Papers by Jana Willer-Gold
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Imageability has been argued to induce asymmetry in processing of nominal lexical units as this f... more Imageability has been argued to induce asymmetry in processing of nominal lexical units as this feature of the mental lexicon is sensitive to the organization of the conceptual system. Double modality of the representation of high imageable nouns in the mental lexicon, contrasted with single representation in low imageable nouns is argued to facilitate the processing of a concrete noun and slow down successful retrieval, access and any further processing of an abstract noun. The aim of this study is to investigate whether there is a variation in the semantic processing of high and low imageable words in people with aphasia compared to the healthy control speakers when presented with a visual or auditive stimulus. Conducted research was designed to examine the processing of the lexical feature of imageability and hence included four tests from PALPA battery of tests adapted for Croatian: Auditory Synonym Judgement, Written Synonym Judgement and Word Semantic Association. To reduce the effect of perceptive impairments, general semantic processing was verified by conducting two follow-up PALPA comprehension tests: Spoken Word-Picture Matching and Written Word-Picture Matching. The study included 30 aphasic participants and 30 paired healthy participants; all native speakers of Croatian. 1 We were able to conduct research with aphasics during 2013 and 2014 thanks to the board and our colleagues in SUVAG polyclinic. We are deeply indebted for that.
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Obilježja imenice koja podliježe uklapanju u diskurs Odrednici sadrže informacije vezane za odnos... more Obilježja imenice koja podliježe uklapanju u diskurs Odrednici sadrže informacije vezane za odnos imenice u njihovoj jezičnoj domeni s njezinom vrijednosti u ostvarenom diskursu. Jezici koji otvoreno is-kazuju odrednike određeni član rijetko koriste kako bi se njime referiralo na individuu koja je odabrana, već se njime naglašava topikalnost topika uvede-noga u prethodnoj rečenici, dok u jezicima koji ne poznaju članove, odrednici često imaju upravo tu funkciju referiranja na anaforu iz (neposredne) prethod-ne rečenice. Zbog neusporedivosti dvaju sustava vrijedi detaljnije iskazati procese detektiranja te individue u svrhu koindeksacije. Stoga u radu posebnu pažnju posvećujemo obilježjima koja doprinose individualizaciji u višim pro-jekcijama imenske skupine te ukazuju na varijabilnost u procesima iskaziva-nja-uspostavljanja individualnih obilježja u imenskoj domeni čija je jezgra imenica i rečenica. Krećući od pretpostavke da se veza imenske domene i dis-kursa ostvaruje slaganjem u obilježju Lica između subjekta i predikata, te na-dalje da je Lice obilježje koje osigurava koindeksaciju uzduž diskursa, vrijed-nosti će biti iskazane obilježjima, a strukturni će odnosi odrediti trenutak nje-gova iskazivanja.
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In a recent elicited-production study with native speakers of Slovenian, Marušič, Nevins, and Sak... more In a recent elicited-production study with native speakers of Slovenian, Marušič, Nevins, and Saksida (2007) and Marušič, Nevins, and Badecker (2015) show that there are three distinct variously attested gender-agreement grammars. In this study, we use the high temporal-resolution of the ERP (event-related potential) tech¬nique to detect neurological components and measure the processing cost of the three gender-computing mechanisms. The study is comprised of two acceptability-judg¬ment experiments, using a factorial design with nonmasculine mixed-gender con¬juncts. Experiment 1 contrasts two strategies, Distant- (DCA) and Closest-Conjunct Agreement (CCA), to question whether the linear distance between a participle and the two conjuncts is language- or memory-related. The Experiment 1 results show be¬haviorally an overall significant effect of gender; and neurologically a memory-related component, the P300. Experiment 2 sets out to detect alternations to the processing cost when default (Def) agreement is added to the experimental paradigm. The Ex¬periment 2 results indicate no gender effects; instead, two language-related compo¬nents, N250 and N450, were observed, statistically picking out DCA once again. We argue that in an ecologically valid environment where all three grammatical options are made available, processing of DCA is no longer supported by a general cognitive mechanism, such as memory, but is rather computed by language-related processes.
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In this paper we present a brief overview of the history of linguistic contacts of Arbanasi Alban... more In this paper we present a brief overview of the history of linguistic contacts of Arbanasi Albanian, a Gheg Albanian dialect spoken in Croatia, with Croatian and Italian. Then we discuss a number of contact-induced changes in that language. We show that Arbanasi Albanian was subject to strong influences from Croatian (and, to a lesser extent, from Italian) on all levels of linguistic structure. Using the data from our own fieldwork, we were able to show that there were also influences on the level of syntax, including the borrowing of certain constructions, such as analytic causative and imperative constructions, as well as the extension of the use of infinitive in subordinate clauses.
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This paper examines the Croatian instantiation of the &P versus CCA asym-metry observed for other... more This paper examines the Croatian instantiation of the &P versus CCA asym-metry observed for other Slavic languages. Arguing against existing approaches of agreement with conjoined subjects, we provide an analysis based on control-ler proximity and feature unification. The account is supported by two main claims: (i) a flat or list “structure” is available alongside a hierarchical struc-ture and (ii) &P has valued number and gender features, allowing it to serve as a controller/goal for agreement just as NP1/2 can under CCA. We have also argued for a hierarchical structure for coordination in which each NP is con-tained within an &P of its own. It is our hope that the ideas entertained in this study will encourage future research into the remarkably complex area of coordination.
