Ruth A. Berman

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Ruth A. Berman Tel Aviv Universitywith Bracha
Nir University of Haifa
Complex Syntax in Narrative Texts
Cross-Linguistic Comparisons

• Department of English
• University of Santiago de Compostela
• April 2009

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Complex Syntax

• Nexus (Jespersen, 1924 Van Valin LaPolla,
  1997)
• Clause-linkage (Haiman Thompson, 1988)
• Clause complexes (Matthiessen, 2002)
• Complex sentences (Bybee Noonan, 2001
  Lyons, 1968)

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Perspectives on Complex Syntax

• Formal generative grammar hierarchical,
  structure-dependent nature of syntax, formal
  principles of UG like recursion (Chomsky, 1957
  Lidz, 2007 Lust et al, 2008)
• Language typology - different types of structures
  that encode the same functional domains (Croft,
  1990 Givón, 1984, 2009 Lehmann, 1978 Van
  Valin, 1984)
• Language processing and comprehension -
  integrated syntactic structures involve lower
  processing costs (Gibson, 1998 Grodner, Gibson,
  Watson, 2005)
• Acquisition research - use of connectives as
  expressing knowledge of complex syntax (Akinci
  Jisa, 2000 Berman, 1996 Jisa, 1987 Peterson
  McCabe,1991 Diessel 2004)
• Cognitive linguistics - complex sentences as
  grammatical constructions (Bybee, 2001 Croft,
  2001)
• Discourse studies - clause linkage plays a role
  in the organization of discourse (Chafe, 1994
  Haiman Thompson, 1988 Halliday, 1994
  Thompson, 1985)

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WHY COMPLEX SYNTAX?

• First three pictures in Mercer Mayer Frog,
  Where are You? (Berman Slobin, 1994)

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) Opening segments to Frog Story
Picturebook (Sebastián Slobin, 1994)

• Oral frog story, age 46
• El perro iba a meter la rana dentro de acquí // Y
  era de noche // Y luego
• cuando era de noche se metió en la cama Y
  entonces cuando era
• todavía de noche // Y se levantó la rana // y
  se fue // Y acquí iba
• mirar el niño // Y era de día // Y entonces no
  estaba la rana // se escapó
• // Y acquí otro día //
• 42 words, 11 utterances, 2 clauses packaged
• Oral frog story, adult
• Era de noche y Pepito y su perro estaban
  mirando la rana que habían
• casado por la mañana en una charca muy grande
  Les gustaba mucho
• la ranita , pero cuando se acostaron para
  dormir la rana empezó a
• salir del frasco donde se había metido Petito
  Y por la mañana
• cuando se despertaron Pepito y su perro
  encontraron que la rana
• había desaparecido
• 62 words, 11 clauses, 3 packages

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Development in Clause Packaging(Berman
Nir-Sagiv, 2009)
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Complex Syntax in Text-Embedded Contexts

• Problematic notion of paragraph (Heurley, 1997
  Hwang, 1989 Stark, 1988)
• Problematic notion of sentence (Halliday, 1985
  Shopen, 1985)
• gt Syntactic Clause Packaging
• (Berman Nir-Sagiv, 2009 Berman Slobin,
  1994 Longacre, 1996)
• Definition of clause any unit that contains a
  unified predicate expressing a single situation
  -- activity, event, or state (Berman Slobin,
  1994 660)

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MOTIVATIONS FOR PRESENT STUDY

• Slobins (2003) Contrastive Rhetoric
• Syntactic packaging (Berman Slobin,
  1994),connectivity (Berman, 1998)
• Clause packaging -- visual metaphor how
  situations into components, encoded in
  multi-clausal constructions
• Rhetorical effects subordinating event
  components, conflating phases of events, control
  over rhythm and tempo

