Proceedings Published by the LSA (Linguistic Society of America)
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Social meaning and pragmatic reasoning: The case of (im)precision
Full text linkOn the basis of a speaker\u27s choice between linguistic alternatives, a hearer can draw inferences not only about facts of the world, but also about the social properties of the speaker. The goal of this work is to investigate how such social meanings arise, particularly in the case where the alternatives in question differ in their core logical or semantic meaning. Taking variation in numerical precision level as a case study, we seek to test the broad general hypothesis that social inferences may be derived via pragmatic reasoning about the needs of the situation, the epistemic state of the speaker, and the reasons for their choice of form. We report on two matched guise studies which demonstrate that the social meaning of (im)precision is sensitive to context and (to some extent) speaker knowledge state, and are correlated with inferred reasons for expression choice, findings which support the predictions of the pragmatic view
Contrafactives, learnability, and production
Full text linkNo natural language has contrafactive attitude verbs. Because factives are universal across natural languages, this means that there is a major asymmetry between contrafactives and factives. We previously hypothesised that this asymmetry arises partly because the meaning of contrafactives is significantly harder to learn than that of factives. Here we test this hypothesis by using a production-oriented computational experiment that overcomes two limitations of our previous experiments. We find that our results do not support our previous hypothesis
Studying the interplay of context and semantic content in the interpretation of adversative conjunctions with eye-tracking
Full text linkThe French adversative connective mais, much like its English counterpart but, takes two conjuncts and indicates that they stand in some kind of opposition. The nature of this opposition is often discussed in the existing literature of adversatives. Using an eyetracking experiment, we look at where and when this opposition appears to be manifested in a sentence reading task, using superiority comparatives sentences that appear degraded without a supportive context, as well as inferiority comparatives that do not seem to require such specific contextual information. We presented participants (n = 28) with four types of sentences, differing in the form of comparative, and in the information provided by the context. Some contexts contained a pivot property to help readers access the opposition of the two conjuncts, while others were neutral in that regard. Eye movements were recorded with a 250Hz Tobii Pro Fusion eyetracker, and mixed effect models were used to analyze the following eyetracking metrics : total fixation time and regression probability for the whole sentences, as well as first-fixation duration, first-gaze duration, regression-path duration, regressions-out and regressions-in for each individual words. Even if the helping context is shown to lower negative acceptability judgment on sentences with mais plus (Winterstein et al. 2014), we found no context effect in online reading processing, finding instead a persisting effect of the less/more dichotomy in all chosen measures, sometimes before fixation of those words, pointing towards a parafoveal effect of the aforementioned dichotomy, which merits closer look in future work
Experimental findings for a cross-modal account of dynamic binding in gesture-speech interaction
Full text linkWe report results of experiments on pronoun and presupposition binding across modalities. We show that ordinary pronouns (in the spoken/written domain) can be dynamically bound to gesturally introduced discourse referents and that presuppositions induced by spoken/written triggers (via e.g. ‘again’ or ‘too’) can be bound likewise. These experiments support research that has proposed the existence of cross-modal binding to motivate a formal framework that can account for interaction of various input of linguistic content from different dimensions and modalities
New data on the \u27triggering problem\u27 for presuppositions
No full textThe paper addresses the question which entailments of complex expressions are more likely to become presupposed meaning (the ‘triggering problem’) by discussing new experimental evidence. Exploiting a word learning paradigm based on visual animations (Bade, Schlenker & Chemla to appear), the experiment discussed tests the predictions of different theories for change of state verbs. The findings suggest that initial states are more likely to be presupposed, whereas result states are spontaneously construed as asserted meaning. Results also show that the change of state itself can be more or less at-issue, depending on whether the result or initial state is salient.
