Full Description
This book investigates the morphosyntactic, semantic, and pragmatic properties of language, and the interactions between them, from the perspective of Optimality Theory. It integrates optimization processes into the formal and functional study of grammar, interpreting optimization as the result of conflicting, violable ranked constraints.
Unlike previous work on the topic, this book also takes into account the question of directionality of grammar. A model of grammar in which optimization processes interact bidirectionally allows both language generation-the process of selecting the optimal form of a given meaning-and language interpretation-the process of optimal interpretation of a given form-to be taken into account. Chapters in this volume explore the consequences of both symmetric (unidirectional) and asymmetric (bidirectional) versions of Optimality Theory, investigating the syntax-semantics interface, first language acquisition, and sequential bilingual grammars.
The volume presents cutting edge research in Optimality-Theoretic syntax and semantics, as well as demonstrating how optimization processes as modelled in this formalism serve as a viable approach for linguists and scholars in related fields.
Contents
1: Géraldine Legendre, Michael T. Putnam, Henriëtte de Swart, and Erin Zaroukian: Introduction
PART I: Issues in Optimality-Theoretic Syntax
2: Marc van Oostendorp, Michael T. Putnam, and Laura Catharine Smith: Intersecting constraints: Why certain constraint-types overlap while others don't
3: Ralf Vogel: Optimal constructions
4: Fabian Heck and Gereon Müller: On accelerating and decelerating movement: From Minimalist preference principles to harmonic serialism
5: Ellen Woolford: Two types of portmanteau agreement: Syntactic and morphological
6: Hans Broekhuis: Feature inheritance versus extended projections
7: Joshua Bousquette, Michael T. Putnam, Joseph Salmons, Benjamin Frey, and DRDaniel Nützel: Multiple grammars, dominance, and optimization
PART II: Issues in Optimality-Theoretic Semantics and Pragmatics
8: Sander Lestrade, Geertje van Bergen, and Peter de Swart: On the origin of constraints
9: Lotte Hogeweg: Optimality Theory and lexical interpretation and selection
10: Jet Hoek and Helen de Hoop: On the optimal interpretation of yes and no in Dutch
11: Henriëtte de Swart: Telicity features of bare nominals
12: Géraldine Legendre, Paul Smolensky, and Jennifer Culbertson: Blocking effects at the lexicon/semantics interface and bidirectional optimization in French
13: Petra Hendriks: Unfaithful conduct: A competence-based explanation of asymmetries between production and comprehension
References
Index
