Aristar-Dry / Destruel Text, Time, and Context

Selected Papers of Carlota S. Smith
1. Auflage 2009
ISBN: 978-90-481-2617-0
Verlag: Springer-Verlag
Format: PDF
Kopierschutz: Adobe DRM (»Systemvoraussetzungen)

E-Book, Englisch, 404 Seiten

Carlota S. Smith was a key figure in linguistic research and a pioneering woman in generative linguistics. This selection of papers focuses on the research into tense, aspect, and discourse that Smith completed while Professor of Linguistics at the University of Texas at Austin.

Smith’s early work in English syntax is still cited today, and her early career also yielded key research on language acquisition by young children. Starting in the mid-1970s, after her move to UT, she embarked on her most important line of research. In numerous papers - the first of which was published in 1975 - and in a very important 1991 book (The Parameter of Aspect), Smith analyzed how languages encode time and how they encode the ways events and situations occur over time.

Smith’s work on the expression of time in language is notable because of its careful analyses of a number of quite different languages, including not only English and French, but also Russian, Mandarin, and Navajo. Inspired by a year in France in the early 1970s, Smith began to analyze the differing ways in which languages encode time and how they encode the ways events and situations occur over time. In doing so, she developed her signature ‘two-component’ theory of aspect. This model of temporal aspect provided an excellent framework for graduate students seeking to analyze the temporal systems of an array of languages, including under-described languages that are so much the focus of research in UT’s Linguistics Department.

Selected by Carlota Smith herself and by her longtime friends and colleagues, this book contains her 1980 piece on temporal structures in discourse, her 1986 comparison of the English and French aspectual systems, a 1996 paper on the aspect system in Navajo (an increasingly-endangered language which Smith worked to preserve), and her 1980 and 1993 papers on the child’s acquisition of tense and aspect.

Smith, who died in 2007, was a trailblazer inher field whose broad interests fed into her scholarly research. She was an avid reader who sought to bring the analytic tools of linguistics to the humanistic study of literature, by examining the syntactic and pragmatic principles which underlie literary effects. Her research on rhetorical and temporal effects in context was integrated into her last book, Modes of Discourse (2003).

The current volume of articles covers much of her most fruitful work on the way in which language is used to express time, and will be essential reading for many working and studying in linguistics generally and in semantics particularly.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Aristar-Dry, Helen