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Contrastive Rhetoric

• Traditional Rhetoric - effective use of
  language
• (Fix, Gardt, Knape, 2006)
• Discourse rhetoric and complex syntax
• Rhetorical Structure Theory RST (Mann
  Thompson, 1988)
• Segmented Discourse Representation Theory SDRT
  (Asher, 1993 Asher Lascarides, 2003)
• Contrastive Rhetoric
• 2nd Language Studies (Bar-Lev, 1986 Connor,
  2002 Kaplan, 1966 Ostler, 1987)
• 1st Language Development (Gayraud, Jisa,
  Viguié, 2001 Tolchinsky Rosado, 2005)
• which expressive options are favored for
  particular discourse purposes e.g., event
  conflation, agent downgrading

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Facets of Contrastive Rhetoric

• Expressive options
• Rhetorical preferences
• Rhetorical strategies
• Rhetorical style
• Rhetorical purpose

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Present Analysis

• Syntactic architecture
• syntactic construction type of the individual
  clause
• its relation to surrounding clauses
• Strategies of clause combining
• Preferred narrative (rhetorical) style
• Cross-linguistic comparisons

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CROSSLINGUISTIC PROJECT ON TEXT CONSTRUCTION
ABILITIES IN LATER LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT
G Grade school children aged 9 to 10 years J
Junior high students aged 12 to 13 years H High
school students aged 16 to 17 years A
University graduate-level students in
20s-30s Topic Problems between
People Genre/Modality Written/spoken
Expository Discussion Written/spoken Personal
Experience Narrative Languages Californian
English, Dutch, French, Hebrew, Iberian Spanish,
Icelandic, Swedish Berman, 2005 2008
Berman Nir-Sagiv, 2004, 2007 Berman
Verhoeven, 2002
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Syntactic Architecture in Clause Packaging
Categories of Analysis

• Isotaxis I equal organization isolated
  clauses
• Symmetric Parataxis P side by side
  organization
• stringing of clauses
• Asymmetric Parataxis AsP dependent stringing
  
• Hypotaxis H one under the other layering
  of clauses
• Endotaxis E one inside the other nesting
  of clauses
• (Akinci et Jisa, 2001 Koch, 1995 Lehmann, 1988
  Vigué 2001)

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Syntactic Architecture in Clause Packaging
Categories of Analysis

• Isotaxis I isolated clauses
• Symmetric Parataxis P stringing of clauses
• Asymmetric Parataxis AsP dependent stringing
• Hypotaxis H layering of clauses
• Endotaxis E nesting of clauses
• (Akinci et Jisa, 2001 Koch 1995 Lehmann, 1988
  Vigué 2001)

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Syntactic Architecture in Clause Packaging
Categories of Analysis

• Isolaxis I isolating 
• (a) lone clauses, not linked to others in the
  same CP MC-I
• (b) main clauses MC
• Parataxis P stringing
• (a) juxtaposed clauses, asyndetic, linked by
  juxtaposition MCJ-P
• (b) coordinate clauses, listed or marked by
  conjunction, with surface subject CO-P
• Asymmetric Parataxis AsP dependent stringing
• (a) coordinate clauses with subject ellipsis
  CO-AsP
• (b) complement clauses, indirect questions
  CMP-AsP, CMPQ-AsP
• Hypotaxis H layering of clauses
• (a) dependent relative clauses RC-H
• (b) dependent adverbial clauses ADV-H
• Endotaxis E nesting of clauses
• (a) center-embedded adverbial and relative
  clauses RC-E, ADV-E
• (b) parenthetical constructions PAR-E

