Studies of Russian, Polish, and Lithuanian language learners converge on the finding that morphological features of nouns are first generalized to word clusters of high morpho-phonological similarities such as diminutives, that grammatical categorisation is are more easily applied to novel words that fall into these clusters. The present thesis explores whether the facilitating effect of diminutives on the acquisition of complex noun morphology can be extended to Serbian, a south Slavic language, morphologically similar to Russian and Polish. Specifically, the thesis explores the role of parameters responsible for the obtained diminutive advantage: high frequency of a particular cluster of words in child-directed speech (CDS) and morpho-phonological homogeneity within this cluster. A corpus analysis of the distribution of diminutives in Serbian CDS indicated a rather unexpected difference in frequency relative to Russian and Polish CDS, despite the high similarity of the diminutive derivation across these three Slavic languages. Out of the total number of nouns in Serbian CDS only 7% were diminutives, compared to 20-30% in Polish and 45% in Russian. Two experimental studies explored whether the low frequency of diminutives in Serbian CDS attenuates the diminutive advantage in morphology learning compared to Russian and Polish. In the first two experiments, Serbian children exhibited a strong diminutive advantage for both gender agreement and case marking in the same range as Russian children, indicating that morpho-phonological homogeneity within the cluster of diminutives may play as important a role as their frequency for grammatical categorisation of novel nouns. A third study investigated in more detail the effects of morpho-phonological homogeneity on the emergence of the diminutive advantage using a gender-agreement task with novel nouns in simplex and pseudo-diminutive form over four sessions with Serbian children. The results showed a pseudo-diminutive advantage for gender agreement by Session 2, suggesting that the categorisation of nouns into grammatical categories is based on morpho-phonological homogeneity of the word cluster, emerges relatively fast, and can occur despite the much lower frequency of diminutives in Serbian CDS. Finally, a series of neural network simulations designed to capture the pattern of results from the third experimental study was used to examine to what extent a simple associative learning mechanism, relying on morpho-phonological similarity of the noun endings, can explain the findings. The performance of three models, a whole-word feed-forward network, a Simple Recurrent Network (SRN) and a last-syllable feed-forward network, was compared to the experimental data. The superior fit of the SRN suggests that gender learning is based on a very fast sequential build-up of representations of the entire word, allowing the system to exploit the predictive power of word stems to anticipate regularised endings. Overall, the findings of this thesis contribute to our general understanding of mechanisms responsible for the acquisition of complex inflectional noun morphology in two ways. First, by extending experimental studies and neural network simulations to Serbian, the results underline the universality of the idea that noun morphology is learned and processed through a single-route associative mechanism based on the frequency and morpho-phonological structure of nouns. More specifically, the results from experimental studies and neural network simulations demonstrate that for diminutives, the low-level grammatical categorisation is based mainly on the morpho-phonological similarity of word endings, and can emerge after just a few exposures. And second, the neural network simulations suggest that during the process of categorisation of nouns into gender categories, learners rely not only on predictable information from the noun endings, but also on phonological regularities in the stems of nouns. Taken together, these findings contribute also to a better understanding of the facilitating role of CDS in morphology acquisition.

