Many L2 students in Namibia are not adequately prepared for the academic demands of university courses, mainly because of poor reading skills in the L2. University students reading below their maturational levels, can mainly be attributed to their print-impoverished backgrounds, as reading is a skill that develops mainly through reading. Without any assistance, poor readers at university will continue to read poorly and as a result perform weaker in their academic courses compared to their peers who are better readers. The overall aim of this study is to explore the effects of a reading intervention program on a group of university students in Namibia. A quasiexperimental method with a control and an intervention group was employed. The effect of reading ability on academic performance was also investigated. In addition, through a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods, the pre-literacy experiences of students, the differences between good and poor readers at university, their views about the reading intervention program as well as the attitudes and practices of university lecturers towards reading instruction at tertiary level were examined. / Linguistics and Modern Languages / M.A. (with specialisation in Applied Linguistics)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior - CAPES / This research is about the use of anaphoric processes in a Folha de São Paulo editorial newspaper genus. Our analysis refers to one of the reference construction strategies that are still little discussed: the anaphoric encapsulation, to observe how far this point contribute to argument direction. The objective of this study is to verify how the encapsulation process is used in the editorial genus to redraft the speech objects, considering its contribution to the text thematic progression and present argumentative orientation in this genus. We understand anaphoric encapsulation as strategies referentiation which is defined as a phenomenon by which a new discourse referent is created on the basis of information given; becoming thus the argument later predications, but can also result in the categorization of argumentative functions in textual progression. Inside this process, we consider the multiple contextual factors integration (discursive-textual, cognitive, social, cultural, situational), in view of this research, prioritize an approach that considers the integration among referentiation strategies and descriptive analysis of this genus. We selected fifteen (15) editorial in 184 bank / sample. In consideration of analysis, we described as the reconstruction of the most frequente objects speech on the text surface is confirmed by the recurrence of contextual and / or inferential mechanisms in argumentative orientation the genus in study. The theoretical and methodological support adopted develops from the theoretical apparatus of Textual Linguistics, nowadays based on the referentiation process, based on authors such as Mondada and Dubois (2003), Conte (2003), Marcuschi (2008, 2009 ), Koch (2004), Cavalcante (2011), and Lima Cavalcante (2015), Ciulla (2008), Koch and Cortez (2015) and others. The results show that encapsulation constitutes an important benchmark strategy that contributes directly to the textual progression and topical organization. In this way, we verify that this strategy not only has the function of connecting topics, but also constitutes an instrument establishing assessments, and may also lead to text argumentative orientation. / Esta pesquisa versa sobre o uso de processos anafóricos no gênero editorial do jornal Folha de São Paulo. Nossa análise refere-se a uma das estratégias de construção referencial ainda pouco discutida: o encapsulamento anafórico, de modo a observar até que ponto contribui para a orientação argumentativa. O objetivo deste trabalho consiste em verificar como o processo de encapsulamento é utilizado no gênero editorial para reelaborar os objetos do discurso, tendo em vista a sua contribuição para a progressão temática do texto e para orientação argumentativa presente nesse gênero. Entendemos como encapsulamento anafórico uma das estratégias da referenciação que se define como um fenômeno, através do qual, um novo referente discursivo é criado sob a base de uma informação dada; tornando-se, assim, o argumento de predicações posteriores, como também pode resultar na categorização de funções argumentativas na progressão textual. No interior desse processo, levamos em consideração a integração entre múltiplos fatores contextuais (o discursivo-textual, o cognitivo, o social, o cultural, o situacional), haja vista, nesta pesquisa, priorizarmos uma abordagem que leva em conta a integração entre estratégias de referenciação e a análise descritiva de tal gênero. Para isso, selecionamos 15 (quinze) editoriais de um banco/amostra de 184. Em consideração a análise, descrevemos como a reconstrução dos objetos de discurso mais frequentes na superfície do texto se confirma pela recorrência a mecanismos contextuais e/ou inferenciais na orientação argumentativa do gênero em questão. O suporte teórico-metodológico adotado desenvolve-se a partir do aparato teórico da Linguística Textual, na atualidade, baseando-se no processo de referenciação, alicerçado em autores como Mondada e Dubois (2003), Conte (2003), Marcuschi (2008, 2009), Koch (2004), Cavalcante (2011), Lima e Cavalcante (2015), Ciulla (2008), Koch e Cortez (2015) dentre outros. Os resultados evidenciam que o encapsulamento se constitui como importante estratégia referencial que contribui diretamente para a progressão textual e a organização tópica. Desse modo, verificamos que essa estratégia não só apresenta a função de ligar tópicos, como também se constitui de instrumento que estabelece avaliações, podendo também conduzir a orientação argumentativa do texto.

