The That-Trace Effect: Evidence from Spanish–English Code-Switching

The that-trace effect is the fact that many languages (like English) ban the extraction of embedded-clause subjects but not objects over an overt complementizer like that, while many other languages (like Spanish) allow such extractions. The effect and its cross-linguistic variation have been the subject of intense research but remain largely a mystery, with no clear consensus on their underpinnings. We contribute novel evidence to these debates by using Spanish–English code-switching (the use of two languages in one sentence) to test five contemporary theoretical accounts of the that-trace effect. We conducted a formal acceptability judgment experiment, manipulating the extracted argument and code-switch site to test different combinations of linguistic features. We found that subject extraction is only permitted in Spanish–English code-switching when both the C head (que ‘that’) and the T head (i.e., the verb) are in Spanish, but not when either functional head is in English. Our results demonstrate indirect support for two of the five theories we test, failing to support the other three. Our findings also provide new evidence in favor of the view that the that-trace effect is tightly linked to the availability of post-verbal subjects. Finally, we outline how our results can narrow the range of possible theoretical accounts, demonstrating how code-switching data can contribute to core questions in linguistic theory.

The influencing factors of the willingness to screen for prostate cancer in middle-aged and elderly men:A qualitative study

Objective To explore the factors influencing the willingness to screen for prostate cancer in middle-aged and elderly men, and to provide a basis for improving the status of insufficient prostate cancer screening in my country, and to improve the overall prognosis and quality of life of prostate cancer patients in my country. Methods Using phenomenological research methods to conduct semi-structured in-depth interviews with 21 middle-aged and elderly men, using MAXQDA software and Colaizzi's seven-step analysis method for coding, analysis and subject extraction. Results Based on the theoretical framework of planned behavior, the influencing factors of the willingness to screen for prostate cancer in middle-aged and elderly men can be refined into three themes of behavior attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control, and 12 sub-themes of its sub-themes. Conclusion The willingness of middle-aged and elderly men to screen for prostate cancer is affected by many factors. Medical and health workers should adopt a variety of comprehensive interventions to guide the reasonable screening of middle-aged and old men to promote their prostate cancer screening behaviors.

Circumventing the ‘That-Trace’ Effect: Different Strategies between Germanic and Romance

In our paper, we deal with the Germanic–Romance language contact, focusing on Cimbrian, a Germanic minority language spoken in Northern Italy. Specifically, we focus on the violation of the well-known that-trace filter, as it appears to be an interesting case of the superficial convergence that we ascribe to the status of T, which is either too rich (model language) or too weak (replica language) to represent a viable landing site for subject extraction.

Syntactic Ergativity as a Constraint on Crossing Dependencies: The Perspective from Mayan

This paper presents an account of syntactic ergativity based on the grammaticalization of a processing-based preference for nested as compared to crossing dependencies. We propose that ergative subject extraction restrictions arise, because such movement would cross the prior A'-movement path of the absolutive object and create an illicit crossed dependency. Our account predicts that arguments merged between the A-movement tails of the absolutive DP cannot extract, whereas arguments merged above or below them can. In developing an approach to syntactic ergativity grounded in sentence processing, we highlight the need for deeper conversation between formal, typo- logical, and processing-driven syntax.

On Phase-over-Phase Configurations and phase collapsing: wh-extraction in V + de + CP clauses in Spanish

This paper discusses wh-extraction in Spanish clauses involving a V + de + CP sequence (de ‘of’ is a preposition). The previous literature has observed that objects, but not adjuncts, can be extracted from a single de + CP embedded clause. I make the following novel observations: (i) subjects pattern with adjuncts (not with objects) in that they cannot be extracted from a single de + CP embedded clause, (ii) there is a ‘distance’ effect in that subject extraction improves when one more level of embedding is added, and (iii) there is also a ‘distance’ effect with regard to adjunct extraction, which improves when one more level of embedding is added. (i)–(iii) are surprising since subjects otherwise do not pattern with adjuncts with regard to extraction out of islands due to the pro-drop nature of Spanish, and adjunct extraction out of islands is otherwise uniformly unacceptable. I propose a phasal account of the pattern in question where Phase Collapsing (i.e., a mechanism whereby two phasal heads, here de and C, are collapsed into one, thus voiding the phasehood of the lower phase headed by the C) and successive cyclic movement play crucial roles. I further extend the account to other cases where a CP co-occurs with a preposition.

“SEMANTIC” in a Digital Curation Model

PurposeThis study attempts to propose an abstract model by gathering concepts that can focus on resource representation and description in a digital curation model and suggest a conceptual model that emphasizes semantic enrichment in a digital curation model.Design/methodology/approachThis study conducts a literature review to analyze the preceding curation models, DCC CLM, DCC&U, UC3, and DCN.FindingsThe concept of semantic enrichment is expressed in a single word, SEMANTIC in this study. The Semantic Enrichment Model, SEMANTIC has elements, subject, extraction, multi-language, authority, network, thing, identity, and connect.Research limitationsThis study does not reflect the actual information environment because it focuses on the concepts of the representation of digital objects.Practical implicationsThis study presents the main considerations for creating and reinforcing the description and representation of digital objects when building and developing digital curation models in specific institutions.Originality/valueThis study summarizes the elements that should be emphasized in the representation of digital objects in terms of information organization.