This PhD thesis examines a phenomenon known as Monosyllabic Circumflexion (MC, hereafter) from a historical linguistics / phonological point of view. MC denotes a Lithuanian or Balto-Slavic phenomenon according to which long vowels and diphthongs in monosyllabic words exhibit a circumflex tone instead of the expected acute tone.  It is observed in the following four categories: I. 3rd person future forms of monosyllabic stems (e.g., šõks ― šókti `to jump;' vy͂s ― výti `to drive') II. reflexes of PIE root nouns (e.g., Latv. gùovs `cow;' Lith. šuõ `dog') III. prepositions/adverbs (e.g., nuõ `from' ~  nùotaka `bride;' vė͂l `again' ~ Latv. vêl `still, yet,' tė͂ (permissive particle) < *teh1) IV. pronominal forms (e.g., tuõ ~ gerúoju `the good (m.~sg.~instr.),' tie͂ ~ tíeji `id. (pl.nom)'). The unexpected circumflex tone in these categories is problematic and important for the solution of a Balto-Slavic accentological question on the etymological background of acute and non-acute tones. The aim of this thesis is to partially contribute to the solution of this problem by establishing the existence of MC and its relative chronology. The first category, the 3rd person future forms, provides a substantial number of examples and counterexamples. The examination of them has revealed the fact that the counterexamples constitute a morpho-semantic group of verbs whose future stems underwent considerable morphological changes in the prehistory, hence not exhibiting MC. This shows that the regular tonal reflex of the 3rd person future forms of monosyllabic acute stem must be circumflex, allowing for the establishment of MC as a regular phonological process, although this category does not provide much information on the relative chronology of MC. The second category, the reflexes of Proto-Indo-European root nouns, gives an important clue as to where MC is located in the relative chronology of Balto-Slavic sound changes. Next, there is a discussion of whether the results of the examinations of the first two categories can be maintained for the data of the third and fourth categories, which show an irregular distribution of the acute and circumflex tones in monosyllabic forms. It is shown that various morphological factors, such as homonymic clashes within the paradigms for pronouns, can explain why some monosyllabic forms have acute tone. Also, the linguistic feature of West Aukštaitian dialects of Lithuanian that tend to preserve the results of MC is revealed. These dialects are known to have played an important role in the formation of standard Lithuanian. In this way, the monosyllabic forms with unexpected circumflex tone in Lithuanian are explained as a combination of MC in the Proto-Balto-Slavic time and the dialectal tendency of West Aukštaitian dialects of Lithuanian.

The subject matter of the diploma thesis is the bare noun phrase and its referential properties with focus to (in)definiteness. The aim is to present an empirical evaluation of factors that influence the interpretation of definiteness of bare noun phrases in Czech. The first part of the thesis recounts on existing theories of reference and definiteness, both in general and with focus to Czech as a language without obligatory determination. Our basic assumption is that the interpretation of definiteness of bare noun phrases is based on their position within a syntactic and semantic sentence structure, topic-focus articulation and word- or situational context. We focus on the relation between definiteness and an absolute position within a sentence, a verb-relative position and modification of the NP. Powered by TCPDF (www.tcpdf.org)

This thesis focuses on the description of the three basic aspects of the word order in the Czech Sign Language in the contrast with the spoken Czech Language. On the basis of the empiric research the prototypical word order is described for the declarative sentences, topicalization and the order of the signs in the nominal phrase in the Czech Sign Language. The research consists of the video material recording 15 native speakers of the Czech Sign Language of various age. The results are compared with the situation in the three other sign languages - the American, British and Australian Sign Language. The part of this piece of work is a DVD containing particular excerpted examples of utterances, which the deaf signers have used in the research.