The purpose of this study was to examine how two teaching materials in Swedish and Swedish as a second language, from the same publishing company, presented and referred to male and female authorship based on anaphoric expressions. The method used in this study was grounded on an article by Per Ledin which analyzes how social actors is being portrayed in two Swedish papers based on anaphoric expression. Besides this method, the study also chooses to include social actors as well as whether the authors were portraited based on background or accomplishment. By choosing these criteria, the aim was to be able to investigate how Hirdmans two logics: men as a norm and the distinction between the sexes, are implemented in the teaching material that are examined. The research questions used in this study were: How is female and male authorship referred to in the materials based on anaphoric expressions? In which way is male and female authorship being presented in the various textbooks? Is there a difference between how female and male authorship is presented and referenced to, based on if the textbook is in Swedish or Swedish as a second language? The results of this study show that there is a difference between the teaching materials even though they are published by the same company. The different textbooks show how the teaching materials maintain the man as the norm, as in previous research, but in varying degrees. The textbook in Swedish shows a clear masculine norm through the anaphoric pattern that female writing becomes more individualized. The female writers are also presented mainly by background, while male authors are presented based on achievements. When comparing Swedish course literature for second language one can see how the male norm is prevalent, notably female authorship are represented through their accomplishments and the textbook problematizes male authorship.

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2018-08-28T18:43:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Rennan Furtado.pdf: 3276259 bytes, checksum: 8cafeadb184e367812582c17e230792f (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-28T18:43:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2017 - Rennan Furtado.pdf: 3276259 bytes, checksum: 8cafeadb184e367812582c17e230792f (MD5) Previous issue date: 2017-03-29 / CAPES / This work aims to develop a didactic mediation, of collaborative basis, for anaphoric direct objetcs study and use, from stand up comedy discursive genre, in groups of youngsters and adults who did not continue their studies and those who have not joined primary and/or elementary school at appropriate age. This is youth and adults education (EJA). The aim is to encourage student's participation in Portuguese classes, in public schools of the State of Rio de Janeiro (NEJA) assuming that the use of stand up comedy discursive genre would stimulate them to develop reading activities, textual production and reflection on linguistic uses, focusing on the study and use of anaphoric direct object. For this purpose, this research was based on Collaborative Learning Theory (BEHRENS, 2013), which enabled the organicity of mediation in order to promote a participatory education in which the interaction between student and teacher is the basis of the work. In addition, in linguistic theories we searched assumptions to justify the proposal. Namely: Referencing Theory (KOCH and ELIAS, 2012; CHAN, 2004) and the continuous variation of Linguistics (BORTONI-RICARDO, 2004, 2005), with emphasis on continuous orality-literacy. The first one allowed the understanding of anaphoric relations, especially the Anaphoric Direct Objetc one, in a text; the second one enabled the recognition that linguistic accomplishments, variables, such as those in this category, are in a continuous line rather than on opposite sides. We also keep this continuous association with the discursive genres continuous proposed by Marcuschi (2001). This work also aimed to achieve specific objectives in Portuguese classes just as teaching referral strategies in acusativess forms, as well as other more general like promoting discussion, the collectivity, the sharing of ideas and mutual respect between teacher and students. / Este trabalho tem por objetivo desenvolver uma media??o did?tica, de base colaborativa, para estudo e uso do objeto direto anaf?rico (ODA), a partir do g?nero discursivo stand-up comedy, em turmas de educa??o para jovens e adultos que n?o deram continuidade aos estudos e para os que n?o ingressaram no Ensino Fundamental e/ou M?dio com a idade apropriada. Trata-se do segmento Educa??o de Jovens e Adultos (EJA). Busca-se incentivar a participa??o, nas aulas de L?ngua Portuguesa, dos alunos inseridos nos cursos da Educa??o de Jovens e Adultos da rede p?blica do estado do Rio de Janeiro (NEJA), partindo-se da hip?tese de que o uso do referido g?nero os estimularia a desenvolver atividades de leitura, produ??o textual e reflex?o sobre usos lingu?sticos, com foco no estudo e uso do ODA. Para tanto, esta pesquisa baseou-se na Teoria Colaborativa de Aprendizagem (BEHRENS, 2013), que possibilitou a organicidade da media??o para promovermos um ensino participativo em que a intera??o entre aluno e professor constitui a base do trabalho. Al?m disso, buscamos, em teorias lingu?sticas, pressupostos para fundamenta??o da proposta. A saber: a teoria da Referencia??o (KOCH E ELIAS, 2012; CAVALCANTE, 2004) e a dos Cont?nuos de varia??o lingu?stica (BORTONI-RICARDO, 2004, 2005), com ?nfase no cont?nuo oralidade-letramento. A primeira permitiu o entendimento das rela??es anaf?ricas, sobretudo a do ODA, em um texto; a segunda possibilitou o reconhecimento de que as realiza??es lingu?sticas, as vari?veis, como as dessa categoria, situam-se em uma linha cont?nua e n?o em lados opostos. Procedemos ainda ? associa??o desse cont?nuo com o cont?nuo dos g?neros discursivos proposto por Marcuschi (2001). Este trabalho buscou, ainda, atingir objetivos espec?ficos da disciplina de L?ngua Portuguesa, como ensinar estrat?gias de referencia??o em formas acusativas, al?m de outros mais gerais, como promover o debate, a coletividade, o compartilhamento de ideias e o respeito m?tuo entre professor e alunos.

