The Syntax of Sentential Stress

by Arsalan Kahnemuyipour

Overview

This book explores the nature of sentential stress, how it is assigned and its interaction with information structure. Its central thesis is that the position of sentential or nuclear stress, the element with the highest prominence in the sentence, is determined syntactically and that cross-linguistic differences in this respect follow from syntactic variations. Presented in a Chomskian multiple spell-out framework, the author develops the Sentential Stress Rule and provides a systematic way of accounting for a wide range of cross-linguistic facts, with data taken from Persian, English, German and Eastern Armenian. The author further proposes the Focus Stress Rule to handle the interaction between sentential structure and information structure. Sentential stress is thus determined through an interplay between two components, the default Sentential Stress Rule and the Focus Stress Rule. Syntactic phenomena are not, the author argues, triggered by phonology or prosodic motivations: the relationship between syntax and phonology is always from syntax to phonology.

This important contribution to understanding processes at the syntax-phonology interface will interest syntacticians and phonologists at graduate level and above.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780199219230
Publisher:	Oxford University Press
Publication date:	10/04/2009
Series:	Oxford Studies in Theoretical Linguistics , #25
Pages:	216
Product dimensions:	6.30(w) x 9.30(h) x 0.90(d)

About the Author

Arsalan Kahnemuyipour is Assistant Professor of Linguistics at Syracuse University. This book is a revised version of his 2004 University of Toronto PhD dissertation. His published work includes articles in Natural Language and Linguistic Theory and Canadian Journal of Linguistics.

Table of Contents

1. Setting the Stage2. Sentential Stress: Phonological Accounts3. Sentential Stress: Syntactic Accounts4. Sentential Stress: A Phase-Based Account5. Sentential Stress and Information Structure6. Conclusions and ImplicationsReferencesIndex