This paper tested an assumption of the gradient model of split intransitivity put forward by Sorace (“Split Intransitivity Hierarchy” (SIH), 2000, 2004), namely that agentivity is a fundamental feature for unergatives but not for unaccusatives. According to this hypothesis, the animacy of the verb’s argument should affect the processing of unergative verbs to a greater extent than unaccusative verbs. By using eye-tracking methodology we monitored the online processing and integration costs of the animacy of the verb’s argument in intransitive verbs. We observed that inanimate subjects caused longer reading times only for unergative verbs, whereas the animacy of the verb’s argument did not influence the pattern of results for unaccusatives. In addition, the unergative verb data directly support the existence of gradient effects on the processing of the subject argument.

Vernice, M., Sorace, A. (2018). Animacy effects on the processing of intransitive verbs: an eye-tracking study. LANGUAGE, COGNITION AND NEUROSCIENCE, 33(7), 850-866 [10.1080/23273798.2017.1421316].

Animacy effects on the processing of intransitive verbs: an eye-tracking study

Vernice, Mirta
Primo
;
2018

Abstract

This paper tested an assumption of the gradient model of split intransitivity put forward by Sorace (“Split Intransitivity Hierarchy” (SIH), 2000, 2004), namely that agentivity is a fundamental feature for unergatives but not for unaccusatives. According to this hypothesis, the animacy of the verb’s argument should affect the processing of unergative verbs to a greater extent than unaccusative verbs. By using eye-tracking methodology we monitored the online processing and integration costs of the animacy of the verb’s argument in intransitive verbs. We observed that inanimate subjects caused longer reading times only for unergative verbs, whereas the animacy of the verb’s argument did not influence the pattern of results for unaccusatives. In addition, the unergative verb data directly support the existence of gradient effects on the processing of the subject argument.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Agentivity; Animacy; Auxiliary selection; eye-tracking; Intransitivity;
Agentivity; Animacy; Auxiliary selection; eye-tracking; Intransitivity; Language and Linguistics; Experimental and Cognitive Psychology; Linguistics and Language; Cognitive Neuroscience
English
2018
33
7
850
866
none
Vernice, M., Sorace, A. (2018). Animacy effects on the processing of intransitive verbs: an eye-tracking study. LANGUAGE, COGNITION AND NEUROSCIENCE, 33(7), 850-866 [10.1080/23273798.2017.1421316].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/191086
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