
handle: 10347/12063
Agreement is a recurrent device in language which helps to add coherence in it. More in particular, number agreement (which constitutes the main focus of this thesis) is one of the most useful tools in language, and some form of it is present in the majority of the languages of the world. The present thesis’ aim is that of analyzing which are the inner (mental) mechanisms that lead to the resolution of number agreement in language. To this purpose, some potential forces have been analyzed, syntax and semantics being the most important ones. The literature on this topic has never reached a solid conclusion as regards the power exerted by each of the previously mentioned forces on the final resolution of agreement. Syntactocentric theories, as those exposed by Fodor (1983) and Chomsky (1995, 1999, 2001) among others, considered agreement as an encapsulated “phase” inserted within a purely morphosyntactic process in which semantics is completely absent. On the contrary, for cognitive grammar, agreement is deeply based on semantics and therefore this source of information cannot be disregarded (Pollard & Sag, 1988; Barlow, 1999; Vigliocco et al., 1996; Thornton & MacDonald, 2003; Haskell & MacDonald, 2003). Therefore, this thesis tries to shed some light on this debate by presenting some experimental research (based on language errors) in which (a priori) semantic variables such as emotionality or concreteness have been manipulated in a series of experimental tests in order to ascertain to what extent were they responsible for the final resolution of agreement marks. In addition, these tests were carried out in two structurally different languages (Spanish and English). The ultimate aim of this comparison was that of observing how two different morphological systems lead to two opposing agreement systems in which different forces are responsible for the final resolution of agreement marks.
:Investigación::57 Lingüística::5705 Lingüística sincrónica::570501 Lingüística comparada [Materias], Materias::Investigación::57 Lingüística::5701 Lingüística aplicada::570111 Enseñanza de lenguas, :Investigación::57 Lingüística::5701 Lingüística aplicada::570111 Enseñanza de lenguas [Materias], Materias::Investigación::57 Lingüística::5705 Lingüística sincrónica::570501 Lingüística comparada, agreement, syntax, semantics
:Investigación::57 Lingüística::5705 Lingüística sincrónica::570501 Lingüística comparada [Materias], Materias::Investigación::57 Lingüística::5701 Lingüística aplicada::570111 Enseñanza de lenguas, :Investigación::57 Lingüística::5701 Lingüística aplicada::570111 Enseñanza de lenguas [Materias], Materias::Investigación::57 Lingüística::5705 Lingüística sincrónica::570501 Lingüística comparada, agreement, syntax, semantics
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 0 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Average | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Average | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Average |
