Gert Webelhuth

Government and Binding Theory and the Minimalist Program

Introduction: Gert Webelhuth (University of North Carolina). 1. X--Bar Theory and Case Theory: Gert Webelhuth (University of North Carolina). 2. Theta Theory: Edwin Williams: (Princeton University). 3. Logical Form: C. T. James Huang (University of California, Irvine). 4. Binding Theory, Control and Pro: Wayne Harbert (Cornell University). 5. The Empty Category Principle: Norbert Hornstein & Amy Weinberg (University of Maryland). 6. Morphosyntax: Randall Hendrick (University of North Carolina). 7. The Minimalist Program: Alec Marantz (M. I. T.). 8. Bare Phrase Structure: Noam Chomsky (M. I. T.).

A Lexical-Functional Analysis of Predicate Topicalization in German

In this paper we examine the topicalization paradigm for ten different verbal constructions in German. We argue that a uniform explanation for the observed behaviors follows from the interpretation of the relevant expressions as (parts of) lexical representations. To this end we motivate a revision of Functional Uncertainty as proposed in Kaplan and Zaenen 1989 to account for filler/gap relations in long-distance dependencies. We assume with the original formulation of this principle that topicalized elements share values with the (grammatical) function status of an entity an indeterminate distance away. We appeal to the inventory of functions posited within LEXICAL-FUNCTIONAL GRAMMAR (LFG), inclusive of the frequently neglected PREDICATE function, which, we argue, is associated with both simple and complex predicates. In addition we show that topicalization, given this function-based proposal, should not be limited to maximal categories. We argue that the need to posit a PREDICATE function for German topicalization is supported by an independent line of research within LFG concerning the analysis of complex predicates. For this purpose we employ the proposals of T. Mohanan (1990/1994), which argue for the independence of the construct PREDICATE from its categorial realization. We show that this type of proposal extends to provide a uniform account of the German topicalization paradigm. This permits us to explain the similarities and differences in the behaviors of various sorts of predicators as well as certain idiomatic expressions interpreted as complex predicates.

Motivating non-canonicality in Construction Grammar: The case of locative inversion

Abstract This article discusses the English construction variously known as Locative Inversion or Stylistic Inversion. It shows that the construction displays a unique ensemble of grammatical and usage properties that can be stated but not motivated through purely grammatical means. In search of an explanatory approach, an analysis is presented that draws on concepts of Artificial Intelligence, in particular plans viewed as complex mental attitudes. It is claimed that utterances of Locative Inversion are associated with a particular communicative plan on the speakers part that motivates the grammatical and usage properties of the construction where grammar alone cannot. The final section of the article presents corpus examples showing that Locative Inversion is indeed used in the contexts predicted by the plan associated with the construction. This result is both theoretically and methodologically significant, insofar as it constitutes a case where the grammatical properties of a syntactic construction are better explained through its typical conditions of use than through grammatical means proper.

Constraining User Response via Multimodal Dialog Interface

This paper presents the results of an experiment comparing two different designs of an automated dialog interface. We compare a multimodal design utilizing text displays coordinated with spoken prompts to a voice-only version of the same application. Our results show that the text-coordinated version is more efficient in terms of word recognition and number of out-of-grammar responses, and is equal to the voice-only version in terms of user satisfaction. We argue that this type of multimodal dialog interface effectively constrains user response to allow for better speech recognition without increasing cognitive load or compromising the naturalness of the interaction.