The Discourse Structuring Potential of Definite Noun Phrases in Natural Discourse
نویسندگان
چکیده
This paper investigates an alternation found with definite noun phrases in direct object position in Romanian that represents a theoretical puzzle for current theories of Differential Object Marking or pe-marking (Dobrovie-Sorin 1994). When in direct object position and unmodified, definite noun phrases can be accompanied either by the differential object marker pe, or by the simple enclitic definite article. In light of the findings of a sentencecontinuation experiment, we show that pe-marking is used for referents that display a high Discourse Structuring Potential (Chiriacescu 2011). We conclude that different types of definite noun phrases do not equally contribute to the Discourse Structuring Potential of their referents. We argue that pe-marked unmodified definite noun phrases display (i) a higher likelihood of subsequent mention (Givón 1983, Ariel 2001, Arnold 2010) and (ii) a higher topic shift potential (Givón 1983).
منابع مشابه
The Discourse Structuring Potential of Definite Noun Phrases in Romanian
This paper investigates an alternation found with definite noun phrases in direct object position in Romanian that represents a theoretical puzzle for current theories of Differential Object Marking in this language (Gramatica Limbii Române 2005, Klein & de Swart 2011). When in direct object position and unmodified, definite noun phrases can be accompanied either by the differential object mark...
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