Strong and Weak Readings in the Domain of Worlds: A Negative Polar Modal and Children's Scope Assignment
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| Title: | Strong and Weak Readings in the Domain of Worlds: A Negative Polar Modal and Children's Scope Assignment |
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| Language: | English |
| Authors: | Koring, Loes (ORCID |
| Source: | Journal of Psycholinguistic Research. Dec 2018 47(6):1193-1217. |
| Availability: | Springer. Available from: Springer Nature. 233 Spring Street, New York, NY 10013. Tel: 800-777-4643; Tel: 212-460-1500; Fax: 212-348-4505; e-mail: customerservice@springernature.com; Web site: https://link.springer.com/ |
| Peer Reviewed: | Y |
| Page Count: | 25 |
| Publication Date: | 2018 |
| Document Type: | Journal Articles Reports - Research |
| Descriptors: | Language Processing, Psycholinguistics, Indo European Languages, Young Children, Task Analysis, Sentence Structure, Semantics, Linguistic Theory, Ambiguity (Semantics) |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10936-018-9573-8 |
| ISSN: | 0090-6905 |
| Abstract: | This study investigates children's interpretation of sentences with two logical operators: Dutch universal modal "hoeven" and negation ("niet"). In adult Dutch, "hoeven" is an NPI that necessarily scopes under negation, giving rise to a NOT > NECESSARY reading. The findings from a hidden-object task with 5- and 6-year-old children showed that children's performance is suggestive of an interpretation of sentences with "hoeft niet" in which the modal scopes over negation (NECESSARY > NOT). This is in line with the Semantic Subset Principle that dictates that children should opt for the strongest possible reading in case of potential scope ambiguities. The full pattern of results, however, seems to be determined, in addition, by a particular strategy children use when facing uncertainty called Premature Closure. |
| Abstractor: | As Provided |
| Number of References: | 74 |
| Entry Date: | 2018 |
| Accession Number: | EJ1196302 |
| Database: | ERIC |
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| Abstract: | This study investigates children's interpretation of sentences with two logical operators: Dutch universal modal "hoeven" and negation ("niet"). In adult Dutch, "hoeven" is an NPI that necessarily scopes under negation, giving rise to a NOT > NECESSARY reading. The findings from a hidden-object task with 5- and 6-year-old children showed that children's performance is suggestive of an interpretation of sentences with "hoeft niet" in which the modal scopes over negation (NECESSARY > NOT). This is in line with the Semantic Subset Principle that dictates that children should opt for the strongest possible reading in case of potential scope ambiguities. The full pattern of results, however, seems to be determined, in addition, by a particular strategy children use when facing uncertainty called Premature Closure. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 0090-6905 |
| DOI: | 10.1007/s10936-018-9573-8 |