Destruel, Emilie

Inhaltsverzeichnis

1;Preface;6
1.1; References;13
2;Acknowledgments;15
3;Contents;17
4;Contributors;19
5;Interview with Professor Carlota S. Smith;20
5.1; A Year in France;20
5.2; Chinese, Navajo and Russian;23
5.3; Getting into Linguistics;24
5.4; Going to MIT;28
5.5; Returning to Penn;32
5.6; Going to Texas;35
5.7; University of Texas at Austin;38
5.8; Womens Studies at UT;43
6;Carlota S. Smith: Publications;60
7;Part I Aspect;64
7.1;Introduction;65
7.1.1;References;68
7.2;A Speaker-Based Approach to Aspect;69
7.2.1;1 Introduction;69
7.2.1.1;1.1 Situation Type and Viewpoint Aspect;72
7.2.1.2;1.2 Simple Aspect in English;73
7.2.1.3;1.3 Summary of Part 1;76
7.2.2;2 Extending the Analysis;76
7.2.2.1;2.1 Imparfait;77
7.2.2.2;2.2 Passé Composé;80
7.2.3;3 Comparisons of Aspectual Systems;82
7.2.4;References;84
7.3;Aspectual Categories in Navajo;86
7.3.1;1 Introduction;86
7.3.2;2 Background;87
7.3.2.1;2.1 Situation Types;87
7.3.2.1.1;2.1.1 Temporal Classification of Situations;87
7.3.2.1.2;2.1.2 The Range of Situation Types and Some Lexical Distinctions;88
7.3.2.2;2.2 Navajo Preliminaries;89
7.3.2.2.1;2.2.1 The Navajo Verb;89
7.3.2.3;2.3 Verb Lexeme Categories;91
7.3.3;3 Grammatical Correlates of Temporal Features in Navajo;93
7.3.3.1;3.1 Temporal Features;93
7.3.3.2;3.2 The Grammatical Realization of Temporal Features in Navajo;95
7.3.3.2.1;3.2.1 The Feature Dynamic/Static;95
7.3.3.2.2;3.2.2 The Feature Durative/Instantaneous;96
7.3.3.2.3;3.2.3 The Feature Telic;101
7.3.4;4 The Situation Types of Navajo;102
7.3.4.1;4.1 The Stative Situation Type;102
7.3.4.2;4.2 The Instantaneous Event Situation Type;104
7.3.4.3;4.3 The Durative Event Situation Type;105
7.3.4.3.1;4.3.1 Pragmatic Conventions of Use;109
7.3.5;5 The Function of VLCs in Navajo;111
7.3.5.1;5.1 Lexical VLCs;112
7.3.5.2;5.2 Superlexical VLCs;114
7.3.5.3;5.3 Formal VLCs;115
7.3.6;6 Conclusion;116
7.3.7;Appendix: Discussion of Durative, Telic Grammatical Correlates;117
7.3.8;References;119
7.4;Activities: States or Events?;121
7.4.1;1 Introduction;121
7.4.2;2 Situation Types;121
7.4.2.1;2.1 Classes of Situation Types;124
7.4.2.1.1;2.1.1 Discrete and Non-Discrete Situations: The Strong Mereological View;125
7.4.2.1.2;2.1.2 Energeia: Dynamic vs Static Situations;127
7.4.2.2;2.2 Aspectual Viewpoints;127
7.4.3;3 Situations in Narrative;129
7.4.3.1;3.1 Discourse Dynamics;129
7.4.3.2;3.2 Activity Sentences in Narrative;131
7.4.3.3;3.3 Another Interpretation: Activity Sentences as Inchoatives;134
7.4.3.4;3.4 The Contribution of Activities;137
7.4.4;4 The Semantic Analysis of Activities;140
7.4.4.1;4.1 The Activity Concept;141
7.4.4.2;4.2 Dynamism, Conventional Time, and Narrative Time;142
7.4.5;5 Conclusion;143
7.4.6;References;144
7.4.7;Example Sources:;146
8;Part II Tense;147
8.1;Introduction;148
8.1.1;References;153
8.2;The Syntax and Interpretation of Temporal Expressions in English;154
8.2.1;Part I The Temporal System of English;155
8.2.2;1 Temporal Interpretation of Simple Sentences;155
8.2.2.1;1.1 Relational Values;156
8.2.2.2;1.2 Past, Present, Future Reference Time;158
8.2.2.3;1.3 Event Time;161