In my Ph.D. thesis, I examine the use of referential devices in spoken narrative discourse with predominant anaphoric reference. Special attention is paid to the relationship between two competing forms: lexical phrases containing the lexeme ten (ten-MARKED NPs) and lexical phrases not containing it (UNMARKED NPs) in repeated mentions. A primary aim of the work is (i) to identify factors favouring the use of ten-marked NPs at the expense of unmarked NPs and (ii) to explore the possibility of the lexeme ten grammaticalizing from its anaphoric use. Theoretically and methodologically I benefit mostly from the conception of discourse anaphora and the theory of grammaticalization. The referential devices are systematically explored in terms of their distribution into different classes according to a set of parameters and their values. These parameters reflect the conceptual (animacy), grammatical (syntactic function, type of clause etc.) as well as discourse characteristics of the forms and their referents (informational status of the NP in the clause, activation and persistence of the referent, etc.). The data consist of 45 short narratives produced by 15 speakers. The speakers' task was to retell three short silent-movie sketches which they had seen immediately before the recording. The design of the...

[pt] Esta tese investiga os fatores semânticos e sintáticos que afetam a codificação do objeto direto anafórico (ODA) no português brasileiro (PB). O ODA pode ser um DP pleno [+ definido], um clítico acusativo, um pronome tônico ou um elemento nulo (cuja natureza é controversa na teoria linguística). Busca-se: (i) avaliar como fatores semânticos (animacidade, especificidade e gênero conceitual), sintáticos (função sintática) e pertinentes à interface sintaxe/semântica (papel temático) afetam a codificação da retomada, em diferentes contextos sintáticos (sentenças simples e ilha sintática) e/ou discursivos (respostas a perguntas QU e complementação de narrativas curtas ou conversas informais); (ii) verificar a influência da escolarização nas estratégias de codificação do ODA; e (iii) discutir a natureza das formas nulas produzidas. O aporte teórico parte da concepção de língua veiculada no Programa Minimalista (CHOMSKY,1995. 2005) e da perspectiva de produção trazida do modelo de computação gramatical em tempo real (CORRÊA, 2006; 2008; CORRÊA; AUGUSTO, 2007; em diante) no tratamento das questões ligadas à acessibilidade relativa do antecedente a ser retomado (ARIEL, 2001; ARNOLD, 2010; BOCK; WARREN, 1985; SANDERS; GERNSBACHER, 2004), quando da codificação gramatical do enunciado (LEVELT, 1989). Parte-se da hipótese de que a produção de ODAs é função das condições de processamento às quais o falante está submetido e que propriedades semânticas e sintáticas do antecedente afetam sua acessibilidade relativa, impondo restrições à codificação de sua retomada. Seis experimentos de produção eliciada são reportados. O contexto sintático influenciou a acessibilidade dos antecedentes, retomados predominantemente por DPs completos entre sentenças no discurso; e por formas mínimas (pronominais e elementos nulos), quando em sentenças complexas. Os efeitos de animacidade e de especificidade sugerem que o pronome tônico seja default para antecedentes acessíveis [+animado; +específico], enquanto o nulo o é para [-animados; mais ou menos específico], corroborando achados da literatura com produção espontânea. O gênero conceitual não foi decisivo para a retomada anafórica, mas pareceu aumentar a especificidade de antecedentes cujo gênero conceitual era conhecido. O papel temático, por si só, não é decisivo para a forma da retomada anafórica. Entretanto, a possibilidade de o elemento nulo recuperar um fato/evento descrito anteriormente o compatibiliza com uma alternativa ao clítico sentencial. O grau de escolaridade dos participantes elevou as taxas de clíticos acusativos, especialmente com antecedentes [+animado] (como alternativa aos pronomes tônicos), evidenciando a interferência da língua escrita sobre a língua falada, bem como a produtividade