30 research outputs found
The Anaphoric Potential of Weak Definites
No full textWeak definites (WDs) as in \u27Max went to the cinema\u27 differ from regular definites insofar as \u27the cinema\u27 does not refer to a uniquely identifiable cinema. In this paper I propose that investigating the discourse properties of WDs helps us to distinguish and decide between various theories of WDs that have been proposed. I present two experiments in German. The first shows that WDs can be referred to by pronoun but less straightforwardlly than anaphoric reference to indefinites lending support to the model initially proposed by Krifka & Modarresi (2016) for anaphoric potential of pseudo-incorporated nouns. The second experiment shows that anaphoric reference to WDs is distinct from associative anaphora, in contrast to predictions that analyze weak definites as reference to kinds
Pseudo-Incorporated Antecedents and Anaphora in Persian: The Influence of Stereotypical Knowledge
No full textThere are different theories about the nature of pseudo-incorporated nouns (PINs), which feature a non-specific, number-neutral interpretation. For a proper analysis it is crucial to take their anaphoric potential into account. This paper investigates if and how PINs introduce discourse referents, with evidence from Persian, and which theory matches this behavior best. We report on experiments in which the stereotypical enrichment of the number-neutral interpretation was systematically varied with two types of biases — towards a singular or a plural interpretation — and in the neutral case, when such a bias is lacking. The results of the experiments are compatible with Krifka & Modarresi (2016), which considers PIN objects as dependent singular definites (similar to weak definites) within existential closure over an event variable
interpretation, grammar and prosody
No full textDiese Dissertation untersucht das variable Verhalten von sogenannten „bare nouns“ (Nominale ohne Artikel) im Persischen. Dieses Verhalten kann jedoch nicht verstanden werden ohne eine Reihe von entscheidenden Eigenschaften der persischen Satzstruktur zu betrachten. Dazu gehören Informationsstruktur, Prosodie und Wortstellung, sowie die semantischen und syntaktischen Funktionen verschiedener morphologischer Markierungen im Persischen. Die vorliegende Dissertation kann daher zum besseren Verständnis von satzinterner Syntax, Semantik und Prosodie des Persischen beitragen. Ich beginne meine Untersuchung mit dem Vergleich der BNs in verschiedenen Positionen mit Nominalen, die mit verschiedenen Morphemen gekennzeichnet sind. Die quasi-inkorporierten Nominale im Persischen scheinen zur Klasse der diskursintransparenten inkorporierenden Sprachen zu gehören. Doch dies scheint nicht immer zu stimmen, unter bestimmten Umständen zeigen persische BNs Diskurstransparenz. In Kapitel 3 untersuche ich daher, unter welchen Umständen BNs Diskurstransparenz zeigen und warum. In Kapitel 3 präsentiere ich einen Alternativvorschlag zu Farkas & de Swart, in dem ich darlege, dass ein BN tatsächlich einen neuen Diskursreferenten einführt. Aber der Numerus von BNs ist neutral (numerusneutralen Diskursreferenten).In der zweiten Hälfte der Dissertation wird die Interpretation von BNs in verschiedenen Positionen und mit unterschiedlichen grammatischen Funktionen diskutiert. Kapitel 4 konzentriert sich auf BNs in Objektposition. Wir stellen einen direkten Vergleich an zwischen BNs als tatsächliche BNs, d.h. Nominale, die nicht mit einem Morphem markiert sind, und Kontexten, in denen sie mit dem Morphem -ra auftreten. Ich werde argumentieren, dass -ra lediglich markiert, dass ein BN oder auch ein anderes Nominal nicht in seiner VP-internen Position interpretiert, sondern in eine VP-externe Domäne bewegt wird. Das bedeutet, das Morphem -ra ist ein syntaktisches Morphem auf Phrasenebene.This thesis explores the variable behavior of bare nouns in Persian. Bare singular nouns realize different grammatical functions, including subject, object and indirect object. They receive different interpretations, including generic, definite and existential readings. However, the task of understanding the reasons for, and limits on, this variation cannot be achieved without understanding a number of pivotal features of Persian sentential architecture, including Information Structure, prosody, word order, and the functions of various morphological markers in Persian. With respect to the discourse transparency of Incorporated Nominals, under certain circumstances, Persian bare nouns show discourse transparency. These circumstances are examined in chapter 3, and it is proposed that bare nouns do introduce a number neutral discourse referent. This proposal is phrased within Discourse Representation Theory. In the second half of the dissertation, the interpretation of bare nouns in different positions and with different grammatical functions are discussed. Under the independently supported hypothesis of position>interpretation mapping developed by Diesing (1992), we will see the role of the suffix -ra in indicating that an object has been moved out of VP. For subjects, there is no morphological marking corresponding to –ra on objects, and we have to rely on prosody and word order to determine how a VP is interpreted using theories of the interaction of accent and syntactic structure. It is proposed that both subject and object originate within the VP, and can move out to the VP-external domain. The motivation for these movements are informational-structural in nature, relating in particular to the distinctions between given and new information, and default and non-default information structure
