Volume 52, Issue 3-4

Various typologically recurrent properties of reference-tracking systems can be given a coherent explanatory account in terms of functional, rather than formal criteria. Two principles in particular are proposed, namely that coreference is more likely to be marked than non-coreference in local domains (e.g. the arguments of a single predicate), whereas non-coreference is more likely to be marked than coreference in extended domains (e.g. across clause boundaries). For the former principle a cognitive explanation is proposed, while it is suggested that the latter principle has a discourse basis.

The structure of localizing expressions in Maninka is described within a universal conceptual framework developed by LEHMANN ( 1 9 9 2 ) . A key element, which appears in the linguistic manifestation of local situations, is the local relator (syntactically an adposition) which designates a local relation between the localized object and the local reference object. It is shown that in Maninka postpositions designate only spatial regions of the reference object (e.g. proximity, interior), whereas the local orientation (towards/away from/along the reference object) is expressed either by the verb root itself, i.e. is contained in the lexical information of the verb, or - in cases where the verb does not incorporate orientation - by a separate orientation verb. The semantics and syntax of the relational preverbs that are formally identical to the respective postpositions is described in terms of changes in transitivity. A conceptual link between the semantics of the postpositions and that of the relational preverbs is established. The preverbal position of the original postpositions is explained in the context of a grammaticalization chain leading from the compounding of postpositions (derived from relational nouns like body-parts and landmarks) with the verb root to the emergence of derivational prefixes.

Naturalness conflicts represent a problem for Natural Morphology, as no general principles are claimed to hold. In this field, Natural Morphology might try to draw on sociolinguistic findings. Different types of dialects may differ as to what constitutes a natural development. Morphological transparency is less important in more "peripheral" dialects; Natural Morphologists have evaluated one kind of naturalness too highly. More "central" dialects seem more prone to morphological change, and place a higher premium on morphological transparency. However, extramorphological motivation and language-specific principles seem to be even more important.

Zusammenfassung Am Beispiel eines Muttersprachlers wird demonstriert, daß der Ultraschall geeignet ist, den Bewegungsumfang, die Bewegungsfrequenz und den Ablauf der Schwingungsbewegung der Zunge bei der Bildung des komplexen spanischen Multivibranten [rr] in verschiedenen phonotaktischen Kontexten in Echtzeit darzustellen. Hierzu wurden ein Sektorschallkopf während der Lautbildung submental positioniert und die Zungenbewegungen im sogenannten M-Mode videodokumentiert. Die Analyse der Lexeme des Corpus erfolgte sowohl einzelwort- als auch satzbezogen. Die Untersuchung ergab, daß der Multivibrant durch 3 bis 6 Zungenschwingungen bei einer Frequenz von 24-34 Hz ausgeführt wurde. Die Ergebnisse zeigen eine statistisch signifikant größere Gesamtdauer und Anzahl der Zungenschwingungen bei Anlauten im Gegensatz zu Inlauten, wohingegen sich die Schwingungsfrequenzen statistisch nicht unterschieden.