Discusses the logical approach to information retrieval that treats retrieval as inference, considers probabilistic models for text retrieval, and presents an approach for combining Datalog (a variant of Horn predicate logic) with probabilistic theory using intentional semantics with logical rules. Discusses syntax and semantics and compares this…

Presents evidence that argument structure is not a semantic but a syntactic level of representation. Evidence is based on the distinction between primary and secondary objects found in languages such as Chichewa. Concludes that because argument structure must express the distinction between primary and secondary objects, it follows that argument…

In setting up a formal system to specify a grammar formalism, the conventional (mathematical) wisdom is to start with primitives (basic primitive structures) as simple as possible, and then introduce various operations for constructing more complex structures. An alternate approach is to start with complex (more complicated) primitives, which…

Deviances in early event-related potential (ERP) components reflecting auditory and phonological processing are well-documented in children at familial risk for dyslexia. However, little is known about brain responses which index processing in other linguistic domains such as lexicon, semantics and syntax in this group. The present study…

Language is a fantastic gift: it empowers humans to create new ways of speaking with, for and to others about any topic or experience. Language is a rule-governed, meaningful communication system. It is a symbol system, where a word or phrase stands for or represents something else that can be touched, thought about, seen, heard, felt, done,…

Individuals with agrammatic aphasia may have difficulty with verb production in comparison to nouns. Additionally, they may have greater difficulty producing verbs that have fewer semantic components (i.e., are semantically "light") compared to verbs that have greater semantic weight. A connectionist verb-production model proposed by Gordon and…

The notions of categorical selection (c-selection) and semantic selection (s-selection) as outlined in recent research on generative grammar are discussed. The first section addresses the type of selectional constraint imposed on English small clauses (e.g., "John considers [Mary smart]"). In the second section, it is suggested that the constraint…

The spontaneous use of two deictic forms in the speech of Samoan children was examined. Recordings were made of four Samoan children interacting with their families at monthly intervals over a ten-month period. The children were approximately 2 years old at the start of the study. The speech elements examined were the particles signifying…

The form and function of conditional structures in the speech of English speaking children between the ages of 2;6 and 8 years were investigated. Two types of conditionals were distinguished: reality conditionals and unreality conditionals. Data were obtained from audiotapes of the subjects under naturalistic conditions. A five-stage acquisition…

Calls "pro-words" those which refer to a preceding substantive. They are (1) pronouns, (2) pronominal adverbs - "dadurch,""hiermit,""wofur," etc., and (3) pro-adverbs - "dort,""dann," etc. Both (2) and (3) stand for combinations of preposition plus preceding substantive; (3) does this only semantically, while (2) marks the relation overtly. (Text…

It is suggested that invited inference is a case of valid inference by saying that English "if...then" sentences are logically ambigous. The ambiguity of "if...then" sentences may be related syntactically or semantically to "or.""Or,""if...then," and "and" all invite inferences. (SC)

Semantic neology is studied, and the theories of several linguistis on neology are examined. Particular emphasis is placed on the work of Noam Chomsky. (Text is in French.) (PMP)

This bibliography of generative-based grammatical analyses of Spanish provides an enumerative supplemental listing of entries not included in two recently published annotated, critical bibliographies (Nuessel, 1978, 1979). The majority of the entries of this supplemental document cover the period of 1976-1979, but a few entries date before 1976.…

In considering the problems foreign students have with the determiners "the,""a/an,""some," and "all" (for which zero-determiner may be substituted), the author observes: (1) The semantic classifications of nouns often seem quite arbitrary to the foreigner. (2) There is always some minimal linguistic or…

The purpose of this experiment was to determine if subjects who were unaware that a phrase has been deleted from a sentence could match the deleted phrase in both semantic content and syntactic position. Subjects were required to complete one of two blanks in a sentence with a prepositional phrase. Instructions stressed that these completions…