Bridging and relevance
A bridging reference is a referring expression which has no explicitly mentioned antecedent, so that the existence of the referent has to be inferred from what has been explicitly mentioned. The phenomenon is illustrated in (1) and (2): (1) I went into the room. The window was open. (2) John went walking at noon. The park was beautiful. This thesis examines and attempts to explain the mechanism of bridging, using the framework of relevance theory. It argues against various existing accounts, and defends a relevance-theoretic account. Chapters 1 and 2 are introductory. Chapter 1 gives brief overview of past studies of bridging and introduces some of the main issues which this thesis aims to address. I also propose and defend a definition of bridging implicature. Chapter 2 summarises the central claims of relevance theory. It illustrates how reference assignment is carried out on the basis of the criterion of consistency with the principle of relevance. Chapters 3 to 5 contain the central arguments of the thesis. Chapter 3 discusses how the accessibility of candidate referents affects the hearer's choice of the intended referent. It surveys past studies, assesses the accounts of Sidner and Erku and Gundel, and
Matsui, Tomoko
Verbal understanding
Bridging and relevance. A bridging reference is a referring expression which has no explicitly mentioned antecedent, so that the existence of the referent has to be inferred from what has been explicitly mentioned. The phenomenon is illustrated in (1) and (2): (1) I went into the room. The window was open. (2) John went walking at noon. The park was beautiful. This thesis examines and attempts to explain the mechanism of bridging, using the framework of relevance theory. It argues against various existing accounts, and defends a relevance-theoretic account. Chapters 1 and 2 are introductory. Chapter 1 gives brief overview of past studies of bridging and introduces some of the main issues which this thesis aims to address. I also propose and defend a definition of bridging implicature. Chapter 2 summarises the central claims of relevance theory. It illustrates how reference assignment is carried out on the basis of the criterion of consistency with the principle of relevance. Chapters 3 to 5 contain the central arguments of the thesis. Chapter 3 discusses how the accessibility of candidate referents affects the hearer's choice of the intended referent. It surveys past studies, assesses the accounts of Sidner and Erku and Gundel, and
bridging relevance bridge reference refer_expression explicitly mention antecedent existence referent infer explicitly mention phenomenon illustrate room window open john walk park beautiful examines attempt_explain mechanism bridging use framework relevance theory argues various exist account defend relevance_theoretic account introductory give_brief overview past study bridge introduces main_issue aim_address also_propose defend definition bridging implicature summarises central_claim relevance_theory illustrates reference assignment carry basis criterion consistency principle relevance contain central_argument thesis discus accessibility candidate referent affect hearer choice intend referent survey past study assess account