The dynamic syntax of left and right dislocation : a study with special reference to Chinese
Within the theoretical framework of Kempson et al (2001), this thesis provides an in-depth exploration of the dislocation phenomenon, one of the principal characteristics of natural language syntax: a word or phrase appears in a position apparently inconsistent with the relations it holds with other elements in the structure. The thesis, essentially a case study for the theoretical approach, is empirically based on Chinese, a non-inflectional language where to a large extent word order constrains its * interpretation and defines its grammatical functions. Focusing on both the left and the right boundary of the Chinese clause, this study explores the complex, subtle interaction between syntax, semantics and pragmatics. Under the dynamic approach which takes the incremental left-to-right processing of linguistic forms to be a fundamental part of characterising the relation between syntactic structure and semantic interpretation, and also makes pragmatic inference a part of linguistic formalism, a parsimonious, straightforward explanation is provided through detailed analysis for a range of key grammatical constructions displaying periphery effects, previous analyses of which are sought in pure syntactic, semantic
Wu, Yicheng
The dynamic syntax of left and right dislocation : a study with special reference to Chinese. Within the theoretical framework of Kempson et al (2001), this thesis provides an in-depth exploration of the dislocation phenomenon, one of the principal characteristics of natural language syntax: a word or phrase appears in a position apparently inconsistent with the relations it holds with other elements in the structure. The thesis, essentially a case study for the theoretical approach, is empirically based on Chinese, a non-inflectional language where to a large extent word order constrains its * interpretation and defines its grammatical functions. Focusing on both the left and the right boundary of the Chinese clause, this study explores the complex, subtle interaction between syntax, semantics and pragmatics. Under the dynamic approach which takes the incremental left-to-right processing of linguistic forms to be a fundamental part of characterising the relation between syntactic structure and semantic interpretation, and also makes pragmatic inference a part of linguistic formalism, a parsimonious, straightforward explanation is provided through detailed analysis for a range of key grammatical constructions displaying periphery effects, previous analyses of which are sought in pure syntactic, semantic
dynamic_syntax leave right dislocation study special_reference chinese within_theoretical_framework provide depth exploration dislocation phenomenon one_principal characteristic natural_language syntax word phrase appear position apparently inconsistent relation_hold element structure essentially case_study theoretical empirically base chinese non inflectional language large_extent word_order constrains interpretation defines grammatical_function focusing leave right boundary chinese clause study_explores complex subtle interaction syntax_semantics pragmatic dynamic take incremental left right processing linguistic_form fundamental part characterise relation syntactic_structure semantic_interpretation also_make pragmatic inference part linguistic formalism parsimonious straightforward explanation provide_detailed analysis range key grammatical construction display periphery effect previous analysis seek pure syntactic_semantic