From Discourse to Logic

This paper presents an experimental study on the interpretation of plural pronoun they in discourse, and offers an answer to two questions. The first question is whether the anaphoric interpretation of they corresponds to that of its antecedent NP(maximal interpretation), or by the “whole” previous sentence (reference interpretation). The second question is whether speakers may access only one interpretation or both, although at different “moments” in discourse. The answers to these questions suggest that an accurate logical and psychological model of anaphora resolution includes two principles. A first principle finds a “default” interpretation, a second principle determines when the “alternative” interpretation can (and must) be accessed.

The Interpretation of Plural Pronouns in Discourse: The Case of They

This paper presents an experimental study on the interpretation of the complement anaphora the others in inter-sentential discourse. It aims to offer an answer to the following two empirical questions. First, how complement anaphora denote the “complement set”, a set of referents that includes those referents not denoted by the matching anaphoric antecedent. Second, what are the exact interpretation principles that govern the anaphoric potential of complement anaphora. The answers to these two questions shed light on how complement anaphora fit into a broader theory of anaphora resolution, and what is the most accurate logical and psychological model of this aspect of grammar.

Nobuagi Akagi

Papers

The Interpretation of Plural Pronouns in Discourse: The Case of They

The Interpretation of Complement Anaphorae: the case of The Others