Nesta tese, discutem-se, dentre outros, os conceitos de \"auditório universal\", de Perelman (2000); o de \"contrato de comunicação\", de Charaudeau (1992); os conceitos de duplo vínculo e enquadres, propostos por Bateson (1972), e abre-se também espaço para os principais tipos de paradoxos. Nela apresentase ainda a teoria dos semas e de sua combinatória, segundo Langendoen (1971), e, finalmente, analisa-se o sermão pelo Bom sucesso das armas de Portugal contra as de Holanda. O trabalho tem por objetivo evidenciar que o discurso religioso do Padre Antônio Vieira, no Sermão Pelo bom sucesso das armas de Portugal contra as de Holanda, é um discurso paradoxal porque desconstrói a si próprio. Para atingir tal propósito, confrontam-se os argumentos de que Vieira faz uso para dirigir-se a Deus, no referido sermão, com os textos das Sagradas Escrituras; analisa-se a argumentatividade das formas nominais do verbo, com ênfase particular na estrutura do gerúndio, enquanto ato ilocucional, a partir do Sermão da Sexagésima, e descreve-se um tipo de paradoxo pragmático: a roda argumentativa. / In this thesis, among others, the concepts of \"universal auditorium\", from Perelman (2000); \"communication contract\", from Charaudeau (1992); the concepts of double bind and frames, proposed by Bateson (1972) are discussed, and room is opened for the main types of paradox. In this one, the theory of semantic traits and its combinatory, according to Langedoen (1971) is also presented and, finally, the sermon For the good success of Portugal\'s weapons against Holland\'s is analyzed. The work has as a scope to evidence that the religious speech from Father Antônio Vieira, at the sermon For the good success of Portugal\'s weapons against Holland\'s, is a paradoxal speech for it unbuilds itself. To reach such purpose, the arguments Vieira uses to address God are confronted, at the referred sermon, with the Holy Scriptures\' texts; the argumentativity of the nominal forms of the verbs is analyzed, with particular emphasis on the structure of the gerund, as an illocutionary act, starting from Sermon of the Sixtieth, and a kind of pragmatic paradox is created: the argumentative round.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T11:22:01Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 MAX LANIO MARTINS PINA.pdf: 2106718 bytes, checksum: 60fdf914dbd4ce3c63a3222a56b8e829 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-15 / This thesis investigated the historical ideas of students from the 7th, 8th and 9th grade of elementary school II, of State College President Kennedy, which is located in the central city of Porangatu - GO on its conceptualization of the historical period Middle Ages. For realization of this research sought to support the theories produced by the didactics of history, from the German paradigmatic turn of the 60s and 70s, but specifically the historian Jörn Rüsen. Concomitantly used the methodology of History Education research line that emerged in Europe in the same period because it allowed the application of a metacognitive instrumental in obtaining the narratives of school that wished to analyze and understand. However, it was observed that the concept Middle Ages suffers the influence of the three dimensions of historical culture, namely, aesthetic, political and cognitive. For this work, interested latter dimension that is found in academic literature and directly influences the teaching of history in primary education. Categorized and analyzed the narratives presented by young people in this research as well as all substantive words described by them that were related or not to the Middle Ages. Finally, there was discussion with the typology of historical consciousness so that through it, was observed prospects and possible notes to be observed in the historical ideas of the students. / Esta dissertação investigou as ideias históricas de alunos do 7º, 8º e 9º ano do Ensino Fundamental II, do Colégio Estadual Presidente Kennedy, que está localizado na região central da cidade de Porangatu GO, sobre sua conceituação do período histórico Idade Média. Para efetivação desta pesquisa buscou-se amparo nas teorias produzidas pela Didática da História, a partir da virada paradigmática alemã dos anos 60 e 70, mas especificamente no historiador Jörn Rüsen. Concomitantemente utilizou-se a metodologia da linha de investigação da Educação Histórica que surgiu na Europa no mesmo período porque ela permitiu a aplicação de um instrumental metacognitivo para obtenção das narrativas dos escolares que se desejavam analisar e compreender. Todavia, observou-se que o conceito Idade Média sofre as influências das três dimensões da cultura histórica, a saber, estética, política e cognitiva. Para este trabalho, interessou esta última dimensão que é encontrada na produção acadêmica e influencia diretamente o ensino de História na educação básica. Categorizou e analisou as narrativas apresentadas pelos jovens nesta investigação, bem como todas as palavras substantivas descritas por eles que se relacionavam ou não com a Idade Média. Por fim, dialogou-se com a tipologia da consciência histórica para que por meio dela, se observasse as perspectivas e os apontamentos possíveis de serem observados nas ideias históricas dos alunos.

by Esther Mee Kwan Cheung. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 1997. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 219-236). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Mode of access: World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese.

Este trabalho pretende mostrar os efeitos expressivos gerados pelo emprego das locuções adjetivas nos contos de Clarice Lispector. Para tanto, foi realizada a recolha de sintagmas nominais com locuções adjetivas das narrativas que compõem as duas primeiras obras de contos da autora: Laços de família e A legião estrangeira. Focando-se a análise semântico-estilística na descrição das personagens, as locuções adjetivas revelaram-se como um dos motores da prosa poética, contribuindo para a construção de um mundo ficcional introspectivo. Por meio das relações semânticas entre a locução adjetiva e o substantivo nuclear do sintagma nominal, há o engenho de imagens que demonstram a subjetividade das personagens e arquitetam uma escritura plena de recursos expressivos, entre eles a metáfora, a sinédoque e a antonomásia. / This study aims at detailing the expressive effects produced by the use of the adjective clauses in Clarice Lispectors short stories. This objective was achieved by the selection of noun syntagms containing adjective clauses taken from the narratives found in the first two pieces of work of the authors short stories: Laços de família and A legião estrangeira. By focusing on the semanticstylistic analysis of the description of the characters, the adjective clauses presented themselves as one of the driving engines of the poetic prose, thus contributing to the construction of an introspective fictional world. This can be explained by the semantic relastionships, divided up into the adjective clause and the nuclear subject of the noun syntagm, among which there is and inventive production of images that demonstrate the characters subjectivity and build up a writing full of expressive resources such as the metaphor, the synecdoche and the antonomasy.

