L’objectif de ce travail de thèse était d’approfondir les connaissances actuelles sur l’organisation des concepts d’objets fabriqués manipulables. Plus particulièrement, nous nous sommes intéressés au traitement implicite des relations thématiques (e.g., scie-bois) et des relations de similarité fonctionnelle spécifique (e.g., scie-hâche) et générale (e.g., scie-couteau) lors de l’identification des objets fabriqués manipulables. Les stimuli ont été sélectionnés par une tâche de génération de propriétés et le traitement implicite des relations sémantiques a été évalué grâce à l’enregistrement des mouvements oculaires dans le Paradigme du Monde Visuel. Tout d’abord, nous avons évalué le développement du traitement implicite des relations thématiques et de similarité fonctionnelle chez les enfants de 6-, 8- 10- ans et chez l’adulte. Les résultats ont montré que le traitement implicite des relations de similarité fonctionnelle générale évolue progressivement avec l’âge, alors que les relations thématiques sont déjà implicitement traitées dès 6-ans. Ensuite, nous avons testé le rôle de l’action dans le traitement de ces relations. Chez l’adulte, les résultats ont montré que l’action amorce le traitement des relations thématiques différemment en fonction du niveau de représentation de l’action impliqué. Le traitement thématique est facilité par l’action représentée au niveau du geste mais gêné par l’action représentée au niveau de l’intention. Chez l’enfant, les données ont montré que le traitement de relations de similarité fonctionnelle générale est facilité par l’action représentée au niveau de l’intention. Les données préliminaires chez le patient cérébro-lésé renforcent l’idée d’une structure conceptuelle multidéterminée et graduelle. Dans l’ensemble, ce travail démontre que les connaissances sur les objets fabriqués manipulables sont organisées selon des relations sémantiques distinctes qui présentent des trajectoires développementales différentes et correspondent à diffèrent niveaux de représentation d’action. / The general aim of this work was to provide a better understanding of the cognitive mechanisms underlying manipulable artifact object conceptual organization. Specifically, we investigated implicit processing of thematic (e.g., saw-wood) and functional similarity relations at the specific (e.g., saw-axe) and general (e.g., saw-knife) levels during manipulable artifact object identification. Stimuli were selected from property generation and implicit semantic processing was investigated using eye-tracking in the Visual World Paradigm. First, we assessed the development of thematic and functional similarity processing in 6-, 8-, 10- year-old children and adults. Results demonstrated progressive emergence of general function similarity processing with age, while thematic and specific function similarity processing was already present from 6. Findings support a graded involvement of distinct mechanisms in object semantic processing and development. In the second series of experiments, we investigated the role of action in thematic and functional similarity processing by combining action priming with the Visual World Paradigm in adults and 6-year-olds. In adults, action primed thematic processing differently depending on the level of action representation entailed. Thematic processing was facilitated by gesture-level action representations but disturbed by intention-level action representations. In 6-year-olds, intention-level action representations improved general functional similarity relation implicit processing. Findings highlight the role of different action representation levels in manipulable artifact object semantic processing. Finally, preliminary data collected in 8 stroke patients provided additional evidence in favor of a multidetermined and graded manipulable artifact semantic structure. Together, findings demonstrate that knowledge about manipulable artifacts is organized along distinct types of semantic relations that show different developmental trajectories and relate to different levels of action representations.

This study delves into the syntactic notion of subject relation in Shona with the aim of characterizing and defining it. This is done through analysing data collected from two of the Shona speaking provinces in Zimbabwe, namely, Harare and Masvingo. The data collection procedures involved the tape recording of oral interviews as well as doing selective listening to different speeches. The data were then analysed using the projection principle, noun phrase movement transformational rule as well as the selectional principles established for the subject relation in the other well researched natural languages. The research found out that there is no one single rule that can be used to determine the subject of every possible Shona sentence. One has to make use of all the seven selectional principles established in the well-researched natural languages. The research managed to assess the applicability of the selectional rules in different sentences. The rules were then ranked according to their reliability in determining the subjects of each of the various Shona sentences. It also came to light that the Shona subject relation has a number of sub-categories as a result of the various selectional rules involved in determining them. These were also ranked in a hierarchy of importance as they apply in the language. For instance, whilst some are assigned to their host words at the deep structure or underlying level of syntax, some are assigned at the surface structure level and can be shifted easily. It also emerged that the freedom of the subject relation in the language varies with the sub-category of the relation. It came to light as well that in Shona both noun phrases (NPs) and non-NPs are assigned the subject role. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)

This study delves into the syntactic notion of subject relation in Shona with the aim of characterizing and defining it. This is done through analysing data collected from two of the Shona speaking provinces in Zimbabwe, namely, Harare and Masvingo. The data collection procedures involved the tape recording of oral interviews as well as doing selective listening to different speeches. The data were then analysed using the projection principle, noun phrase movement transformational rule as well as the selectional principles established for the subject relation in the other well researched natural languages. The research found out that there is no one single rule that can be used to determine the subject of every possible Shona sentence. One has to make use of all the seven selectional principles established in the well-researched natural languages. The research managed to assess the applicability of the selectional rules in different sentences. The rules were then ranked according to their reliability in determining the subjects of each of the various Shona sentences. It also came to light that the Shona subject relation has a number of sub-categories as a result of the various selectional rules involved in determining them. These were also ranked in a hierarchy of importance as they apply in the language. For instance, whilst some are assigned to their host words at the deep structure or underlying level of syntax, some are assigned at the surface structure level and can be shifted easily. It also emerged that the freedom of the subject relation in the language varies with the sub-category of the relation. It came to light as well that in Shona both noun phrases (NPs) and non-NPs are assigned the subject role. / African Languages / D. Litt. et Phil. (African Languages)