Chapter 10
Modelling relative clauses in Processability Theory and Lexical-Functional
Grammar
This chapter formally analyses English relative clause (RC) constructions
within the framework of Processability Theory (PT) (Pienemann, 1998, 2005) using the
grammatical formalism of Lexical Functional Grammar (LFG) (Bresnan, 2001) as an analytical tool. A theoretical account of (a)
the classification of RCs in terms of the PT hierarchy of processing procedures and (b) a
processing hierarchy of different types of RCs is provided that is based on the linear and
non-linear mapping processes between c- and f-structure. This approach is extended by the
discussion of the syntactic role of the head noun phrase (NPhead) in the matrix
clause considering general assumptions about working memory (Kuno, 1974) and the grammatical memory store (Levelt, 1989).
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Relative clauses
- 2.1Relative clauses in LFG
- 2.2RCs in Processability Theory
- 3.Classification of RCs
- 3.1Inter-clausal information exchange
- 3.2Syntax and phrase structure rules
- 4.Differences in mapping processes
- 4.1The NPhead as subj of the matrix clause
- 4.2Processing of the NPhead as subj vs. obj of the matrix
clause
- 5.Future research
- 6.Summary and conclusion
-
Notes
-
References
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Cited by (1)
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2022.
Grammar in Foreign and Second Language Classes. In
The TESOL Encyclopedia of English Language Teaching,
► pp. 1 ff.
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