8.2.2.4;1.4 Event Time and Auxiliary have ;164
8.2.2.5;1.5 Summary;165
8.2.3;2 The Temporal Interpretation of Complement Sentences;166
8.2.3.1;2.1 Same Tense in Matrix and Complement;167
8.2.3.1.1;2.1.1 Matrix Event Time as Complement Reference Time;169
8.2.3.1.2;2.1.2 Embedded Anchored Adverbials;170
8.2.3.2;2.2 Different Tenses in Matrix and Complement;171
8.2.3.2.1;2.2.1 Sentences to Which Sharing and Orientation Principles Both Apply;173
8.2.3.2.2;2.2.2 Present-Tense Matrix and Past-Tense Complement;174
8.2.3.2.3;2.2.3 Past-Tense Matrix and Present-Tense Complement;175
8.2.3.3;2.3 Summary;176
8.2.4;3 Habitual Sentences;178
8.2.5;4 Conclusions Regarding Temporal Interpretation;181
8.2.6;Part II The Treatment of Temporal Expressions in Generative Grammar;182
8.2.7;1 Unified Generative Rules: Semantax;182
8.2.8;2 Autonomous Syntax and Underlying Structure Interpretation;185
8.2.9;3 Autonomous Syntax and Surface Interpretation;187
8.2.9.1;3.1 Principles of Interpretation;188
8.2.9.2;3.2 Interpretive Rules;193
8.2.9.2.1;3.2.1 Sentences with One Time Adverbial;193
8.2.9.2.2;3.2.2 Sentences with Complements;195
8.2.9.2.3;3.2.3 Sentences with Two Adverbials;199
8.2.9.3;3.3 Syntactic Rules for Temporal Elements;202
8.2.10;References;204
8.3;The Temporal Reference of the English Futurate;206
8.3.1;1 ;207
8.3.2;2 ;210
8.3.3;3 ;213
8.3.4;4 ;216
8.3.5;5 ;217
8.3.6;References;218
8.4;The Domain of Tense;220
8.4.1;1 Introduction;220
8.4.2;2 Tense in Single Sentences;220
8.4.2.1;2.1 Syntax;220
8.4.2.2;2.2 Semantics;221
8.4.2.3;2.3 Tense Interpretation of Single Sentences;223
8.4.3;3 Sentences in context;223
8.4.3.1;3.1 Discourse Mode;224
8.4.3.2;3.2 Types of Entities;225
8.4.3.3;3.3 Advancement;226
8.4.4;4 Patterns of Tense Interpretation;227
8.4.4.1;4.1 Narrative;227
8.4.4.2;4.2 Report;228
8.4.4.3;4.3 Description;230
8.4.4.4;4.4 Summary;232
8.4.5;5 Formal Accounts of Tense Interpretation;233
8.4.5.1;5.1 Discourse Representation Theory;233
8.4.5.1.1;5.1.1 Independent Sentences;233
8.4.5.1.2;5.1.2 Continuity and Anaphora Tense Patterns;235
8.4.5.2;5.2 The Syntax-Based Approach;238
8.4.6;6 Conclusion;239
8.4.6.1;6.1 Summary;239
8.4.6.2;6.2 Tenseless Languages;240
8.4.7;References;240
8.5;Tense and Context in French;242
8.5.1;1 Introduction: Tense as a Cross-linguistic Category;242
8.5.2;2 Atemporal Meanings in Certain Contexts;245
8.5.3;3 Can Future be a Tense?;249
8.5.4;4 Tense Interpretation in Discourse;252
8.5.5;5 General Conclusions;258
8.5.6;References;258
9;Part III The Acquisition of Tense;261
9.1;Introduction;262
9.1.1;References;264
9.2;The Acquisition of Time Talk: Relations Between Child and Adult Grammars;266
9.2.1;1 Introduction;266
9.2.1.1;1.1 Temporal Reference: Child and Adult;267
9.2.1.2;1.2 Temporal Ordering and Cognitive Development;269
9.2.2;2 The Study: The Strong Decentring Hypothesis;270
9.2.2.1;2.1 Perfective and Imperfective;270
9.2.2.2;2.2 Data from Spontaneous Speech;272
9.2.2.3;2.3 Experimental Data;275
9.2.3;3 Discussion;276
9.2.4;4 Conclusion: Time Talk Reconsidered;278
9.2.5;Appendix: Imperfective Verbs Appearing in Transcript Summaries;279
9.2.6;References;279
