Master's theses in English linguistics
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Master's theses in English linguistics
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Bašic, Monika (Master thesis; Mastergradsoppgave, 08-Jun-2004)[+][-]
Abstract: The thesis argues for a remnant movement analysis of constructions referred to in the literature as Left Branch Extractions (LBE). The best known cases of LBE, or what I term split-XPs, are found in Slavic languages, which allow all prenominal constituents to be separated from the noun they modify. I argue that the derivation of these constructions proceeds in two steps. First, the non-focused material is vacated out of the DP/PP in order to restrict the focus domain to the prenominal modifier. Subsequently, the remnant XP is fronted to the specifier of focus phrase. The remnant movement analysis easily tackles the problem of apparent non-constituent movement in split PPs, as well as accounts for the preservation of ordering restrictions within the DP and the observation that both parts of the split must occupy derived positions. On the theoretical side, I argue that not all movement operations can be characterized in terms of Attract feature, as standardly assumed within the Minimalist framework. In particular, I assume that the first movement step is brought about by the properties of the source position, rather than by any formal requirement of the target, and correlate this with the ability of the first movement operation to circumvent islands. Finally, I show that crosslinguistic variation regarding the possibility of extracting left branch constituents cannot be reduced to the presence vs absence of a determiner phrase, as suggested in previous analyses.Interestingly, Bulgarian which differs from other Slavic languages in having overt articles, seems to allow the constructions in question, thus suggesting that the locus of parametric variation must be sought in properties other than the categorial status of noun phrases. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10037/238 File(s) in this item: 1
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Youssef, Islam M. (Master thesis; Mastergradsoppgave, 06-Jun-2006)[+][-]
Abstract: This thesis examines two phonological processes in which vocalic features assimilate to neighboring segments with complex consonant-vowel interactions, namely emphasis spread in Cairene Arabic and lowered larynx assimilation in Buchan Scots. I propose a non-linear analysis in the framework of the Parallel Structures Model (PSM) of feature geometry (Morén 2003). This model provides a unified account of the assimilation facts based on the complete phonemic inventories of the respective languages. In this theory, feature specifications are justified primarily on phonologically contrastive behavior. The analysis provided shows that a restrictive model such as the PSM attains a more succinct description of the phonological patterns as well as enhances greater empirical coverage with fewer resources. The main objective of this study is, therefore, three-fold. The first is to establish the contrastive inventories of Cairene Arabic and Buchan Scots with respect to which segments are phonologically active. The second is to provide full feature specifications of their contrastive segments in the Parallel Structures Model. The third is to describe and account for assimilation processes in these languages and describe the parallels between them in terms of application and feature analysis. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10037/191 File(s) in this item: 1
thesis.pdf (775.8Kb) -
Vitkova Vitkova, Polya (Master thesis; Mastergradsoppgave, 15-Jun-2004)[+][-]
Abstract: The present work is a comparative analysis of English particles, Bulgarian prefixes, and the telicity effects they induce. Three classes of verbs are investigated: creation-consumption verbs, degree achievements/accomplishments, and the special "eat-drink" class. The results show that in Bulgarian, prefixes induce telicity regardless of the nature of the verbal object, whereas in English telicity is built compositionally. More specifically, English predicates telicity depends on the type of the verb, the presence/absence of a particle, as well as the nature of the object and its quantization properties. On the other hand, the "eat/drink" class turns out to have similar characteristics both in English and Bulgarian in that those verbs require quantization of the object in both languages. Thus, I show crucial differences as well as similarities in the telicity effects induced by English particles and Bulgarian prefixes. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10037/190 File(s) in this item: 1
thesis.pdf (323.6Kb) -
Rojina, Nina (Master thesis; Mastergradsoppgave, 15-Jun-2004)[+][-]
Abstract: This thesis is an attempt to identify the position for particles in English and prefixes in Russian in the context of the nature of the prepositional phrase. In order to solve this problem I examine the nature of verb-particle constructions and prefixed verbs in English and Russian respectively. I show that particles and prefixes have much in common. Russian prefixes as well as English particles build up together with the verb either compositional or idiomatic meanings. Russian prefixes as well as English particles license the presence of objects and prepositional phrases. I present the previous analyses for verb-particle constructions (the ‘small clause structure’ approach and the ‘complex head structure’ approach) and highlight the problems associated with these as outlined by Ramchand and Svenonius (2002). In order to examine verb-particle constructions in English I adopt the analysis proposed by Ramchand and Svenonius which I later use for Russian prefixed verbs. Outlining the similarities between particles and prefixes I argue that particles and prefixes occupy the same position in the syntactic structure. Before studying the position of particles and prefixes in the context of the prepositional structure, I present the approaches to the prepositions and prepositional phrases offered in the literature and illustrate the nature of the prepositions cross-linguistically. I introduce PathP and PlaceP within a prepositional phrase (following Svenonius 2003), which according to the analysis, influence the assignment of case in Russian. In trying to define the position of particles and prefixes in the context of prepositional phrases in English and Russian respectively, I came to the conclusion that these elements require additional projections, which I refer to as DirP. The analysis introduced in this thesis shows that both English particles and Russian prefixes exhibit the same syntactic features and occupy the same position in the syntactic structure. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10037/189 File(s) in this item: 1
thesis.pdf (438.7Kb) -
Glushan, Zhanna (Master thesis; Mastergradsoppgave, 19-Jun-2006)[+][-]
Abstract: Long distance scrambling in Russian is not a well-understood phenomenon and a proper description of it is absent from the current literature. This thesis is an attempt to investigate the properties of long distance scrambling in Russian and compare the discovered facts to long distance scrambling in Japanese in the light of Boškoviæ and Takahashi’s (1998) description as well as to other displacement phenomena. In this study, I argue that Russian does not have semantically vacuous scrambling and give arguments that long distance scrambling in Russian involves focus movement. I show that scrambling in Russian is sensitive to relativized minimality and to other locality constraints. I observe that the structures most transparent for scrambling are clausal complements of perception verbs. In other syntactic contexts, scrambling is more restricted than it is generally assumed. I present evidence that scrambling and wh- movement pattern together with respect to locality constraints, informational backgrounds and successive cyclicity. URI: http://hdl.handle.net/10037/188 File(s) in this item: 1
thesis.pdf (568.6Kb)
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