dessa forma para falantes com alto grau de escolaridade. A função sintática do antecedente não interferiu no ODA. A ocorrência do elemento nulo em contextos de ilha corrobora a visão de que este não seja uma variável no PB. À luz do modelo de computação em tempo real, considera-se que as condições de acesso do antecedente determinam a natureza da forma nula: se a representação da estrutura sintática do antecedente se mantiver ativa na memória de trabalho, este pode ser recuperado como uma elipse, a ser restaurada na interface semântica; se apenas seus traços phi ou a representação semântica de seu antecedente são acessíveis, ODA é codificado como pro. / [en] This thesis investigates the semantic and syntactic factors that affect the encoding of the anaphoric direct object (ADO) in Brazilian Portuguese (BP). The ADO can be a full DP [+definite], an accusative clitic, a stressed pronoun, or a null element (whose nature is controversial in linguistic theory). This research aims to: (i) investigate how the semantic properties (animacy, specificity and conceptual genre) of the antecedent, its syntactic function and factors pertaining to the syntax/semantic interface (thematic role) affect the encoding of the ADO in different syntactic contexts (simple sentences and syntactic island) and/or discourse (answers to WH-questions and continuations of short narratives or informal conversations); (ii) verify the influence of schooling in the strategies of ADO encoding; and (iii) discuss the nature of the null forms produced. The theoretical background incorporates the conception of language conveyed in the Minimalist Program (CHOMSKY, 1995; 2005) and an approach to issues regarding the relative accessibility of the antecedent to be resumed (ARIEL, 2001; ARNOLD, 2010; BOCK; WARREN, 1985; SANDERS; GERNSBACHER, 2004) in the grammatical encoding of a sentence (LEVELT, 1989), in the light of an on-line model of grammatical computation (CORREA, 2006; 2008; CORREA; AUGUSTO, 2007) The working hypothesis is that the production of the ODA is a function of particular processing conditions and that the semantic and syntactic properties of the antecedent affect its relative accessibility, imposing restrictions on its resumption. Six elicited production experiments are reported. The syntactic context influenced the accessibility of the antecedents, predominantly recovered by full DPs, when between-sentences in the discourse; and by minimal forms (pronominals and null elements) in complex sentences. The effects of animacy and of specificity corroborate spontaneous production data, suggesting that the full pronoun is the default option for [+animated; +specific], while the null form is the default option for [-animated; +- specific] antecedents. The conceptual genre of the antecedent was not decisive for a particular form of encoding, but it seemed to enhance the specificity of the antecedent whose conceptual gender was known. The thematic role, by itself, does not determine the form of anaphoric resumption. However, the possibility of the null resumption of an fact/event previously mentioned makes it compatible with an alternative to the sentential clitic. Schooling increased the rates of accusative clitics, especially with [+animated] antecedents (as an alternative to tonic pronouns), showing the interference of the written language on the spoken language, as well as the productivity of this form for educated speakers. The syntactic function of the antecedent did not affect ADO production. The occurrence of the null element in island contexts corroborates the view that the null element is not a variable in BP. It is argued, in the light of the on-line model, that the accessibility of the antecedent determines the nature of null element: if the representation of the syntactic structure of the antecedent is still active in working memory, it can be retrieved as an ellipsis, to be restored at the semantic interface; if it is the phi features of the antecedent or the semantic representation of its referent that remain available, ADO is encoded as a pro.

