Calgary (Working) Papers in Linguisticshttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/1000402024-03-28T21:16:47Z2024-03-28T21:16:47Z2051Calgary Working Papers in Linguistics, Volume 32, Spring 2022Nelson, BrettCAbdalla, SummerBoyede, CharlesGoddard, QuinnXu, Kanghttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/1144932023-09-22T17:18:10Z2022-03-01T00:00:00Zdc.title: Calgary Working Papers in Linguistics, Volume 32, Spring 2022
dc.contributor.author: Nelson, BrettC; Abdalla, Summer; Boyede, Charles; Goddard, Quinn; Xu, Kang
dc.description.abstract: We, the editors, are pleased to present the thirty-second volume of the Calgary Working Papers in Linguistics (CWPL). CWPL is a publication affiliated with the School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures and Cultures (SLLLC) at the University of Calgary, focusing on recent and ongoing work in linguistics and related disciplines by researchers affiliated with the University of Calgary. This and all previous volumes of CWPL since Volume 1 (originally published in print in 1975) are digitally stored in PRISM: The University of Calgary Digital Repository and can be accessed at: http://dspace.ucalgary.ca/handle/1880/. Before further discussing the papers in this volume, we would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge that the University of Calgary and city of Calgary, called Mohkinstsis in Blackfoot, exists within the traditional territories of the people of the Treaty 7 region in Southern Alberta, which includes the Blackfoot Confederacy (comprising the Siksika, Piikani, and Kainai First Nations), the Tsuut’ina First Nation, and the Stoney Nakoda (including the Chiniki, Bearspaw, and Wesley First Nations). The city of Calgary is also home to members of Métis Nation of Alberta, Region 3. Each paper submitted to Volume 32 has been reviewed and edited by two editors, all graduate students of linguistics at the University of Calgary. It should be noted that the papers published in CWPL represent works in progress and should not be considered as final or definitive papers. Therefore, publication in CWPL does not preclude submission of further revisions of the same papers to another journal or publication. Volume 32 contains three papers from both undergraduate and graduate students at the SLLLC. These papers explore topics in phonology, dialectology, nominal syntax, and particle syntax. The languages featured in this volume include Spanish and Mandarin Chinese. Finally, we thank and express our most sincere gratitude to all contributors, editors, and advisors and supervisors of those contributors and editors for their time, effort, and patience in their participation in the editing and publishing process of this volume. This continuation of CWPL’s longstanding tradition at the University of Calgary would be impossible without you and your work.
2022-03-01T00:00:00ZOn the syntax of Mandarin sentence-final particles: a neo-performative analysisXu, Kanghttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/1144922023-09-18T20:48:50Z2022-03-01T00:00:00Zdc.title: On the syntax of Mandarin sentence-final particles: a neo-performative analysis
dc.contributor.author: Xu, Kang
dc.description.abstract: Mandarin sentence-final particles have been analyzed uniformly as sentence-final complementizers by a group of researchers (Paul & Pan, 2017; Pan, 2019). However, in the present paper, I draw evidence from co-occurring sentence-final particles to demonstrate that in Mandarin, sentence-final particles must co-occur in a fixed order. This observation casts doubts on the assumption that these particles are complementizers because treating them as complementizers does not explain why they appear in a fixed order. Following Wiltschko (2020), I propose that these particles belong to different categories of the interactional structure. I focus my discussion on three representative particles, namely, ne 呢 , me 么 and ha 哈 . An analysis that assumes an interactional structure above CP can account for some poorly understood co-occurrence restrictions among these particles.
2022-03-01T00:00:00ZAn exploration of neuter determiner 'lo' and 'lo que' constructions in SpanishLevinstein Rodriguez, Andreahttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/1144912023-09-18T21:51:55Z2022-03-01T00:00:00Zdc.title: An exploration of neuter determiner 'lo' and 'lo que' constructions in Spanish
dc.contributor.author: Levinstein Rodriguez, Andrea
dc.description.abstract: This paper presents an exploratory overview of the syntactic properties of ‘lo’, a polysemic definite determiner that is standardly characterized as having a ‘neuter’ grammatical gender. I argue that ‘lo’ is better characterized as a referential pronoun lacking φ features, which refers to non-individuated entities. In addition to this referential ‘lo’, and following Zulaica Hernandez (2018), I argue that there is a non-referential, expletive ‘lo’, which relates a possible world to a predicate which may contain morphologically expressed φ features. However, the distribution and referentiality of ‘lo’ in ‘lo que’ constructions (prepositional clauses where ‘lo’ can be external or internal to the CP; see Plann, 1980) indicate that whether ‘lo’ is referential or expletive is not a matter of syntactic position, contrary to Zulaica Hernandez (2018). Referential ‘lo’ stands in contrast with most structurally defective pronouns, such as impersonal pronouns and expletives, in that it is a definite pronoun with a specific referent. This goes against the standard assumption that a nominal phrase that has properties associated with ‘higher’ layers of structure, such as definiteness (associated with DP), must therefore also have ‘lower’ layers like NumP and nP. Although this paper does not present a solution, it does point out that standard theory cannot account for it and argues for the need to continue developing our understanding of nominal structure.
