Showing papers in "Journal of Greek Linguistics in 2000"

On the left periphery: Modal particles and complementisers

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is twofold: first, to provide a unified account of the particles þa, na and as in Greek, and second, to refine the articulated CP structure of Rizzi (1997). To this end, it is argued that þa, na, and as occupy the lower C head, which is specified for modality. The particles na and as further raise to a higher C head (partly similar to Rizzi’s Force), thus differing from þa. The distribution of topic and focus in relation to the particles and the typical complementisers oti and an is used as evidence for the postulation of an additional C head characterised as a subordinator/connector, typically occupied by the complementiser pu and optionally by oti and an. The resulting structure differs from Rizzi’s (1997) in that it provides a tripartite C structure and places FocusP/TopicP between the two higher C heads. In the light of this analysis we also consider the position of negation, as well as the position of the verb in imperatives and gerunds.

The phonetics of stress in Greek

Abstract: This paper reports on two experiments that investigate the acoustic correlates of primary stress in Greek. The results clearly show that the most robust correlate is amplitude integral, a measurement that combines those of duration and (average) amplitude, and thus is closer to the perceptual property of prominence that characterises stressed syllables. The paper also discusses the role of pitch in signalling stress, by presenting new and re-analysing existing data on this issue. The significance of the present results for our understanding of Greek rhythmic structure is briefly discussed.

Review article:Greek syntax: A principles and parameters perspective

Abstract: The last decades have seen a particular growth of syntactic studies in Greek from different aspects within the principles and parameters framework In this article we present an overview of the main areas of investigation Reasons of space prevent us from an exhaustive presentation of all the issues examined in the literature In what follows, we concentrate mainly on topics that have attracted a lot of attention in the more recent literature (see also the presentation in Theophanopoulou-Kontou 1994; Drachman et al 1997; Alexiadou, Horrocks & Stavrou 1999)

Islands and LF-movement in Greek sluicing

Abstract: This paper investigates the interaction of island insensitivities and form-identity effects in sluicing, and examines the consequences of these for the architecture of ellipsis resolution. On the basis of a number of novel facts from Greek, it is argued that current approaches, both PF-deletion and LF-copying, are inadequate. The present data instead motivate a revised LF-copying approach which relies on the scoping movement of indefinites at LF and þ-chain uniformity.

Gerunds in Greek

Abstract: This paper discusses the properties of Greek V-ondas forms, referred to as gerunds in Holton et al. (1997). It is argued that the clauses in which they occur are adjuncts with a reduced functional structure. Their temporal interpretation will be shown to illustrate the underspecified status of the features of the V-ondas complex as well as the truncated structure of the clause in which it occurs. The position and interpretation of subjects of gerunds will be argued to follow from (a) the inflectional underspecification of gerunds and (b) the pragmatic nature of control.

Crosslinguistic semantics and the study of Greek

Abstract: This paper describes and assesses the flow of ‘Greek semantics’, i.e. the study of semantic phenomena in the grammar of Greek, and of its syntax-semantics interface. Semantic studies of Greek started appearing in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s, and have been quite plentiful since then, with a well-defined formal semantic orientation in the 1990’s. The major topics in Greek semantics are discussed, including mood choice, sentential complementation, negation and polarity, tense-aspect modality, and ellipsis. Emphasis is given to how the semantic study of Greek connects to the larger crosslinguistic picture; more often than not, the results based on Greek call for modification of existing theories, and are shown to have significant theoretical implications for the overall design of grammar and, especially, the relation between morphology/syntax and semantics.

Verb lexicons in SLI: Some experimental data from Modern Greek

Abstract: The aim of this study is to investigate the verb lexicons of Greek children with SLI on the basis of experimental data from production and comprehension tasks. Two groups of children participated in the experiments: one group of 4 SLI children and one control group of normally developing children matched on chronological age. As the production data analysis indicates, SLI children use a limited verb lexicon comprising a considerable number of light verbs that were often used in a non-adult fashion. Despite the apparent differences between SLI children’s verb production and that of the control group, it is argued that the verb lexicons of SLI children are compatible with the adult verb system in Modern Greek. Based on comprehension data, it is suggested that SLI children’s problems in verb production can be attributed to difficulties in verb retrieval rather than to completely impaired lexical representations.