Open AccessTwo types of NP preposing in French
Author(s) -
Anne Abeillé,
Danièle Godard,
Frédéric Sabio
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
proceedings of the international conference on head-driven phrase structure grammar
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
ISSN - 1535-1793
DOI - 10.21248/hpsg.2008.18
Subject(s) - pragmatics , linguistics , computer science , grammar , syntax , phonology , semantics (computer science) , construction grammar , head driven phrase structure grammar , natural language processing , theme (computing) , generative grammar , artificial intelligence , programming language , philosophy , operating system
We contrast two types of sentences with a preposed NP in French in a constructionbased HPSG grammar. They differ with respect to different grammatical aspects(syntax, semantics, pragmatics and phonology), which cluster uniquely intoconstructions. Both are colloquial, a reason why they have been recognized onlyrecently (see Zribi-Hertz 1986, 1996, Sabio 1995, 2006). Accordingly, we rely forthe data on spoken corpora (Corpaix, CFRP) as well as on our intuitions. Bothconstructions involve a partitioned semantics but this mode of composition isassociated with different effects. One construction is characterized semantically: thepreposed NP is the theme of a categorical proposition. The other construction ischaracterized pragmatically: it is associated with an independent declarative clause, atypical use of which is to signal a break in the interaction.