Bare Nouns in Persian: Interpretation, Grammar, and Prosody
No full textThis thesis explores the variable behavior of bare nouns in Persian. Bare singular nouns realize different grammatical functions, including subject, object and indirect object. They receive different interpretations, including generic, definite and existential readings. However, the task of understanding the reasons for, and limits on, this variation cannot be achieved without understanding a number of pivotal features of Persian sentential architecture, including Information Structure, prosody, word order, and the functions of various morphological markers in Persian.
After a brief introduction, chapters 2-3 deal with bare noun objects, firstly comparing them with nominals marked with indefinite morpheme -i suffixed to the noun, and the determiner yek. A bare noun object differs from morphologically marked nominals as it shows properties associated with noun incorporation in the literature (chapter 2). Of particular interest are the discourse properties of these ‘quasi-incorporated’ nominals. With respect to the discourse transparency of Incorporated Nominals, Persian belongs to the class of discourse opaque languages within Mithun’s classification (1984). However, under certain circumstances, Persian bare nouns show discourse transparency. These circumstances are examined in chapter 3, and it is proposed that bare nouns do introduce a number neutral discourse referent. There are no overt anaphoric expressions that could match such number-neutral antecedents in Persian. But covert anaphora lack number features, and hence can serve as means to pick up a number-neutral discourse referent. Also, in case world knowledge tells us that the number-neutral discourse referent is anchored to an atomic entity or to a collection, then an overt singular pronoun or an overt plural pronoun might fit the combined linguistic and conceptual requirements, and may be used to pick up the number-neutral discourse referent. This proposal is phrased within Discourse Representation Theory.
In the second half of the dissertation, the interpretation of bare nouns in different positions and with different grammatical functions are discussed. Under the independently supported hypothesis of position>interpretation mapping developed by Diesing (1992), we will see the role of the suffix -ra in indicating that an object has been moved out of VP. Following Diesing, I assume that VP-internal variables are subject to an operation of Existential Closure. In many cases, VP-external –ra-marked objects have a different interpretation to their VP-internal, non-ra-marked, counterparts, because of escaping Existential Closure. For subjects, there is no morphological marking corresponding to –ra on objects, and we have to rely on prosody and word order to determine how a VP is interpreted using theories of the interaction of accent and syntactic structure. We assume that VP-internal subjects exist, under two independent but converging assumptions. The first is prosodic in nature: Subjects can be accented without being narrowly focused; theories of Persian prosody predict then that there is a maximal constituent that contains both the subject and the verb as its head. The second is semantic in nature: Bare nouns require an external existential closure operation to be interpreted existentially, and we have to assume existential closure over the VP for our analysis of the interpretation of objects. So, this existential closure would provide the necessary quantificational force for bare noun subjects as well. It is proposed that both subject and object originate within the VP, and can move out to the VP-external domain. The motivation for these movements are informational-structural in nature, relating in particular to the distinctions between given and new information, and default and non-default information structure
Bare Nouns in Persian: Interpretation, Grammar, and Prosody
No full textThis thesis explores the variable behavior of bare nouns in Persian. Bare singular nouns realize different grammatical functions, including subject, object and indirect object. They receive different interpretations, including generic, definite and existential readings. However, the task of understanding the reasons for, and limits on, this variation cannot be achieved without understanding a number of pivotal features of Persian sentential architecture, including Information Structure, prosody, word order, and the functions of various morphological markers in Persian.
