Interpretation of reflexive anaphora in second language VP-ellipsis
Relevance Theory and paradigms of explanation
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 11656328 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Xosé Rosales Sequeiros (University of Greenwich, corresponding author) |
| Year | 2004 |
| Volume | 20 |
| Issue | 3 |
| Pages | 256-280 |
| Publication date | 2004-07-01 |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Second language Research (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0267-6583 • E-ISSN: 1477-0326 |
| Publisher | SAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US) |
| DOI | 10.1191/0267658304sr240oa |
| OpenAlex | W2038279473 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 5 |
| References cited | 3 |
This article explores second language (L2) learners’ interpretation of reflexive anaphora in VP-Ellipsis by critiquing the work of Ying (2003), who applies Relevance Theory to explain elliptical anaphora. It argues against four claims made in his analysis: that L2 learners apply maximal relevance in anaphoric interpretation; that a procedural account of the impact of referential sentences on VP-ellipsis disambiguation is appropriate; that an account of anaphoric interpretation preferences should be based on processing cost; and that differences in experimental results between intermediate and advanced L2 learners are due to the use of different comprehension strategies (see Sperber, 1994). Instead, it argues: that it is not maximal but rather optimal relevance that is at work; that the key in disambiguating anaphora in VP-elliptical sentences is the achievement of an optimally relevant interpretation; that the role of contextual assumptions in anaphora resolution is to enable L2 learners to derive enough contextual effects to make it worth their effort and, in doing so, identifying (as a side effect) what they take to have been the intended referent; and that what is crucial in the use of comprehension strategies is not processing effort, but rather consistency with the second principle of relevance. Overall, all these factors provide the basis for an alternative and more comprehensive explanation of the experimental results discussed by Ying
Anaphora (linguistics · Cognition · Comprehension · Consistency (knowledge bases · Ellipsis (linguistics · Interpretation (philosophy · Linguistics · Natural language processing · Referent · Reflexivity · Relevance (law · Relevance theory · Resolution (logic · Sociology · Computer Science · Linguistics and Discourse Analysis · Natural Language Processing Techniques · Philosophy · Psychology · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation · Artificial Intelligence
Relevance Theory and Second Language Acquisition
“Adverbial” Anaphora Resistance in Students’ Descriptive Texts
Antecedent contained deletions in native and non-native sentence processing
A referential/quantified asymmetry in the second language acquisition of English reflexives by Chinese-speaking learners
Metapsychological awareness of comprehension and epistemic vigilance of L2 communication in interlanguage pragmatic development
| Citations per year | 0.29 |
|---|---|
| Citation span | 2009 - 2020 (12) |
| Highly cited | No |