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Coercion without Lexical Decomposition: Type-Shifting Effects Revisited

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 June 2016

Roberto G. de Almeida  and
Veena D. Dwivedi
Roberto G. de Almeida
Affiliation:
Concordia University
Veena D. Dwivedi
Affiliation:
Brock University
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Abstract

Recently, there has been a surge of psycholinguistic research on the interpretation of type-shifting constructions. We evaluate some of the theoretical and empirical research in this area and propose a reassessment of the nature of type-shifting operations.

We argue, in particular, for a structural gap in type-shifting constructions, motivated mainly by the restructuring nature of the verbs employed. We also argue that the putative underspecification (or indeterminacy) of type-shifting constructions is resolved via pragmatic inferences.

Résumé

Résumé

Ces dernières années, la recherche en psycholinguiste a témoigné d’un d’intérêt grandissant pour l’interprétation des constructions qui impliquent un changement de type. Nous évaluons ici les recherches théoriques et empiriques dans ce domaine et nous proposons une réévaluation de la nature de ces opérations.

Nous proposons en particulier une position vide dans ces constructions et nous faisons appel au processus de restructuration de certains verbes pour rendre compte de leur utilisation dans ces constructions. De plus, nous proposons que la soi-disante sous-spécification (ou l’indétermination) de ces constructions est résolue par des inférences pragmatiques.

Type
Articles
Information
Canadian Journal of Linguistics/Revue canadienne de linguistique , Volume 53 , Issue 2-3 , November 2008 , pp. 301 - 326
Copyright
Copyright © Canadian Linguistic Association/Association canadienne de linguistique 2008 

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