A presente dissertação tem por objetivo geral analisar como a estrutura de construções que apresentam predicação complexa (PC) no Português Brasileiro (PB) é representada pela perspectiva tradicional e pela perspectiva gerativa, de modo a verificar a existência de padrões nessas construções. Neste trabalho, entendemos por PC a atribuição de propriedades a um mesmo constituinte por predicados diferentes. No primeiro capítulo, apresentamos a representação dessas estruturas à luz da abordagem tradicional, em que são tratadas como predicados verbo-nominais ou como orações reduzidas de infinitivo, particípio e de gerúndio. Nesse capítulo, também discutimos a ambiguidade entre predicativo do objeto e adjunto adnominal, assim como a possibilidade de predicativos do objeto indireto. No segundo capítulo, apresentamos a análise segundo a perspectiva gerativa, mais precisamente, de acordo com a Teoria de Princípios e Parâmetros, em que essas construções não são representadas como orações propriamente ditas, mas sim como small clauses (SCs). Ainda nesse capítulo, revisamos a proposta de Williams (1983, 1994) sobre as SCs e propomos que a projeção da SC seja dominada por AgrP. No terceiro capítulo, a partir da revisão das abordagens tradicional e gerativa, concluímos este trabalho com o estabelecimento de 18 possibilidades de estruturas com PC no PB. / This dissertation aims to analyze how the structure of constructions which present complex predication (CP) in Brazilian Portuguese (BP) is represented by the traditional perspective and by the generative perspective, in order to verify the existence of patterns of these constructions. In this study, CP is understood as the attribution of properties to a same constituent by different predicates. In the first chapter, we present how these structures are represented by the traditional approach, which treats them as noun-verb predicates or as reduced clauses of infinitive, participle and gerund. This chapter also discusses the ambiguity between object predicative and noun phrases, as well as the possibility of indirect object predicatives. In the second chapter, we present an analysis according to the generative perspective, particularly according to the Theory of Principles and Parameters, in which these constructions are not represented as clauses, but rather as small clauses (SCs). Also in this chapter, we revise Williams’ (1983, 1994) proposal on SCs and propose that the projection of the SC is ruled by AgrP. In the third chapter, based on the revision of traditional and generative approaches, we conclude this dissertation with the establishment of 18 possibilities of structures with CP in BP.

Nesta tese, discutem-se, dentre outros, os conceitos de \"auditório universal\", de Perelman (2000); o de \"contrato de comunicação\", de Charaudeau (1992); os conceitos de duplo vínculo e enquadres, propostos por Bateson (1972), e abre-se também espaço para os principais tipos de paradoxos. Nela apresentase ainda a teoria dos semas e de sua combinatória, segundo Langendoen (1971), e, finalmente, analisa-se o sermão pelo Bom sucesso das armas de Portugal contra as de Holanda. O trabalho tem por objetivo evidenciar que o discurso religioso do Padre Antônio Vieira, no Sermão Pelo bom sucesso das armas de Portugal contra as de Holanda, é um discurso paradoxal porque desconstrói a si próprio. Para atingir tal propósito, confrontam-se os argumentos de que Vieira faz uso para dirigir-se a Deus, no referido sermão, com os textos das Sagradas Escrituras; analisa-se a argumentatividade das formas nominais do verbo, com ênfase particular na estrutura do gerúndio, enquanto ato ilocucional, a partir do Sermão da Sexagésima, e descreve-se um tipo de paradoxo pragmático: a roda argumentativa. / In this thesis, among others, the concepts of \"universal auditorium\", from Perelman (2000); \"communication contract\", from Charaudeau (1992); the concepts of double bind and frames, proposed by Bateson (1972) are discussed, and room is opened for the main types of paradox. In this one, the theory of semantic traits and its combinatory, according to Langedoen (1971) is also presented and, finally, the sermon For the good success of Portugal\'s weapons against Holland\'s is analyzed. The work has as a scope to evidence that the religious speech from Father Antônio Vieira, at the sermon For the good success of Portugal\'s weapons against Holland\'s, is a paradoxal speech for it unbuilds itself. To reach such purpose, the arguments Vieira uses to address God are confronted, at the referred sermon, with the Holy Scriptures\' texts; the argumentativity of the nominal forms of the verbs is analyzed, with particular emphasis on the structure of the gerund, as an illocutionary act, starting from Sermon of the Sixtieth, and a kind of pragmatic paradox is created: the argumentative round.