After a brief introduction, chapters 2-3 deal with bare noun objects, firstly comparing them with nominals marked with indefinite morpheme -i suffixed to the noun, and the determiner yek. A bare noun object differs from morphologically marked nominals as it shows properties associated with noun incorporation in the literature (chapter 2). Of particular interest are the discourse properties of these ‘quasi-incorporated’ nominals. With respect to the discourse transparency of Incorporated Nominals, Persian belongs to the class of discourse opaque languages within Mithun’s classification (1984). However, under certain circumstances, Persian bare nouns show discourse transparency. These circumstances are examined in chapter 3, and it is proposed that bare nouns do introduce a number neutral discourse referent. There are no overt anaphoric expressions that could match such number-neutral antecedents in Persian. But covert anaphora lack number features, and hence can serve as means to pick up a number-neutral discourse referent. Also, in case world knowledge tells us that the number-neutral discourse referent is anchored to an atomic entity or to a collection, then an overt singular pronoun or an overt plural pronoun might fit the combined linguistic and conceptual requirements, and may be used to pick up the number-neutral discourse referent. This proposal is phrased within Discourse Representation Theory.
In the second half of the dissertation, the interpretation of bare nouns in different positions and with different grammatical functions are discussed. Under the independently supported hypothesis of position>interpretation mapping developed by Diesing (1992), we will see the role of the suffix -ra in indicating that an object has been moved out of VP. Following Diesing, I assume that VP-internal variables are subject to an operation of Existential Closure. In many cases, VP-external –ra-marked objects have a different interpretation to their VP-internal, non-ra-marked, counterparts, because of escaping Existential Closure. For subjects, there is no morphological marking corresponding to –ra on objects, and we have to rely on prosody and word order to determine how a VP is interpreted using theories of the interaction of accent and syntactic structure. We assume that VP-internal subjects exist, under two independent but converging assumptions. The first is prosodic in nature: Subjects can be accented without being narrowly focused; theories of Persian prosody predict then that there is a maximal constituent that contains both the subject and the verb as its head. The second is semantic in nature: Bare nouns require an external existential closure operation to be interpreted existentially, and we have to assume existential closure over the VP for our analysis of the interpretation of objects. So, this existential closure would provide the necessary quantificational force for bare noun subjects as well. It is proposed that both subject and object originate within the VP, and can move out to the VP-external domain. The motivation for these movements are informational-structural in nature, relating in particular to the distinctions between given and new information, and default and non-default information structure
Quasi noun incorporation in Persian
No full textAbstract. This paper investigates the status of Persian bare nouns (BNs), which coexist in Persian with an indefinite marker-i, in the framework of Chierchia 1998. We claim that Persian BNs may undergo Quasi Noun Incorporation (Quasi-NI) in the object position, and propose that this process involves the semantic operation Restrict (introduced in Chung & Ladusaw 2004) followed by the Existential Closure (EC) in the domain of VP. We show that this mechanism accounts for the fact that the verb can compose with 1) another bare noun 2) an argument marked with the direct object suffix-ro. 1 BNs and an indefinite marker-i1 Both BNs and nouns marked by –i can occur in direct object positions (Persian is an SOV language) and both allow for existential reading: (1) Ketab kharid-am Book buy.PAST-1SG ‘I bought books.’ (2) Ketab-i kharid-am Book-IND buy.PAST-1SG ‘I bought a book.’ We analyze –i marker in (2) as an existential quantifier in line with the treatment of indefinite articles in Chierchia 1998. As a BN functions as an argument in (1) we might be tempted to conclude that there is a covert type-shifting operation of the type ∃ creating generalized quantifiers out of properties (Chierchia 1998). Then the function of –i would be the same as that of null morphology on BNs: in both cases the application of ∃ is enforced. In the following sections we will show why this is problematic for the semantic paradigm developed in Chierchia 1998 and how the contradiction can be resolved. 1 Persian has yet another indefinite marker, ye(k) ‘one’, as another use for –i. The numeral yek ‘one ’ is used as a marker of indefiniteness. Yek can also co-occure with –i or replace it. We are not concerned here with the differences between the two which is an interesting subject in itself
