Oscillation and Oscillating Structures in Syntax

Mendoza, Imke und Sonnenhauser, Barbara (2023): Oscillation and Oscillating Structures in Syntax. In: Zeitschrift für Slawistik, Bd. 68, Nr. 2: S. 261-281

Abstract

Linguistic expressions are very often indeterminate and have several possible readings. Syntactic indeterminacy may result from different underlying structures, from polysemous elements, or from so-called oscillation. Unlike the former two, oscillation cannot be reduced to one or more discrete interpretations in a given context, it is fundamentally non-resolvable. While oscillating structures do not hamper successful communication, they present a problem for linguistic analyses and categorizations. The relevant literature does not address oscillation systematically; if anything, it is treated in connection with problems of categorization. In this paper, oscillation is perceived as a phenomenon sui generis. We first give a definition of oscillation against the backdrop of other indeterminate structures and outline their relevance for a proper understanding of older and less formal varieties. Then we propose a tentative typology of oscillating structures and their potential triggers in selected Slavic languages

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaften > Department 2 > Slavische Philologie
• Themengebiete: 400 Sprache > 490 Andere Sprachen
• ISSN: 0044-3506
• Sprache: Englisch