Case(mis)matching in German free relative clauses in the self-paced reading paradigm
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Jana Mewe
Abstract
Off-line measures suggest that the hierarchy rule strategy applies to the processing of free relative clauses (RCs) in German, suggesting that case matches between covert head and RC-pronoun are preferred, whereas mismatches are dissociated based on their (non)conformity with the case hierarchy. We asked whether on-line sentence processing supports this pattern, and investigated free RCs with combinations of nominative, accusative and dative case in the self-paced reading paradigm. Our results are captured best by assuming two further strategies: the parallel syntactic function strategy and, especially, the subject-first strategy. Based on these strategies, we provide an Optimality Theory-style analysis that explains prior findings and particularities of incremental sentence processing, and that additionally accounts for the exceptional behaviour of accusative-nominative mismatches.
Abstract
Off-line measures suggest that the hierarchy rule strategy applies to the processing of free relative clauses (RCs) in German, suggesting that case matches between covert head and RC-pronoun are preferred, whereas mismatches are dissociated based on their (non)conformity with the case hierarchy. We asked whether on-line sentence processing supports this pattern, and investigated free RCs with combinations of nominative, accusative and dative case in the self-paced reading paradigm. Our results are captured best by assuming two further strategies: the parallel syntactic function strategy and, especially, the subject-first strategy. Based on these strategies, we provide an Optimality Theory-style analysis that explains prior findings and particularities of incremental sentence processing, and that additionally accounts for the exceptional behaviour of accusative-nominative mismatches.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Relative clauses
- Case(mis)matching in German free relative clauses in the self-paced reading paradigm 11
- Integrating the filler 35
- When initial thematic role attribution lingers 57
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Empty categories
- Brain responses elicited by implausible fillers and filled object gaps in German 75
- Gone with a trace? 91
- Priming paradigmatic gaps 117
-
Determiner Phrases
- A good-enough representation is not good enough 137
- Processing of pronoun gender by Dutch-Russian simultaneous bilinguals 153
-
Language impairment
- A syntactically based treatment of relative clauses 177
- Language impairment in an Italian child with Trisomy X 209
- Sentence reading in older adults with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment 239
- The comprehension of wh -questions and passives in German children and adolescents with Down syndrome 279
- Index 303
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
-
Relative clauses
- Case(mis)matching in German free relative clauses in the self-paced reading paradigm 11
- Integrating the filler 35
- When initial thematic role attribution lingers 57
-
Empty categories
- Brain responses elicited by implausible fillers and filled object gaps in German 75
- Gone with a trace? 91
- Priming paradigmatic gaps 117
-
Determiner Phrases
- A good-enough representation is not good enough 137
- Processing of pronoun gender by Dutch-Russian simultaneous bilinguals 153
-
Language impairment
- A syntactically based treatment of relative clauses 177
- Language impairment in an Italian child with Trisomy X 209
- Sentence reading in older adults with and without Mild Cognitive Impairment 239
- The comprehension of wh -questions and passives in German children and adolescents with Down syndrome 279
- Index 303