9.3;The Acquisition of Tense: Bootstrapping into Syntax;281
9.3.1;1 The Concepts of Temporal Location;281
9.3.2;2 Acquisition of Temporal Expressions: The Early Stages;284
9.3.3;3 The Grammar of Tense;287
9.3.4;4 The Acquisition of Tense;289
9.3.5;Appendix;292
9.3.6;References;293
10;Part IV Discourse Structure and Discourse Modes;295
10.1;Introduction;296
10.1.1;References;302
10.2;Sentences in Discourse: an Analysis of a Discourse by Bertrand Russell;304
10.2.1;1 Analytic Units;305
10.2.1.1;1.1 Locations of Natural Prominence;305
10.2.1.2;1.2 Important Information Unit;306
10.2.1.3;1.3 Syntactic Considerations;307
10.2.2;2 Stylistic Analysis;308
10.2.2.1;2.1 Preview;308
10.2.2.2;2.2 Procedure;309
10.2.2.3;2.3 Analysis;309
10.2.2.4;2.4 Analyses of Representative Sentences;315
10.2.2.5;2.5 Details of the Syntactic Analysis;318
10.2.2.6;2.6 Summary;319
10.2.3;3 Linguistic Comments and Ramifications;319
10.2.3.1;3.1 Subjects and Adverbial Modification;320
10.2.3.2;3.2 Subjects and Topics;322
10.2.4;4 The Elements of Ethics, by Bertrand Russell;324
10.2.4.1;4.1 The Subject-Matter of Ethics;324
10.2.5;References;326
10.3;The Vagueness of Sentences in Isolation;327
10.3.1;1 ;327
10.3.2;2 ;328
10.3.3;3 ;330
10.3.4;4 ;331
10.3.5;5 ;333
10.3.6;Summary of Analysis of Temporal Specification of English;335
10.3.7;References;336
10.4;Temporal Structures in Discourse;338
10.4.1;References;355
10.5;Temporal Interpretation in Mandarin Chinese;356
10.5.1;1 Introduction;356
10.5.2;2 The Deictic Pattern: Aspectual Information and Pragmatic Constraints;357
10.5.2.1;2.1 The Keys to the Deictic Pattern: Aspect and Temporal Location;360
10.5.3;3 Temporal Information in Mandarin;364
10.5.3.1;3.1 Reference Time in Mandarin;364
10.5.3.2;3.2 The Linguistic Resources of Mandarin;367
10.5.3.2.1;3.2.1 Aspect;368
10.5.3.2.2;3.2.2 Lexical Information: Verbs and Modal Verbs;373
10.5.3.2.3;3.2.3 Adverbs;376
10.5.3.2.4;3.2.4 The Deictic pattern for Mandarin;377
10.5.4;4 Two Other Patterns of Temporal Interpretation;386
10.5.5;5 Conclusion;391
10.5.6;Appendix: Sources of Text Examples;392
10.5.7;References;393
11;Part V Context and Interpretation;396
11.1;Introduction;397
11.2;Some Significant Omissions: Ellipses in Flauberts Un Coeur Simple ;401
11.2.1;1 Point of View in Un Coeur simple ;404
11.2.2;2 Three Types of Ellipsis;407
11.2.2.1;2.1 Definite Reference;408
11.2.2.2;2.2 Pronominal Reference;409
11.2.2.3;2.3 Material Indirectly Introduced;411
11.2.3;3 Ellipsis and Narrative Effects;412
11.2.4;4 Appendix: Examples and Analyses;415
11.2.4.1;Pronominal References;419
11.3;Accounting for Subjectivity (Point of View);422
11.3.1;1 Introduction;423
11.3.2;2 Subjectivity: Point of View and Perspective;425
11.3.2.1;2.1 Expressions of Point of View;425
11.3.2.1.1;2.1.1 Communication;425
11.3.2.1.2;2.1.2 Contents of Mind;428
11.3.2.1.3;2.1.3 Evaluation;430
11.3.2.2;2.2 Perspectival;432
11.3.2.2.1;2.2.1 Perception;432
11.3.2.2.2;2.2.2 Particular Standpoints;434
11.3.2.3;2.3 Summary and Comment;438
11.3.3;3 The Composite Approach;439
11.3.4;4 Conclusion;442
11.3.5;References;443
12;Author Index;445
13;Subject Index;449