2022-03-01T00:00:00ZApproaches to coda /s/ in Ecuadorian SpanishGiudice Grillo, Andréshttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/1144892023-09-22T20:29:40Z2022-03-01T00:00:00Zdc.title: Approaches to coda /s/ in Ecuadorian Spanish
dc.contributor.author: Giudice Grillo, Andrés
dc.description.abstract: Ecuadorian Spanish displays significant regional variation affecting the realization of coda /s/. Within the highlands of Ecuador, the pronunciation of coda /s/ as [z] occupies different phonological environments depending on the subregion: While in the far north and south [z] is only found preceding voiced consonants, central and central-southern varieties display [z] in more environments, namely word-final prevocalic and prefix-final environments, which makes them unique in the Spanish-speaking world. In this investigation, I review the main studies that have focused on the description and analysis of coda /s/ voicing in Ecuadorian Spanish (Lipski, 1989 and Bradley & Delforge, 2006) and combine their insights with those of other studies (Muñiz Cachón & Cuevas Alonso, 2012, Navarro Tomás, 1968) which have explored the sonority of preconsonantal /s/. Stemming from this exploration, I present a conciliatory solution to the problem of /s/-voicing. I modify Lipski’s formal analysis to include a voice-neutral [S] that appears in pre-consonantal position, which resonates with the findings by Muñiz Cachón and Cuevas Alonso (2012) and the observations by Navarro Tomás (1968), both of which show that pre-consonantal /s/ in Spanish has gradient voicing.
2022-03-01T00:00:00ZCalgary Working Papers in Linguistics, Volume 31, Fall 2020https://hdl.handle.net/1880/1128012021-06-24T16:29:41Z2020-11-19T00:00:00Zdc.title: Calgary Working Papers in Linguistics, Volume 31, Fall 2020
dc.contributor.editor: Nikolić, Dušan; Daniel, Adam D.; Nelson, Brett C.; Oguz, Metehan; Xu, Kang
dc.description.abstract: The editors of this issue, Dušan Nikolić, Adam D. Daniel, Brett C. Nelson, Metehan Oguz, and Kang Xu, are pleased to present the thirty-first issue of the Calgary Working Papers in Linguistics published by the Department of Linguistics in the School of Languages, Linguistics, Literatures, and Cultures at the University of Calgary. The papers published here represent works in progress and as such should not be considered in any way final or definitive.
2020-11-19T00:00:00ZDistribution of PRO in Serbian SubjunctivesNikolić, Dušanhttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/1127712021-06-24T16:29:37Z2020-11-19T00:00:00Zdc.title: Distribution of PRO in Serbian Subjunctives
dc.contributor.author: Nikolić, Dušan
dc.description.abstract: The paper investigates distribution of PRO in Serbian subjunctives by following the tenets of Landau’s (2000, 2004) theory of control. The goal of the paper is to present theoretically-based and empirical evidence for two types of Serbian subjunctives: Type I and Type II, and to argue that PRO is generated and motivated independently of Case or Binding Theory. I make three main claims in this study. First, PRO in Serbian subjunctives depends on the interaction of Tense [T], Agree [Agr], and Reference [R]. Second, Type I subjunctives allow only PRO, which is anaphoric, or [-R], while Type II subjunctives allow a lexical DP or pro, which is [+R], or an independent reference. In addition, I argue that Type I subjunctives are untensed, whereas Type II subjunctives are tensed. Third, Landau (2004) assumes that [-R] prohibits PRO from being dispatched to the spell-out immediately, and that PRO enters Agreement with the matrix functional head. I argue that his theory has fallen short of providing conceptually strong arguments for such a stipulation. Instead, I propose Harwood’s (2015) variable phase approach that heeds to more dynamic phase structure. By ‘shifting’ the phase to a higher level domain, that is to the matrix clause vP, PRO becomes accessible to the probe, and the derivation of subjunctives converges.
2020-11-19T00:00:00ZAcquisition of Tense and Lax Vowels by Persian Learners of EnglishAbdollahnejad, Eliashttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/1127692021-06-24T16:29:32Z2020-11-19T00:00:00Zdc.title: Acquisition of Tense and Lax Vowels by Persian Learners of English
dc.contributor.author: Abdollahnejad, Elias
dc.description.abstract: This study investigates the qualitative and quantitative features of English tense (/i: & u:/) and lax (/ɪ & ʊ/) vowels in the L2 production of advanced L1 Persian speakers. The first two formants (F1 & F2) are used to determine the spectral quality of vowels, while the vowel length (in milliseconds) represents the vowel quality. Unlike English, which has two high front (/i:/ & /ɪ/) and back (/u:/ & /ʊ/) vowels, Persian has only one high front vowel /i/ and one high back vowel /u/. Considering this difference, the main questions of this study are whether L1 Persian speakers have separate representations of English tense and lax vowels in their L2 phonological inventory and, if yes, whether they differentiate these vowels based on their qualitative and/or quantitative features. According to the Equivalence Classification Hypothesis (Flege, 1987), L1 Persian speakers are expected to assimilate/merge English front vowels /i: & ɪ/ to their existing L1 single front vowel /i/ and English /u: & ʊ/ to their existing single Persian back vowel /u/. A group of ten female advanced L1 Persian speakers of English are compared with a control group of ten female native English speakers in their production of these vowels in open and closed syllables. Results show that while both quality and quantity are used by English speakers, the Persian speakers have difficulties in acquiring this distinction in their L2 English on both measures. However, the difficulty seems to be mostly in the acquisition of L2 phonetic features (i.e. gradual) than phonological ones (i.e. categorical).
