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Unexpressed Subjects in English: An Empirical Analysis of Narrative and Conversational Discourse challenges previous assumptions of what is grammatically possible in English through an examination of contexts in which speakers omit subjects, demonstrating how language structure is influenced by communicative needs.
Through corpus-based analysis of both interactive conversations and monologic narratives, Amy M. Lindstrom reveals how the discourse/pragmatic factors of accessibility and chronological ordering, the prosodic effect of linking, and the mechanical effect of priming intersect to provide a rigorous account of subject (un)expression in spoken American English. Higher degrees of linking, cohesion, and connection lead to more unexpressed subjects. Lindstrom also analyzes frequent constructions with unexpressed subjects vis-à-vis paths of grammaticalization. The author presents a measurement of discourse connectedness that shows how the intersection of prosody and pragmatics illustrates the powerful effect of spontaneous discourse in shaping grammar. This study adds to our understanding of language and cognition by contributing to our knowledge of the conceptualization, categorization, and representation of experience and memory.
Published | Feb 03 2020 |
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Format | Hardback |
Edition | 1st |
Extent | 154 |
ISBN | 9781793604613 |
Imprint | Lexington Books |
Illustrations | 4 b/w illustrations;21 tables; |
Dimensions | 9 x 7 inches |
Publisher | Bloomsbury Publishing |
"This exciting new book is an important contribution to research on morphosyntax and language variation in particular. Lindstrom's extensive research refutes the widespread assumption that English prohibits subject omission by revealing contexts and motivations underlying null subjects. Through careful analysis of both conversations and narratives, Lindstrom furthers our understanding of the ways in which speakers manipulate grammar to achieve communicative goals."--Naomi Shin, University of New Mexico
Naomi Shin, University of New Mexico
"This book makes a substantial contribution to our knowledge about subject expression. Such a detailed analysis of subject expression in English allows linguists to see cross-linguistic parallels in the conditioning of subject expression, which the author carefully and clearly highlights for the reader."--Dora LaCasse, University of Montana
Dora LaCasse, University of Montana
"This book presents a valuable and much needed analysis of how unexpressed subject pronouns in English pattern between the genres of spoken narrative and conversation. Especially interesting is the examination of unexpressed pronouns in spoken discourses, a genre that has been given very little attention within the field of variationist sociolinguistics, but that, as shown in this study, plays an important role to better understand the mechanisms underlying the grammar of language. This monograph offers an extremely thorough review of the literature and contributes to the field by analyzing a yet to explore genre such as variation in spoken language."--Carmen Fernandez Florez, Grand Valley State University
Carmen Fernandez Florez, Grand Valley State University
This book is available on Bloomsbury Collections where your library has access.
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