Temporal de Re and semantic variation: Composing simultaneity in Asante Twi
Full text linkThis paper explores the temporal interpretation of attitude reports (AttR) in the Asante (Twi) dialect of Akan (Kwa, Niger Congo), with a focus on deriving the (past) simultaneous (SIM) reading in X-under-Past embeddings. We note that SIM in Asante arises when X represents: (i) the bare form, (ii) the distal deictic tense ná or (marginally) (iii) the perfective past LEN - with a decreasing preference in that order from (i) to (iii). Based on our empirical findings, accounts postulating deletion or binding of the embedded tense are ruled out for (ii) and (iii). Therefore, we propose that, while the bare form is associated with a de Se binding construal, both ná and LEN involve only a de Re construal. Consequently, we suggest that the speakers’ choices in embedding are guided by two pragmatic principles: one that favours de Se over de Re LFs (for (i) over (ii) and (iii)) and another that favours unbounded over bounded event structures (for (i) and (ii) over (iii))
A reanalysis of tense in Chuj (Mayan)
Full text linkIn this paper, I provide a reanalysis of Chuj’s tense/aspect system. Carolan argues that Chuj is a tensed language, using data from two markers, ix and ∅, that she analyzes as marking perfective aspect and recent and distant past tense, respectively. Using original data collected via semantic fieldwork methods, I show that these two markers can be used with multiple temporal references, indicating that they encode only aspectual information, not tense. I analyze them as recent and remote perfect markers, marking the relationship and the distance between topic time and event time. These findings show that previous descriptions of tense and aspect in Chuj are insufficient, calling for further study to create a more complete understanding of the semantics of verbal markers. Additionally, it is more likely that Chuj is a tenseless language, but future research should seek to confirm this.
WH-operators & multiple copy spell-out in modern Irish
Full text linkIrish has different complementizers depending on whether a clause is formed by an A-bar dependency without movement, via movement, or via binding of a resumptive pronoun. Despite these distinctions, these A-bar complementizers share the same phonological content, with the only difference being the mutation they trigger on the following verb. This paper reanalyzes these data, proposing that the verb mutation reflects the true realization of the C0 head, while the segmental content represents the WH-operator in Spec-CP. This paper analyzes this example of Multiple Copy Spell-Out and explores its implications for the order of operations in Syntax and Morphology
Code-switching patterns in young Yoruba-English bilinguals
Full text linkThis study explores the code-switching patterns of young Yoruba-English bilinguals, focusing on how and why they alternate between Yoruba and English in different conversational contexts. Using naturalistic observations of children aged 5 to 8, the study identifies common linguistic structures in their code-switching, such as intra-sentential, inter-sentential, and tag-switching. The findings reveal that code-switching is not random but follows systematic linguistic and cognitive principles influenced by discourse context, social setting, and pragmatic functions. This research contributes to understanding bilingual language development and the cognitive flexibility of young bilinguals.
The discourse surrounding Saudi women\u27s attire on Reddit: a critical discourse analysis
Full text linkThis study analyzes a Reddit thread discussing Saudi women\u27s attire choices and explores the discourse surrounding modesty on social media. The thread reflects a complex negotiation of cultural norms, religious values, and societal expectations. Participants debate the concept of "modesty," with conservative views advocating for strict adherence to traditional dress (e.g., abayas and hijabs) and liberal perspectives challenging the notion that modesty is solely tied to clothing. The creator’s post constructs modesty as a central virtue, linking it to moral integrity and societal values, which reinforces a dichotomy between "modesty" and "immodesty." This moral framing is further reflected in the thread’s use of language to express judgment and social critique. Notably, the term "Death Note" is metaphorically used as a euphemism for "cuckold," drawing on its phonetic resemblance to the Arabic word \u27دﯾﺚ\u27 (deeth). This linguistic play demonstrates how users creatively manipulate language to convey culturally resonant meanings and social commentary. Using Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA), this study examines how language constructs social relations, power dynamics, and ideologies. It addresses two main questions: (1) How is "modesty" constructed in the discourse on Saudi women\u27s attire? and (2) How do linguistic features shape moral judgments within these discussions? The analysis reveals three patterns: comments engaging in defamation through morally loaded language, comments opposing or critiquing defamation, and comments dismissing its significance. Some argue that women should anticipate and manage negative reactions by adhering to traditional norms, while others emphasize Islamic principles condemning slander. Religious references highlight moral consequences, while critical voices address the toxic social media atmosphere. In essence, the study uncovers how language, culture, and ideology intertwine to shape perceptions of modesty and morality. It also emphasizes the digital sphere\u27s role in both reinforcing and challenging societal norms and offers a window into the ongoing negotiation of values and identities online