2020-11-19T00:00:00ZN-Behavior in Quranic ReadingAlnuqaydan, Ahmedhttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/1127682021-06-24T16:29:27Z2020-11-19T00:00:00Zdc.title: N-Behavior in Quranic Reading
dc.contributor.author: Alnuqaydan, Ahmed
dc.description.abstract: Idgham is a Quranic-reading rule that governs how the coronal /n/ is pronounced when it is followed by a set of segments: /j, w, r, l, n and m/. According to Quranic scholars, when /n/ is followed by a glide /famən jaʔməl/ or a nasal /mɪn mal/, it deletes and the [+nasal] feature moves to the following segment yielding [famə j̃aʔməl] and [mɪ m̃al], respectively. On the other hand, when /n/ precedes a liquid, both the /n/ and the [+nasal] feature are phonetically unrealized: /mɪn ladunh/ [mɪ ladunh]. Idgham only applies when /n/ occurs word-finally and the triggering segments occupy the initial onset position of the following word. It does not occur word-medially: [qɪnwan].The present paper provides a unified OT account for the phenomenon illustrated above. Since, in most cases, the [+nasal] feature sticks around, I argue that Idgham is a fusion process not a deletion process. This paper also explores the vulnerability of /n/ and the immunity of /m/ to Idgham: /lam nara/ “we did not see” [lam nara] not *[la ñ1,2ara]. I argue that in Quranic reading, the more marked /m/ is exempt from fusion while the less marked /n/ is not because IDENT constraints for the more marked segment /m/ outrank IDENT constraints for the less marked segment /n/ (De Lacy, 2002). Finally, in answering why /n/ only fuses with sonorants, the reason is attributed to faithfulness.
2020-11-19T00:00:00ZExploring L2 English Learners’ Articulatory Problems Using a Read-Aloud TaskKang, Shuohttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/1127672021-06-24T16:29:22Z2020-11-19T00:00:00Zdc.title: Exploring L2 English Learners’ Articulatory Problems Using a Read-Aloud Task
dc.contributor.author: Kang, Shuo
dc.description.abstract: Although the irregular pause in oral production is a common problem in the speech of language learners, it is unclear what factors cause the pauses and to what extent learners’ native language affects the oral fluency of their target language. This study investigated the anomalous pauses made by English learners who speak Mandarin Chinese as their mother tongue, with attempts of finding out why these pauses occur in the articulation process of their speech productions. 36 learners and 36 native English speakers participated in a read-aloud task (124 English texts with 26081 words for each participant), which was recorded for further analysis. Based on previous research into oral fluency, the anomalous pause in this study is operationalized to have a long duration (over 1s) and occur in the formulaic sequences or in a single sentence. That is, any pauses that conform to both long silent intervals in formulaic sequence and long silent intervals in a sentence where there is no formulaic sequence, count as anomalous pauses in this study. The results demonstrated that L2 learners made significantly more anomalous pauses when reading aloud English texts and they had difficulty articulating the phonemes /b/, /d/, /g/, /dʒ/, /z/ and /ð/. More importantly, no difference was found in the frequency of anomalous pauses between advanced and less advanced learners, indicating that even proficient learners have difficulties in L2 pronunciation. The reasons why these articulatory problems cause irregular pauses and related pedagogical implications are discussed.
2020-11-19T00:00:00ZPlurality as a Phi-Feature in Non-Inflectional PluralsMcDonald, Brittanyhttps://hdl.handle.net/1880/1127662021-06-24T16:29:18Z2020-11-19T00:00:00Zdc.title: Plurality as a Phi-Feature in Non-Inflectional Plurals
dc.contributor.author: McDonald, Brittany
dc.description.abstract: Some languages, such as Pirahã, express plurality through means other than plural inflectional morphology. Wiltschko (2008) calls these alternative plural marking strategies non-inflectional plurals and develops several diagnostic criteria for determining whether or not a language is an inflectional plural-marking language, illustrated with examples from English (an inflectional plural-marking language) Halkomelem (a non-inflectional plural language). These criteria pertain to obligatoriness, agreement, compounding, and derivational morphology. This paper expands on these criteria, drawing two more from Greenberg’s (1963) Universals, to answer the following research question: Do non-inflectional plurals possess a plural phi-feature? This paper explores this question by looking at certain properties of Khmer and Thai, two languages which appear to have non-inflectional plurals, to look for any evidence of the presence of phi-features in their respective plural-marking strategies.
2020-11-19T00:00:00Z