Article published in:
Investigations of the Syntax–Semantics–Pragmatics InterfaceEdited by Robert D. Van Valin Jr.
[Studies in Language Companion Series 105] 2008
► pp. 413–434
Unmarked transitivity
A processing constraint on linking
Ina Bornkessel-Schlesewsky | Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences, Leipzig
Matthias Schlesewsky | Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz
Recent experimental evidence suggests that a prototypical concept of transitive events (“unmarked transitivity”), which has proven a useful descriptive notion in language typological research, also plays a crucial role during real time language comprehension. In this chapter, we review neurocognitive evidence for unmarked transitivity from both a neuroanatomical (spatial) and neurophysiological (temporal) perspective. We further show how unmarked transitivity, which we characterise as the default realisation of a more general requirement for argument distinctness, can be integrated into a comprehensive model of cross-linguistic language comprehension. Finally, we discuss possible consequences of the comprehension findings for theoretical characterisations of language architecture, with a particular focus on Role and Reference Grammar.
Published online: 21 November 2008
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.105.29bor
https://doi.org/10.1075/slcs.105.29bor
Cited by
Cited by 6 other publications
No author info given
Bornkessel-Schlesewsky, Ina & Matthias Schlesewsky
Bornkessel-Schlesewsky, Ina & Matthias Schlesewsky
Dröge, Alexander, Laura Maffongelli & Ina Bornkessel-Schlesewsky
Roehm, Dietmar, Antonella Sorace & Ina Bornkessel-Schlesewsky
Wang, Luming, Matthias Schlesewsky, Markus Philipp & Ina Bornkessel-Schlesewsky
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 23 february 2021. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.