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11.3.6 I NFERENCE FOR THE COREFERENTIAL INTERPRETATION OF ça
noun: α
prn: K
... noun: ça
prn: K+M
noun: ( α K)
prn: K+M
=
Applied to 11.3.5, the inference replaces the value ça with the address
(Mary 93) , establishing coreference with the first proplet. When the agent
computes a STAR-1 perspective towards this content for language production,
the coreferential interpretation is maintained and (Mary 93) is realized as the
pronoun she .
Two different contents for the speaker, namely 11.3.4 and 11.3.5, with the
same surface create an ambiguity for the hearer. When computing the STAR-2
perspective on the content derived from the ambiguous surface, the hearer
must make a choice and try to select the interpretation intended by the speaker.
There are three possibilities: the hearer selects (i) the same interpretation as the
speaker (correct interpretation), (ii) a different interpretation (incorrect inter-
pretation), or (iii) remains undecided (no complete interpretation). In the latter
case there may be the option to request clarification from the speaker.
11.4 Langacker-Ross Constraint for Sentential Arguments
It has been observed by Langacker (1969) and Ross (1969) that 3rd person
pronouns in certain subclause constellations can only have an indexical inter-
pretation. This applies to all kinds of subclause constructions, i.e., (i) the sub-
ject sentence, (ii) the object sentence, (iii) the adnominal modifier sentence
(aka relative clause), and (iv) the adverbial modifier sentence.
Consider the following variants of a subject sentence construction:
11.4.1 P RONOUN IN SUBJECT SENTENCE CONSTRUCTIONS
1. LH' Coreferent noun in lower clause (L) precedes pronoun in matrix (H')
That Mary was happy surprised her .
2. H'L Pronoun in matrix (H') precedes non-coref. noun in lower clause (L)
% She was surprised that Mary was happy.
3. L'H Pronoun in lower clause (L') precedes coreferent noun in matrix (H)
That she was happy surprised Mary .
4. HL' Coreferent noun in matrix (H) precedes pronoun in lower clause (L')
Mary was surprised that she was happy.
All four sentences are wellformed. They differ as to (i) whether the lower
clause L (subclause) precedes (LH) or follows (HL) the higher clause H (ma-
trix), and (ii) whether the pronoun is in the lower clause (L') or in the higher
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