Head (linguistics)

About: Head (linguistics) is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 2540 publications have been published within this topic receiving 29023 citations. The topic is also known as: nucleus.

On the Separation and Relatedness of Classifiers, Number, and Individuation in Niuean *

Abstract: This paper focuses on the role of number in Niuean, an Austronesian language in the Tongic subgroup of the Polynesian family. It is argued that the concepts of individuation, classification, and number are separable, even though they overlap significantly, as argued by Borer (2005). Number (i.e. singular/plural) must be expressed in the Niuean noun phrase, but it can be expressed on a variety of different elements in the phrase, such as on a quantifier, a numeral, or the reduplicated noun itself, or by means of a plural marker. The following question is addressed: Is it possible to situate number in a single functional head in Niuean? The answer is yes, but several problems must first be addressed. In order to explain the lack of the plural particle in quantified and counted nominal phrases, it is proposed that the linking particle that appears in such phrases be analyzed as a deficient classifier. This allows a uniform analysis for number: Niuean, like Armenian, has both a classifier and a number system. The paper then turns to examine certain classifying collective particles, which co-occur with the plural marker. These are considered to merge lower than number, but if number is otherwise unexpressed, they can raise to serve the function of number. The number marker itself is analyzed as being ambiguous between a number and a collective particle. In conclusion, neither the number system, nor the classifier system in Niuean is canonical, suggesting a system in change from classifiers to number.

Clausal nominalization as relativization strategy in chimariko

Abstract: Nominalization has been described as an accompanying property or strategy for relativization, in particular for internally headed relative clauses and for headless or free relative clauses (Andrews 2007, Comrie and Thompson 2007, Keenan 1985, and Shibatani 2009) Comrie and Thompson (2007:379) claim that there are no formal distinctions between nominalization and relativization in certain languages, while Shibatani further argues that what have been mistakenly identified as relative clauses in some languages are in fact nominalizations, since they are neither syntactically nor semantically dependent on the nominal head they modify (2009:163) This paper establishes that Chimariko, an extinct language of Northern California, uses clausal nominalization as a relativization strategy, similar to what has been found for Diegueno, Mojave, Wappo, Quechua, and many other languages In Chimariko, relative clauses are subordinate restrictive clauses which are either internally headed or headless They include the f

Lessons learned by those prepared to greet chance head on.

Abstract: With such an inspirational message, is it any wonder that Oh, the Places You’ll Go!, Dr Seuss’ final publication, became one of the best-selling children’s books of all time? Although I am not one to argue with genius, if I were to be totally honest, I would have to admit that my views on the sentiment expressed are self-contradictory. It’s a message that I believe worth promoting even while I consider its content to be a flight of fantasy.

The Resetting of the Head Direction Parameter

Abstract: This study aims to investigate the availability of the head direction parameter to Korean learners of English to find out how learners learn the head direction of English phrases in the EFL classroom. 95 intermediate and beginner students in their first year of middle school in Korea completed production and comprehension tasks. The results showed that the head final strategy is used more often than other interlanguage strategies when the head initial strategy is not available, which tends to show that the head parameter is reset through L1 values. In addition, the production task also proved that the acquisition of the VP head direction is accompanied by the acquisition of the NP, PP and AP head directions. In contrast, the participants showed a strong tendency of applying the head final strategy in translating English sentences in comprehension tasks. One possible explanation for this discrepancy between the production and comprehension tasks is that the interference of the Korean head final structure lets students decide the noun before the head is the compliment of the head. The pedagogical implication drawn from this study is that the head direction should be taught to beginners particularly in communicative classrooms.

Over-the-head CPR.

Abstract: To the Editor: We read with interest the paper investigating over-the-head cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) as an alternative to standard CPR (1). The study supports our (2) and others (3) findings in demonstrating equivalence for chest compressions. However, the statement that over-the-head CPR delivers superior ventilation is not supported by their data and is misleading. The authors compared mouthto-mouth and bag-valve-mask ventilation. The authors defined correct tidal volumes as 400–800 mL. This contrasts with current international guidelines which recommend “tidal volumes of 10 mL/kg (approximately 700 –1000 mL) for adult cardiac arrest victims” (4). Experimental studies show that small-volume ( 500 mL) ventilation with room or expired air causes significant hypoxia and hypercapnia compared with larger (1000 mL) tidal volumes (5–7). The ventilations classified as incorrect in their paper may have been correct (i.e., 700 –1000 mL) or vice versa. To conclude that over-thehead CPR is superior to standard CPR is erroneous and not proven. It would be interesting to know the average tidal volumes for each technique— data collected by the manikin used in their study. We are surprised that a professional rescue organization tasked with responding to out-of-hospital cardiac arrests advocates mouth-tomouth ventilation. As the authors recognize, there are small but significant risks with this practice. Mouth-to-mask ventilation reduces the risk of cross-infection and allows supplemental oxygen insufflation. In our study we evaluated this technique and found no difference in tidal volumes between over-thehead and standard CPR. In summary, in our opinion, the methodological limitations of this study preclude concluding that over-the-head CPR is superior to standard CPR.