Building Meaning in Context

Hannah Gibson is Lecturer in Linguistics at the University of Essex, UK. Prior to this, she was a postdoctoral researcher at Osaka University and a British Academy Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Department of Linguistics at SOAS, University of London. Her research is concerned with the description and analysis of linguistic variation - this includes work within the Dynamic Syntax theoretical model, as well as in the fields of syntax, morphosyntax and language contact, with a particular focus on the Bantu languages.

• 1. Introduction 11.1 Aims and objectives 11.2 Scope of the book 32. The Dynamic Syntax framework 52.1 Basic assumptions 52.2 Language of representation: the Logic of Finite Trees 52.3 How trees grow 82.4 Computational rules and tree growth 112.4.1 INTRODUCTION 112.4.2 PREDICTION 122.4.3 THINNING 132.4.4 COMPLETION 142.4.5 ANTICIPATION 152.4.6 ELIMINATION 162.4.7 MERGE 172.5 Structural underspecification 172.5.1 *ADJUNCTION 182.5.2 LOCAL *ADJUNCTION 192.5.3 LATE *ADJUNCTION 202.5.4 LINK ADJUNCTION 212.5.5 Semantic underspecification 222.6 Sample parse of a Swahili sentence 232.7 Summary 263. A dynamic perspective on Bantu clause structure 273.1 Modelling Bantu subject expressions 273.2 Modelling Bantu subject markers 293.3 Modelling Bantu tense-aspect information 333.4 Contribution of the verb stem: structure building and semantics 363.5 Modelling objects and object marking in Bantu languages 393.6 Sample parse of a Rangi sentence 433.7 Summary 464. Underspecification and update: Case studies from Bantu 474.1 The mechanisms of representation 484.1.1 Structural underspecification 484.1.2 Semantic underspecification 504.2 The rebuilding of structure 524.3 The underspecificed verb stem 534.4 Underspecified temporal distinctions 554.5 Underspecification and variant constituent order 604.5.1 Bantu inversion constructions 604.5.2 Bantu passive constructions 644.6 Summary 665. Modelling negation in Bantu: the dynamics of interpretation 685.1 Previous accounts of negation in DS 695.2 Negation in Bantu 735.3 Modelling negation in Swahili 755.3.1 Sentential negation in Swahili main clauses 755.3.2 Negation in Swahili non-main clause contexts 795.4 Modelling negation in Rangi 815.4.1 Rangi main clause negation 815.4.2 Rangi non-main clause negation 825.4.3 The Rangi negative copula 845.5 Capturing the historical development of Bantu negation markers 875.6 Summary 896. Modelling auxiliary placement in Rangi 916.1 Bantu auxiliary constructions 916.2 Modelling Rangi auxiliary constructions 936.2.1 Modelling the Rangi verb-auxiliary order 1006.3 Modelling the Rangi auxiliary placement alternation 1066.3.1 Content questions 1076.3.2 Sentential negation 1106.3.3 Relative clauses 1136.3.4 Cleft constructions 1156.3.5 Subordinate clauses 1166.4 Summary 1177. Cross-linguistic parallels: Parsing dynamics beyond Bantu 1197.1 Constraining underspecification: the Unique Unfixed Node Constraint 1197.1.1 Clitic placement in Medieval Spanish and Modern Greek 1217.1.2 Cleft constructions and multiple foci in Japanese 1237.1.3 Multiple object marking in Bantu 1257.1.4 Word order variation in Japanese and Korean 1277.2 Summary 1338. Conclusion 1358.1 Summary 1368.2 Concluding remarks 136Index