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Agreement with coordinated subjects in Slavic languages has recently seen a rapid increase in the... more Agreement with coordinated subjects in Slavic languages has recently seen a rapid increase in theoretical and experimental approaches, contributing to a wider theoretical discussion on the locus of agreement in grammar (cf. Marušič, Nevins, and Saksida 2007; Bošković 2009; Marušič, Nevins, and Badecker 2015). This paper revisits the theoretical predictions proposed for conjunction agreement in a group of South Slavic languages, with a special focus on gender agreement. The paper is based on two experiments involving speakers of Bosnian/Croatian/Serbian (BCS) and Slovenian (Sln). Experiment 1 is an elicited production experiment investigating preverbal-conjunct agreement, while Experiment 2 investigates postverbal-conjunct agreement. The data provide experimental evidence discriminating between syntax proper and distributed-agreement models in terms of their ability to account for pre-verbal highest-conjunct agreement and present a theoretical mechanism for the distinction between default agreement (which has a fixed number and gender, independent of the value of each conjunct) and resolved agreement (which computes number and gender based on the values of each conjunct and must resolve potential conflicts). Focusing on the variability in the gender-agreement ratio across nine combinations, the experimental results for BCS and Sln morphosyntax challenge the notion of gender markedness that is generally posited for South Slavic languages.
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The main goal of the paper was to detect specificity markers in Croatian. As specificity is in a ... more The main goal of the paper was to detect specificity markers in Croatian. As specificity is in a close relation to (in)definiteness, markers of (in)definiteness such as articles are standardly used as indicators of specificity as well. However, detecting specificity in articleless languages becomes less straightforward. Regardless of the lack of the article system, other (in)definiteness markers exist in Croatian. Here, we focused on the following markers of (in)definiteness in order to find specificity markers: i) the adjectives, ii) the numeral jedan 'one', and iii) the demonstrative (definite) and indefinite pronouns. As specificity markers in Croatian we discuss the numeral jedan 'one', the indefinite pronoun neki 'some' and the construction taj + neki 'that some'. Our study also lead to the formation of three categories of specificity based on the properties of these markers: a) contextual specificity, b) semi–lexicalized specificity and c) constructional specificity.
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Conference Presentations by Jana Willer-Gold
Constraints on reference resolution in relative clauses have long attracted the interest of resea... more Constraints on reference resolution in relative clauses have long attracted the interest of researchers. This study focuses on the continuing topic interpretation of the relative pronoun, as this information structure meaning has been argued to be facilitated when the head of the relative clause and the relative pronoun share the same referent and the same function. Moreover, existing theories on relative clauses suggest that the linear agreement principle controls the locality of the head and the relative pronoun. This study uses delayed and real-time experimental methodology (a questionnaire and eye tracker) in order to verify the validity of theoretically established restrictions in the processing of relative clauses with respect to reference resolution and continuing topic interpretation in the adult population. We use eye tracking methodology in a reading task to detect domains of longer fixations, indicating the higher cost of 'processing effort' for a particular grammatical structure. In addition, regressions to a previously read sentential item indicate interaction between items during sentence meaning formation. In order to verify the constraints described above, the experimental design takes advantage of the coordinated phrase as the head of the relative clause, and manipulates: (1) the number feature on the predicate of the relative clause (singular, plural), (1a, 1b) and (2) the function of the relative pronoun in the embedded clause (subject, object), (1c, 1d). We predict a statistically significant difference in the processing of relative clauses with coordinated structure when the agreement is with a linearly more distant conjunct and where there is a mismatch in the function of the co-referents – the head and the relative pronoun.
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Drafts by Jana Willer-Gold
Constraints on reference resolution in relative clauses have long attracted the interest of resea... more Constraints on reference resolution in relative clauses have long attracted the interest of researchers. This study focuses on the continuing topic interpretation of the relative pronoun, as this information structure meaning has been argued to be facilitated when the head of the relative clause and the relative pronoun share the same referent and the same function. Moreover, existing theories on relative clauses suggest that the linear agreement principle controls the locality of the head and the relative pronoun. This study uses delayed and real-time experimental methodology (a questionnaire and eye tracker) in order to verify the validity of theoretically established restrictions in the processing of relative clauses with respect to reference resolution and continuing topic interpretation in the adult population. We use eye tracking methodology in a reading task to detect domains of longer fixations, indicating the higher cost of 'processing effort' for a particular grammatical structure. In addition, regressions to a previously read sentential item indicate interaction between items during sentence meaning formation. In order to verify the constraints described above, the experimental design takes advantage of the coordinated phrase as the head of the relative clause, and manipulates: (1) the number feature on the predicate of the relative clause (singular, plural), (1a, 1b) and (2) the function of the relative pronoun in the embedded clause (subject, object), (1c, 1d). We predict a statistically significant difference in the processing of relative clauses with coordinated structure when the agreement is with a linearly more distant conjunct and where there is a mismatch in the function of the co-referents – the head and the relative pronoun.
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Papers by Jana Willer-Gold
Conference Presentations by Jana Willer-Gold
Drafts by Jana Willer-Gold