http://hdl.handle.net/10278/2484 2013-05-21T13:36:53Z http://hdl.handle.net/10278/2539 Title: Rivista di Grammatica Generativa, vol. 35 (2010) 2009-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10278/2526 Title: The phi-features of clitic pronouns: evidence from hearing-impaired adults Author⁄s: Volpato, Francesca Abstract: In this paper, the use of gender and number features on third person accusative clitic pronouns in Italian is analysed on a group of hearing impaired adults. Hearing impairment drastically reduces the quantity and the quality of linguistic input and strongly affects the natural process of speech development and language acquisition. Most studies concerned with hearing impairment show that although hearing impaired people come to learn the lexicon and some grammar rules of a language, they are not always able to master the oral language thoroughly. They are not able to use some components of grammar, like articles, prepositions, pronouns, nominal and verbal morphology, which are readily acquired by hearing individuals, but which represent the most frequent cause of errors in written and spoken language as well as in comprehension and production tasks of hearing impaired people (Chesi 2000, 2006, Fabbretti et al. 1998, Volterra & Bates 1989, Volterra et al. 2001). However, recent studies reveal that despite high degrees of hearing impairment and delayed access to the linguistic input, some people are nonetheless able to correctly master specific properties of the Italian language, namely the use of clitic pronouns, and gender and number morphology in left-dislocation sentences (Volpato 2002 and 2008). By analysing the performance of both orally-trained hearing impaired individuals (Volpato 2002) and LIS signers (Volpato 2008) in the different combinations of gender and number features on clitic pronouns, this paper contributes to the current debate on phi-features. Indeed, it brings further evidence that gender and number features specified on these pronouns are not on the same level in the syntactic structure. 2009-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10278/2525 Title: Applicatives in the Context of Ethiopian and Eritrean Semitic Languages (EES) Author⁄s: Tesfay, Tewolde Yohannes Abstract: In this article, EES languages will be represented by Amharic (South EES) and Tigrinya (North EES). The framework and applicatives are briefly described in (1.0) and (2.0) respectively. In (3.0-3.4), verbs, affixes, arguments, vp shells and applicative functions in the context of EES are discussed. Finally, a conclusion is given in (4.0). In this article, there are several Tigrinya and Amharic examples indicated by a and b (as in 1a and 1b) respectively. The intention here is not to prepare a complete work on EES applicatives. However, this article may have a modest contribution for further research on applicatives in general and EES languages in particular. 2009-12-31T23:00:00Z http://hdl.handle.net/10278/2524 Title: Scope widening of negation in Modal Constructions Author⁄s: Moscati, Vincenzo Abstract: Scope interactions of negative operators will be considered from two points of view: cross-linguistic variation and inverse scope over (root) modality. In this paper, I argue that, in order to unify the interpretive properties of the negative operator across languages and to derive the appropriate scope, we need a non-isomorphic LF-PF mapping. This can be done by means of a covert operation able to derive scope-shift readings. 2009-12-31T23:00:00Z