Alternatives to information structure
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Dejan Matić
Abstract
The paper questions the assumption that information structure is a necessary component of communication. It is shown that there is no language-independent evidence that communication is based on regular alternation of presupposed and focused information, and that sentences necessarily convey information about topics. The argumentation to this effect is circular and based on contextual determinism and reification of interpretative effects. If we dispose of these fallacies, the need to posit a separate information-structural level of meaning disappears. This opens up a competely new research paradigm in discourse organisation which takes into account the practically infinite variability of natural languages, psycholinguistic evidence, social and information-transmitting nature of communication, and many other factors.
Abstract
The paper questions the assumption that information structure is a necessary component of communication. It is shown that there is no language-independent evidence that communication is based on regular alternation of presupposed and focused information, and that sentences necessarily convey information about topics. The argumentation to this effect is circular and based on contextual determinism and reification of interpretative effects. If we dispose of these fallacies, the need to posit a separate information-structural level of meaning disappears. This opens up a competely new research paradigm in discourse organisation which takes into account the practically infinite variability of natural languages, psycholinguistic evidence, social and information-transmitting nature of communication, and many other factors.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction. When data challenges theory 1
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Part I. Theoretical studies
- Distinguishing psychological Given/New from linguistic Topic/Focus makes things clearer 39
- Remarks on information structure marking asymmetries 57
- Alternatives to information structure 91
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Part II. Case studies
- How alternatives are created 115
- Is focus a root phenomenon? 147
- The curious case of the rare focus movement in French 183
- To be or not to be focus adverbials? 203
- Unmarked use of marked syntactic structures 239
- Translation as a source of pragmatic interference? 271
- Index 305
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction. When data challenges theory 1
-
Part I. Theoretical studies
- Distinguishing psychological Given/New from linguistic Topic/Focus makes things clearer 39
- Remarks on information structure marking asymmetries 57
- Alternatives to information structure 91
-
Part II. Case studies
- How alternatives are created 115
- Is focus a root phenomenon? 147
- The curious case of the rare focus movement in French 183
- To be or not to be focus adverbials? 203
- Unmarked use of marked syntactic structures 239
- Translation as a source of pragmatic interference? 271
- Index 305
