Mapping a parochial lexicon onto a universal semantics
-
Gillian Ramchand
Abstract
In this paper, we argue that languages differ in what parts of meaning are
specified in the syntax and what parts are negotiated by the Conceptual-
Intentional systems (C-I). This leads to a kind of parametric variation, which
we illustrate with examples from Norwegian definiteness, Russian perfectivity,
Salish tense, and other natural language phenomena. Our claim is that syntactic
variation is not as great as sometimes suggested (for example, we argue that
Chinese has a D head and Salish has a T head), but nor are syntactico-semantic
representations identical across languages; LFs vary from one language to the
next, and in some cases C-I specifies what syntax/semantics does not, particularly
when it comes to reference tracking for the variables introduced by the syntax.
The result is a very clean system with no semantic module disinct from syntax
and hence no distinction between syntactic and semantic parameters.
Abstract
In this paper, we argue that languages differ in what parts of meaning are
specified in the syntax and what parts are negotiated by the Conceptual-
Intentional systems (C-I). This leads to a kind of parametric variation, which
we illustrate with examples from Norwegian definiteness, Russian perfectivity,
Salish tense, and other natural language phenomena. Our claim is that syntactic
variation is not as great as sometimes suggested (for example, we argue that
Chinese has a D head and Salish has a T head), but nor are syntactico-semantic
representations identical across languages; LFs vary from one language to the
next, and in some cases C-I specifies what syntax/semantics does not, particularly
when it comes to reference tracking for the variables introduced by the syntax.
The result is a very clean system with no semantic module disinct from syntax
and hence no distinction between syntactic and semantic parameters.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface & Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
I. The locus of (parametric) variation
- Parametric versus functional explanations of syntactic universals 75
- Three fundamental issues in parametric linguistics 109
- On the syntactic flexibility of formal features 143
- Expletives, datives, and the tension between morphology and syntax 175
- Mapping a parochial lexicon onto a universal semantics 219
- Aspect matters in the middle 247
-
II. A classic parameter revisited: the null-subject parameter
- The null subject parameter and correlating properties: The case of Creole languages 271
- The Case-F valuation parameter in Romance 295
- Silent arguments without pro : The case of Basque 311
- Case morphology and radical pro -drop 331
-
III. Parametric clustering
- The macroparameter in a microparametric world 351
- Topic prominence and null subjects 375
- Non-configurationality: Free word order and argument drop in Turkish 411
- Diachronic stability and feature interpretability 441
-
III. The acquisition of parameters
- Can children tell us anything we did not know about parameter clustering? 459
- Parameter setting and input reduction 483
- Index 517
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Preface & Acknowledgements vii
- Introduction 1
-
I. The locus of (parametric) variation
- Parametric versus functional explanations of syntactic universals 75
- Three fundamental issues in parametric linguistics 109
- On the syntactic flexibility of formal features 143
- Expletives, datives, and the tension between morphology and syntax 175
- Mapping a parochial lexicon onto a universal semantics 219
- Aspect matters in the middle 247
-
II. A classic parameter revisited: the null-subject parameter
- The null subject parameter and correlating properties: The case of Creole languages 271
- The Case-F valuation parameter in Romance 295
- Silent arguments without pro : The case of Basque 311
- Case morphology and radical pro -drop 331
-
III. Parametric clustering
- The macroparameter in a microparametric world 351
- Topic prominence and null subjects 375
- Non-configurationality: Free word order and argument drop in Turkish 411
- Diachronic stability and feature interpretability 441
-
III. The acquisition of parameters
- Can children tell us anything we did not know about parameter clustering? 459
- Parameter setting and input reduction 483
- Index 517
