognitif.Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa: (1) Mahasiswa mengalami konflik kognitif dalam menentukan himpunan penyelesaian pada pertidaksamaan  yang tidak memiliki pembuat nol dan faktor-faktornya bukan bilangan real. Menurut pemahaman mahasiswa pertidaksamaan kuadrat yang sulit untuk difaktorkan tidak memiliki solusi (2) Mahasiswa mengalami konflik kognitif dalam menyelesaikan persamaan yang memiliki solusi yang tak berhingga. Mahasiswa cenderung bekerja secara prosedural tanpa mengindentifikasi elemen-elemen relasional yang dibentuk pada ekspresi tersebut. Subjek tidak memandang objek yang dihasilkan pada langkah pertama yang memperlihatkan bahwa ekspresi di ruas kiri sama dengan ekspresi di ruas kanan (3) Mahasiswa mengalami konflik kognitif dalam menentukan himpunan penyelesaian pada pertidaksamaan setelah diintervensi dengan informasi baru dengan menarik akar pada kedua ruas pertidaksamaan.

The Coat of Arms of Moses of Mardin

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 345-394
Author(s):  
András Mércz
Keyword(s):  
New Testament ◽  
Social Milieu ◽  
The Core ◽  
New Information ◽  
Syrian Orthodox ◽  
Jesuit College ◽  
The Right

Abstract The core of this paper is an edition of Moses of Mardin’s grant of arms, which, accompanied by relevant excerpts from his unpublished Syriac correspondence, provides new information on the life of this 16th-century Syrian Orthodox monk, who played an important role at the dawn of the European Syriac scholarship. He was not only granted with a coat of arms, but he was also received by Ferdinand I, which shows the importance of his major achievement, the edition of the Syriac New Testament. The paper points out that he lived in the Jesuit college in Vienna with the scions of the most influential noblemen, which illustrates his social milieu. It will be argued that he remained Syrian Orthodox despite his earlier Catholic profession of faith. It will also be argued that Moses acquired the right to bear the described coat of arms without ennoblement, and he probably did not use it.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document