On the acquisition of verb argument structure

The present study explores two domains in Scandinavian child language development where the encoding of arguments to verbs shows a variable distribution. The first domain is grammatical subjects in an early phase of development when the 90% criterion is not yet attained. The second domain is spatial arguments (landmarks and location). It is argued that the encoding of subjects as well as of spatial arguments represents multiple constraint-satisfaction processes (encompassing both grammatical constraints and pragmatic constraints) and that the mastery of these constraints is a long-term achievement rather than something that happens suddenly in the course of acquisition. Many previous studies have focused on missing arguments, especially missing subjects, and asked what mechanisms make possible argument ellipsis. In contrast, our focus is on arguments that are actually present and on why children bother to encode arguments to begin with. In particular, we argue that input factors and pragmatic factors form an important part of the explanation for the structure of the earliest phases of the acquisition of verb arguments, irrespective of whether the arguments are traditionally considered obligatory or optional from the point of view of the target grammar

Argument (complex analysis) · Cognitive psychology · Constraint (computer-aided design) · Ellipsis (linguistics) · Encoding (memory) · Focus (optics) · Grammar · Linguistics · Syntax · Universal Grammar · Verb · Computer Science · Language Development and Disorders · Mathematics · Philosophy · Psychology · Reading and Literacy Development · Syntax, Semantics, Linguistic Variation

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