A research on metamorphosis of symbols in Tahere Saffarzade’s poems
No full textAbstractSymbolization or symbolic language is an ancient and effective way to communicate among people. Understanding this symbolic language has shown new aspects of symbols in different literary works. In Europe it has formed a new doctrine of symbolism. Symbolism in Persian literature has not been as strong as Europe, but it can be seen in even oldest literary works of mythology. In mythological stories, symbols usually appear as unnatural people or objects. The best example of these symbols in Persian literature are mythologic symbols of Shahname by Ferdowsi like Rostam, Keikhosrow, Fereidun, Zahak and objects like Seven episodes of Rostam and Esfandiar and so on. In modern era of literature of Iran symbolism and symbolic literary language has been used a lot because of political and social causes. This various use of symbolism among contemporary writers has formed new symbols and also some metamorphosis of older symbols with new meanings. In a brief look, we can mention these causes to spread large use of symbolism in contemporary literature: A: Suffocation and despotism of Pahlavi regime and its negative effect on literatureB: Affection from world known doctrines line symbolismC: Creation of ambiguity and deepening older meanings of symbolism to create new symbols from older onesD: Enriching meaning and creation of polyphony of literature arts by symbolism (Khosravi Shakib, 1387: p.148)Tahere Safarzade is one of the well-known poets of contemporary literature in symbolism which faced a new world by using symbols in a new and creative way. SAFFARZADEH uses multiple objects and characters to symbolism in her poems like mythological or ritual or even ordinary characters. Symbols in her poems that vary in meaning sometimes from a partial to full metamorphosis. In this Research we try to clarify symbolism of these characters and their metamorphosis concerning the majority of use of symbols in her work and understanding her literary language and also her world view. In a brief and overview we can divide symbolic characters of her books to religious, historical, mythological and ordinary characters.The outcome of this research shows that some symbolic characters of poem like religious characters are very bold, because of poet's religious world view, so sometimes they boldly effect poets’ whole work sometimes and make it symbolic. One of the best examples of this type of symbolism is the long poem of "Safar Zamzam" in which poet has shown the main character as an outstanding symbol. As much of these religious characters has been used in poets’ works, metamorphosis is not significant because of holiness of religious beliefs by the poet, but in other symbols we can follow the order of metamorphosis.Reading historic symbols also shows that there is no significant metamorphosis in symbols and it’s because of simultaneity of some of these characters with poet herself. About mythological characters in some symbols there are whole changes from a positive to negative character and in some symbols there are no changes. The most outstanding change in symbols metamorphosis is seen in ordinary characters and symbols. These symbols are used in her works widely and are mostly new symbols or new aspects of look to older ones. In other words it seems that poet has created a big list of private symbols in her art work to express her feelings and thoughts in special political and social condition of her era and endured Persian literature with these new symbols.Finally, by deliberation in her works we can deduce that Tahere Saffarzade is a poet who has preferred to create new symbols instead of creating metamorphosis in currently used symbols in Persian literature and made her own unique literary language