This thesis explores the variable behavior of bare nouns in Persian. Bare singular nouns realize different grammatical functions, including subject, object and indirect object. They receive different interpretations, including generic, definite and existential readings. However, the task of understanding the reasons for, and limits on, this variation cannot be achieved without understanding a number of pivotal features of Persian sentential architecture, including Information Structure, prosody, word order, and the functions of various morphological markers in Persian. After a brief introduction, chapters 2-3 deal with bare noun objects, firstly comparing them with nominals marked with indefinite morpheme -i suffixed to the noun, and the determiner yek. A bare noun object differs from morphologically marked nominals as it shows properties associated with noun incorporation in the literature (chapter 2). Of particular interest are the discourse properties of these ‘quasi-incorporated’ nominals. With respect to the discourse transparency of Incorporated Nominals, Persian belongs to the class of discourse opaque languages within Mithun’s classification (1984). However, under certain circumstances, Persian bare nouns show discourse transparency. These circumstances are examined in chapter 3, and it is proposed that bare nouns do introduce a number neutral discourse referent. There are no overt anaphoric expressions that could match such number-neutral antecedents in Persian. But covert anaphora lack number features, and hence can serve as means to pick up a number-neutral discourse referent. Also, in case world knowledge tells us that the number-neutral discourse referent is anchored to an atomic entity or to a collection, then an overt singular pronoun or an overt plural pronoun might fit the combined linguistic and conceptual requirements, and may be used to pick up the number-neutral discourse referent. This proposal is phrased within Discourse Representation Theory. In the second half of the dissertation, the interpretation of bare nouns in different positions and with different grammatical functions are discussed. Under the independently supported hypothesis of position>interpretation mapping developed by Diesing (1992), we will see the role of the suffix -ra in indicating that an object has been moved out of VP. Following Diesing, I assume that VP-internal variables are subject to an operation of Existential Closure. In many cases, VP-external –ra-marked objects have a different interpretation to their VP-internal, non-ra-marked, counterparts, because of escaping Existential Closure. For subjects, there is no morphological marking corresponding to –ra on objects, and we have to rely on prosody and word order to determine how a VP is interpreted using theories of the interaction of accent and syntactic structure. We assume that VP-internal subjects exist, under two independent but converging assumptions. The first is prosodic in nature: Subjects can be accented without being narrowly focused; theories of Persian prosody predict then that there is a maximal constituent that contains both the subject and the verb as its head. The second is semantic in nature: Bare nouns require an external existential closure operation to be interpreted existentially, and we have to assume existential closure over the VP for our analysis of the interpretation of objects. So, this existential closure would provide the necessary quantificational force for bare noun subjects as well. It is proposed that both subject and object originate within the VP, and can move out to the VP-external domain. The motivation for these movements are informational-structural in nature, relating in particular to the distinctions between given and new information, and default and non-default information structure.

This thesis explores the variable behavior of bare nouns in Persian. Bare singular nouns realize different grammatical functions, including subject, object and indirect object. They receive different interpretations, including generic, definite and existential readings. However, the task of understanding the reasons for, and limits on, this variation cannot be achieved without understanding a number of pivotal features of Persian sentential architecture, including Information Structure, prosody, word order, and the functions of various morphological markers in Persian. After a brief introduction, chapters 2-3 deal with bare noun objects, firstly comparing them with nominals marked with indefinite morpheme -i suffixed to the noun, and the determiner yek. A bare noun object differs from morphologically marked nominals as it shows properties associated with noun incorporation in the literature (chapter 2). Of particular interest are the discourse properties of these ‘quasi-incorporated’ nominals. With respect to the discourse transparency of Incorporated Nominals, Persian belongs to the class of discourse opaque languages within Mithun’s classification (1984). However, under certain circumstances, Persian bare nouns show discourse transparency. These circumstances are examined in chapter 3, and it is proposed that bare nouns do introduce a number neutral discourse referent. There are no overt anaphoric expressions that could match such number-neutral antecedents in Persian. But covert anaphora lack number features, and hence can serve as means to pick up a number-neutral discourse referent. Also, in case world knowledge tells us that the number-neutral discourse referent is anchored to an atomic entity or to a collection, then an overt singular pronoun or an overt plural pronoun might fit the combined linguistic and conceptual requirements, and may be used to pick up the number-neutral discourse referent. This proposal is phrased within Discourse Representation Theory. In the second half of the dissertation, the interpretation of bare nouns in different positions and with different grammatical functions are discussed. Under the independently supported hypothesis of position>interpretation mapping developed by Diesing (1992), we will see the role of the suffix -ra in indicating that an object has been moved out of VP. Following Diesing, I assume that VP-internal variables are subject to an operation of Existential Closure. In many cases, VP-external –ra-marked objects have a different interpretation to their VP-internal, non-ra-marked, counterparts, because of escaping Existential Closure. For subjects, there is no morphological marking corresponding to –ra on objects, and we have to rely on prosody and word order to determine how a VP is interpreted using theories of the interaction of accent and syntactic structure. We assume that VP-internal subjects exist, under two independent but converging assumptions. The first is prosodic in nature: Subjects can be accented without being narrowly focused; theories of Persian prosody predict then that there is a maximal constituent that contains both the subject and the verb as its head. The second is semantic in nature: Bare nouns require an external existential closure operation to be interpreted existentially, and we have to assume existential closure over the VP for our analysis of the interpretation of objects. So, this existential closure would provide the necessary quantificational force for bare noun subjects as well. It is proposed that both subject and object originate within the VP, and can move out to the VP-external domain. The motivation for these movements are informational-structural in nature, relating in particular to the distinctions between given and new information, and default and non-default information structure.

