Evaluating the predictions of three syntactic frameworks for mixed determiner–noun constructions

Eppler, Eva Duran; Luescher, Adrian; Deuchar, Margaret

doi:10.1515/cllt-2015-0006

Cited by 7 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 26 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…while features are important (as in the lexicalist/generative view), we should also consider abandoning a strict version of lexicalism and adopting constructionist approaches (cf. Eppler et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From a theoretical standpoint, the results of this experiment cannot be accounted for by neither the MP nor the MLF model on their own, and thus provide motivation for a re-formulation of our current understanding of the mechanisms underlying the acceptability of code-switched sentences that goes beyond those two popular models. This reformulation may stem from combining the insights of the two frameworks instead of considering them in isolation (see Eppler et al 2016), or by espousing a probabilistic model of code switching (e.g. Bresnan, 2007;Bresnan, et al, 2004;Koostra, et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Instead of supporting one theory over another, our results point to a model where insights from different frameworks are combined: while features are important (as in the lexicalist/generative view), we should also consider abandoning a strict version of lexicalism and adopting constructionist approaches (cf. Eppler et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, scholars do not agree on the best theoretical account of these regularities. Recently, an interest has emerged in evaluating the predictions of theoretical models to try to disentangle between theoretical predictions (see Blokzijl, Deuchar, & Parafita Couto, 2017;Eppler, Luescher, & Deuchar, 2017;Fairchild & Van Hell, 2017;Herring, Deuchar, Parafita Couto, & Moro Quintanilla, 2010;Parafita Couto, Boutonnet, Hoshino, Davies, Deuchar, & Thierry, 2017;Parafita Couto, Deuchar, & Fusser, 2015;Parafita Couto & Gullberg, 2017;vanden Wyngaerd, 2017). These researchers have shown that different theories account for some aspects of the observed data, but there is no overarching theory that can explain all the code-switching patterns.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…As described above, the formulation of these theoretical models that attempt to describe and predict code-switching behavior in bilinguals has mainly relied on naturalistic corpora analysis and Likert scale ratings. Multiple studies (Eppler et al, 2017;Herring et al, 2010, Parafita Couto et al, 2015Parafita Couto & Gullberg, 2017) have cited corpus data with no definitive conclusion with regards to constraints on word order within code-switched noun phrases, either between the determiner and the noun or between the noun and the adjective. This situation highlights a limitation of corpus data: despite its descriptive richness and ecological validity, it is not probative in nature.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Testing alternative theoretical accounts of code-switching: Insights from comparative judgments of adjective–noun order

Stadthagen-González

Couto

Párraga

et al. 2017

International Journal of Bilingualism

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Spanish and English contrast in adjective-noun word order: e.g. brown dress (English) vs. vestido marrón ('dress brown', Spanish). According to the Matrix Language model (Myers-Scotton, 2002; MLF) word order in code-switched sentences must be compatible with the word order of the matrix language, but working within the Minimalist program, Cantone and MacSwan (2009; MP) arrived at the descriptive generalization that the position of the Noun Phrase (NP) relative to the adjective is determined by the adjective's language. Our aim is to evaluate the predictions derived from these two models regarding adjective-noun order in Spanish/English code-switched sentences. Methodology: We contrasted the predictions from both models regarding the acceptability of code-switched sentences with different adjective-noun orders that were compatible with the MP, the MLF, both, or none. Acceptability was assessed in Experiment 1 with a 5-point Likert and in Experiment 2 with a two-alternative forced choice (2AFC) task. Data and analysis: Data from both experiments were subjected to Linear Mixed Model analyses. Results from the 2AFC task were also analyzed using Thurstone's (1927) Law of Comparative Judgment. Conclusions: We found an additive effect in which both the language of the verb and the language of the adjective determine word order. Originality: Both experiments examine noun-adjective word order in English/Spanish codeswitched sentences. Experiment 2 represents a novel application of Thurstone's Law of Comparative Judgements to the study of linguistic acceptability which yielded clearer results than Likert scales. We found convincing evidence that neither the MLF nor the MP can fully account for the acceptability of noun-adjective switches. Implications: We suggest that advances in our understanding of grammaticality in codeswitching will be achieved by combining the insights of the two frameworks instead of considering them in isolation (Eppler et al. 2016), or by espousing a probabilistic model of code switching (e.g. Bresnan, 2007).

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Testing alternative theoretical accounts of code-switching: Insights from comparative judgments of adjective–noun order

Stadthagen-González

Couto

Párraga

et al. 2017

International Journal of Bilingualism

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

How to mix

Cacoullos

Dion

LaCasse

et al. 2021

LAB

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The widespread occurrence of nouns in one language with a determiner in the other, often referred to as mixed NPs, has generated much theorizing. Since both a formal syntactic account based on abstract features of the determiner and an account highlighting the notion of a Matrix language yield largely the same predictions, we assess how the tenets of each play out in speaker choices. The data derive from a massive corpus of spontaneous nominal mixes, produced by bilinguals in New Mexico, where bidirectional code-switching is the norm. Bilinguals’ choices concern (1) NP status (mixed vs. unmixed); (2) mixing type (limited-item vs. multi-word); and (3) noun language (here, English vs. Spanish). Results show that the community preference is for mixed NPs, independent of the theoretical felicity dictated by determiner language properties. These NPs are mostly constituted of limited-item lone nouns, again regardless of noun language, such that the language of the determiner and any associated verb is perforce that of the local discourse. Finally, the overwhelming choice is for English lone nouns incorporated into Spanish, and hence for a Spanish determiner. The language of the determiner proceeds, not from abstract linguistic properties, but from adherence to bilingual speech community conventions.

show abstract