Arguments in favor of a particular decompositional approach to word meaning are presented and contrasted with other theories. The approach in question uses semantic markers to represent word meanings. The semantic marker analysis of English causative verbs is outlined and illustrated, showing how such an analysis could account for the semantic…

The option of verb-final versus verb-second (V2) order in subordinate clauses in German is subject to regularity when discourse context is taken into account. The artificial rule which places the verb at the end of any subordinate clause obliterates the feel for discourse structure that is still present in colloquial German. The option of using V2…

Describes some of the major structural features of the modern Japanese written language as they are manifested at the level of graphology. (FL)

Summarizes changes in the Japanese script from 1900 onwards, emphasizing those made after World War II in an effort to simplify the script. (FL)

Suggests that a factor underlying the complex analysis of prose is amount of elaboration. Reports findings of two experiments supporting this idea. (FL)

Examines the role played by relative clauses in American Sign Language. (FL)

This paper studies the semantic properties of a reciprocal construction in Taiwanese. Specific focus is on the real-world situations that this reciprocal construction may encode. First, the syntactic properties of the reciprocal construction "xiou"-V in Taiwanese, which are different from these in English, are analyzed. Next, various…

Explores the use of topical structure analysis as a way to understand some textual cues that may prompt revision and as a way to describe the effects of revision. Describes the methodology, results, and implications of a study of some of the textual causes and effects of revision. (HTH)

Discusses the general problem of the formal correspondence between predicates and phrases, introducing the principle that the fundamental units of a lexicon are phrases rather than words. Shows that the novelty of this approach consists in an integration of lexicon and syntax and poses particular problems where the noun is concerned. (MES)

Discusses 'rather than' sentences with tensed or untensed verb in second clause as having underlying form of comparative sentences. Concludes 'rather than' preceding a tensed clause represents the truth-functional connective 'and not' which contradicts claim that this connective cannot be represented lexically in natural language and raises…

Examines the syntactic characteristics of Spanish verbs of motion dividing them into two classes, those that designate movement and those that designate both movement and change of place. Analyzes the differences between the two classes by contrasting Spanish and English usage. (MES)

Explores the hypothesis that speech acts cannot be located without bringing in knowledge beyond that of the textual referent itself. Points out that speech acts are made up of sentence context pairs through which one must search for a formal motion of context as a framing of speech activities. (FL)

Discusses the process of understanding of intent by which participants, through the comparative interpretation of a series of cues and symbols as they are revealed in speech, develop categories for a contextual model of communication. Argues that discourse is essentially dialogic and phenomenologically realizable. (FL)

Examples illustrate that there are possible independent meanings of the imperfective, possessing stronger modality than the perfective in the Russian verb system. This is examined in past tense, infinitive, and imperative structures. (PMJ)

Reviews the literature and examines the state of technology for computer based text analysis. The computer capabilities of several available text analysis programs are presented. (Author)