Functional Theory and Spanish Plurals [microform] / Diane Ringer Uber
- Bib ID:
- 5488074
- Format:
- Book and Microform
- Author:
- Uber, Diane Ringer
- Online Version:
- https://eric.ed.gov/?id=ED291259
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- Description:
-
- [Washington, D.C.] : Distributed by ERIC Clearinghouse, 1987
- 8 p.
- Summary:
-
Deletion of final /s/ in the Spanish noun phrase (NP) involves the morphological problem of loss of plural markers. A study investigated nominal plural markers in the speech of 20 Cubans representing both sexes and various occupations, ages, educational levels, and geographic areas of the island. Results show very little difference between the rate of /s/ deletion for masculine and feminine NPs, contrasting with previous research findings. Very little redundant use of /s/ or concord within NPs was found, also contrasting with previous findings. A small percentage of NPs were ambiguous with respect to plurality, supporting earlier findings suggesting that context usually disambiguates. These findings support the functional theory, that languages tend to maintain elements containing semantically relevant information, only in a global sense. Claims of functional compensation within the phonology are not supported here, but some aspect of the context (morphological, syntactic, semantic, or pragmatic) generally disambiguates NPs that are phonologically ambiguous with respect to number. Remaining ambiguous NPs are tolerated and probably forgotten. (MSE)
- Notes:
-
- ERIC Note: Paper presented at the Annual Meeting of the Linguistic Society of America (San Francisco, CA, December 27-30, 1987).
- May also be available online. Address as at 14/8/18: https://eric.ed.gov/
- Reproduction:
- Microfiche. [Washington D.C.]: ERIC Clearinghouse microfiches : positive.
- Subject:
- Available From:
- ERIC
- Copyright:
-
In Copyright
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Copyright status was determined using the following information:
- Material type:
- Literary Dramatic Musical
- Published status:
- Published
- Publication date:
- 1987
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