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The emergence of embedded structure: insights from Kafr Qasem Sign Language

This paper introduces data from Kafr Qasem Sign Language (KQSL), an as-yet undescribed sign language, and identifies the earliest indications of embedding in this young language. Using semantic and prosodic criteria, we identify predicates that form a constituent with a noun, functionally modifying...

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Autores principales: Kastner, Itamar, Meir, Irit, Sandler, Wendy, Dachkovsky, Svetlana
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Frontiers Media S.A. 2014
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4042080/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24917837
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00525
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author Kastner, Itamar
Meir, Irit
Sandler, Wendy
Dachkovsky, Svetlana
author_facet Kastner, Itamar
Meir, Irit
Sandler, Wendy
Dachkovsky, Svetlana
author_sort Kastner, Itamar
collection PubMed
description This paper introduces data from Kafr Qasem Sign Language (KQSL), an as-yet undescribed sign language, and identifies the earliest indications of embedding in this young language. Using semantic and prosodic criteria, we identify predicates that form a constituent with a noun, functionally modifying it. We analyze these structures as instances of embedded predicates, exhibiting what can be regarded as very early stages in the development of subordinate constructions, and argue that these structures may bear directly on questions about the development of embedding and subordination in language in general. Deutscher (2009) argues persuasively that nominalization of a verb is the first step—and the crucial step—toward syntactic embedding. It has also been suggested that prosodic marking may precede syntactic marking of embedding (Mithun, 2009). However, the relevant data from the stage at which embedding first emerges have not previously been available. KQSL might be the missing piece of the puzzle: a language in which a noun can be modified by an additional predicate, forming a proposition within a proposition, sustained entirely by prosodic means.
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spelling pubmed-40420802014-06-10 The emergence of embedded structure: insights from Kafr Qasem Sign Language Kastner, Itamar Meir, Irit Sandler, Wendy Dachkovsky, Svetlana Front Psychol Psychology This paper introduces data from Kafr Qasem Sign Language (KQSL), an as-yet undescribed sign language, and identifies the earliest indications of embedding in this young language. Using semantic and prosodic criteria, we identify predicates that form a constituent with a noun, functionally modifying it. We analyze these structures as instances of embedded predicates, exhibiting what can be regarded as very early stages in the development of subordinate constructions, and argue that these structures may bear directly on questions about the development of embedding and subordination in language in general. Deutscher (2009) argues persuasively that nominalization of a verb is the first step—and the crucial step—toward syntactic embedding. It has also been suggested that prosodic marking may precede syntactic marking of embedding (Mithun, 2009). However, the relevant data from the stage at which embedding first emerges have not previously been available. KQSL might be the missing piece of the puzzle: a language in which a noun can be modified by an additional predicate, forming a proposition within a proposition, sustained entirely by prosodic means. Frontiers Media S.A. 2014-06-03 /pmc/articles/PMC4042080/ /pubmed/24917837 http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00525 Text en Copyright © 2014 Kastner, Meir, Sandler and Dachkovsky. http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
spellingShingle Psychology
Kastner, Itamar
Meir, Irit
Sandler, Wendy
Dachkovsky, Svetlana
The emergence of embedded structure: insights from Kafr Qasem Sign Language
title The emergence of embedded structure: insights from Kafr Qasem Sign Language
title_full The emergence of embedded structure: insights from Kafr Qasem Sign Language
title_fullStr The emergence of embedded structure: insights from Kafr Qasem Sign Language
title_full_unstemmed The emergence of embedded structure: insights from Kafr Qasem Sign Language
title_short The emergence of embedded structure: insights from Kafr Qasem Sign Language
title_sort emergence of embedded structure: insights from kafr qasem sign language
topic Psychology
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4042080/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24917837
http://dx.doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2014.00525
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