Diese Dissertation untersucht das variable Verhalten von sogenannten „bare nouns“ (Nominale ohne Artikel) im Persischen. Dieses Verhalten kann jedoch nicht verstanden werden ohne eine Reihe von entscheidenden Eigenschaften der persischen Satzstruktur zu betrachten. Dazu gehören Informationsstruktur, Prosodie und Wortstellung, sowie die semantischen und syntaktischen Funktionen verschiedener morphologischer Markierungen im Persischen. Die vorliegende Dissertation kann daher zum besseren Verständnis von satzinterner Syntax, Semantik und Prosodie des Persischen beitragen. Ich beginne meine Untersuchung mit dem Vergleich der BNs in verschiedenen Positionen mit Nominalen, die mit verschiedenen Morphemen gekennzeichnet sind. Die quasi-inkorporierten Nominale im Persischen scheinen zur Klasse der diskursintransparenten inkorporierenden Sprachen zu gehören. Doch dies scheint nicht immer zu stimmen, unter bestimmten Umständen zeigen persische BNs Diskurstransparenz. In Kapitel 3 untersuche ich daher, unter welchen Umständen BNs Diskurstransparenz zeigen und warum. In Kapitel 3 präsentiere ich einen Alternativvorschlag zu Farkas & de Swart, in dem ich darlege, dass ein BN tatsächlich einen neuen Diskursreferenten einführt. Aber der Numerus von BNs ist neutral (numerusneutralen Diskursreferenten).In der zweiten Hälfte der Dissertation wird die Interpretation von BNs in verschiedenen Positionen und mit unterschiedlichen grammatischen Funktionen diskutiert. Kapitel 4 konzentriert sich auf BNs in Objektposition. Wir stellen einen direkten Vergleich an zwischen BNs als tatsächliche BNs, d.h. Nominale, die nicht mit einem Morphem markiert sind, und Kontexten, in denen sie mit dem Morphem -ra auftreten. Ich werde argumentieren, dass -ra lediglich markiert, dass ein BN oder auch ein anderes Nominal nicht in seiner VP-internen Position interpretiert, sondern in eine VP-externe Domäne bewegt wird. Das bedeutet, das Morphem -ra ist ein syntaktisches Morphem auf Phrasenebene. / This thesis explores the variable behavior of bare nouns in Persian. Bare singular nouns realize different grammatical functions, including subject, object and indirect object. They receive different interpretations, including generic, definite and existential readings. However, the task of understanding the reasons for, and limits on, this variation cannot be achieved without understanding a number of pivotal features of Persian sentential architecture, including Information Structure, prosody, word order, and the functions of various morphological markers in Persian. With respect to the discourse transparency of Incorporated Nominals, under certain circumstances, Persian bare nouns show discourse transparency. These circumstances are examined in chapter 3, and it is proposed that bare nouns do introduce a number neutral discourse referent. This proposal is phrased within Discourse Representation Theory. In the second half of the dissertation, the interpretation of bare nouns in different positions and with different grammatical functions are discussed. Under the independently supported hypothesis of position>interpretation mapping developed by Diesing (1992), we will see the role of the suffix -ra in indicating that an object has been moved out of VP. For subjects, there is no morphological marking corresponding to –ra on objects, and we have to rely on prosody and word order to determine how a VP is interpreted using theories of the interaction of accent and syntactic structure. It is proposed that both subject and object originate within the VP, and can move out to the VP-external domain. The motivation for these movements are informational-structural in nature, relating in particular to the distinctions between given and new information, and default and non-default information structure.