Mapping information structure and word order
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Kristine Bentzen
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the acquisition of the interplay between information structure and word order. We address the acquisition of Object Verb-Verb Object (OV-VO) alternations in Russian, Serbo-Croatian, and Ukrainian, object scrambling in German and Dutch, and object shift in Norwegian and Swedish. Acquiring these phenomena does not simply involve the acquisition of a movement operation; children have to acquire the semantic/pragmatic aspects influencing object displacement, as well as how these aspects interact with syntax. Neither the syntax nor the semantics/pragmatics per se makes such phenomena hard to acquire. Rather, mapping information structure onto syntax is challenging. System complexity and low input frequencies also contribute to acquisition delays. This chapter focuses on recent insights into the acquisition of object displacement, and indicates potential directions for future research.
Abstract
This chapter focuses on the acquisition of the interplay between information structure and word order. We address the acquisition of Object Verb-Verb Object (OV-VO) alternations in Russian, Serbo-Croatian, and Ukrainian, object scrambling in German and Dutch, and object shift in Norwegian and Swedish. Acquiring these phenomena does not simply involve the acquisition of a movement operation; children have to acquire the semantic/pragmatic aspects influencing object displacement, as well as how these aspects interact with syntax. Neither the syntax nor the semantics/pragmatics per se makes such phenomena hard to acquire. Rather, mapping information structure onto syntax is challenging. System complexity and low input frequencies also contribute to acquisition delays. This chapter focuses on recent insights into the acquisition of object displacement, and indicates potential directions for future research.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- The acquisition of nominal determiners 25
- Mapping information structure and word order 51
- Children’ use of intonation in reference and the role of input 83
- The role of gesture in referential communication 105
- The role of cognitive accessibility in children’s referential choice 123
- Acquisition and use of pronouns in a dialogic perspective 155
- From early to late mastery of reference 181
- Online evidence for children’s interpretation of personal pronouns 213
- Children’s sensitivity to caregiver cues and the role of adult feedback in the developmentof referential communication 241
- The cognitive underpinnings of referential abilities 263
- Production and comprehension of pronouns and reflexives in atypical populations 285
- Referential expressions in bilingual acquisition 311
- Language index 335
- Subject index 337
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Introduction 1
- The acquisition of nominal determiners 25
- Mapping information structure and word order 51
- Children’ use of intonation in reference and the role of input 83
- The role of gesture in referential communication 105
- The role of cognitive accessibility in children’s referential choice 123
- Acquisition and use of pronouns in a dialogic perspective 155
- From early to late mastery of reference 181
- Online evidence for children’s interpretation of personal pronouns 213
- Children’s sensitivity to caregiver cues and the role of adult feedback in the developmentof referential communication 241
- The cognitive underpinnings of referential abilities 263
- Production and comprehension of pronouns and reflexives in atypical populations 285
- Referential expressions in bilingual acquisition 311
- Language index 335
- Subject index 337