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Excerpt from Personal Experience Narrative
Written in Spanish Sa15fnw CP1 En lo ltque se
refiere a historias o experienciasgt RC-E ltque
yo he vividogt RC-E y ltque reflejan situaciones
reflejadas en el vídeo gt RC-E tengo muy
variadas MC pero no sólo del ambiente educativo
CO-P, sino también experiencias del ambiente
social CO-P que no he vivido directamente
RC-H pero que han sido evidentes RC-H. As
for ltwhat relates to stories or situationsgt ltthat
I have experiencedgt and ltthat reflect situations
shown on the videogt, I have many different ones,
but not only in the educational domain, but also
experiences in the social domain that I have not
lived directly (myself) but that have been clear
(to see). CP2 La primera experiencia ltque
recuerdo con ellagt RC-E es un tipo de
discriminación intelectual MC. Me refiero
MCJ-P a que el profesor nos etiquetaba a los
alumnos por inteligentes o más torpes NCMP-H y
lo demostraba NCMP-H resaltando ADV-H y
valorando siempre a aquellos alumnos ADV-H que
acababan pronto sus actividades RC-H y
realizaban buenos exámenes RC-H y por el
contrario desprestigiaba a los NCMP-H que
tenían dificultad RC-H para resolver ciertos
problemas de aprendizaje NCOMP-H. The first
experience ltthat I remember with hergt is a kind
of intellectual discrimination. I refer to it
the fact that the teacher would label us as
smart or as clumsy, and (he) proved this (by)
always highlighting and praising those students
that completed their assignments quickly and
(that) did well on tests, and on the other hand,
he would deprecate those that had difficulty with
solving certain learning problems.
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Personal Experience Narrative Written in French
Fa17fnw CP1 Jai eu un conflit avec une
personne dans le milieu professionnel MC-I. CP2
Je travaille dans un service export MC où la
flexibilité entre les personnes est
indispensable RC-H. CP3 Nous devons nous
remplacer lors des absences des uns et des autres
MC-I. CP4 Une de mes collègues est partie une
semaine en vacances MC. J' ai dû la
remplacer MCJ-P alors que son poste et le mien
étaient très chargés ADV-H. CP5 Sur le poste de
ma collègue j' ai eu un problème informatique
MC qu'il était urgent de résoudre
RC-H pour pouvoir travailler ADV-H.
Cet incident est arrivé à un mauvais moment
MCJ-I puisque j'étais débordée
ADV-H. CP6 Jai donc contacté la personne au
service informatique MC qui était
susceptible de m' aider RC-H. CP7
Malheureusement cette dernière était elle aussi
surchargée de travail MC et
également très énervée CO-P. Elle a donc refusé
de m'aider MCJ-P et m'a par contre
répétée pendant dix minutes CO-P qu'elle
était surchargée de travail CMP-AsP. CP8
Le fait ltqu'elle perde dix minutes à me raconter
ses malheursgt NCMP-E m'a davantage
énervée MC. CP9 Nous en sommes arrivées à une
situation conflictuelles MC qui a duré dix
minutes RC-H avant que nous parvenions à un
accord ADV-H.
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Personal Experience Narrative Written in Hebrew
Ha13mnw CP1 mikre še-kara li im amit la-avoda
MC-I (An) incident that-happened to-me with
(a) colleague at-work CP2 le-orex kol ha-tkufa
ltše-ani oved itogt RC-E, ani margish kin'a
ltve-eyn al ma lekanegt PAR-E ve-ayin cara MC,
omnam loh rak klapay CO-GAP-P gam klapey axerim
CO-GAP-P Throughout the entire period, that-I
work with-him, I feel envy ltand-(theres) nothing
to be-envious ofgt and-malice, although not only
towards-me, towards others as well. CP3 yom
exad ha-menahel loh higia MC ve-hayiti amur
lehaxlif oto CO-P ve-la'asot et avodato shel
ha-menahel CO-P heyot ve-gam ani yodea ota
ADV-H One day the-boss(did) not arrive,
and-(I)-was-supposed to-replace him and-to-do the
bosss job, since I also know it. CP4 hu ka'as
meod alkax MC še-ha-menahel loh higia NCMP-H
He was-furious about (it) that-the-boss (had)
not arrived. CP5 ax hu sovev et ha-inyan MC
ve-ta'an CO-P še-ha-siba le-kax ltše-ha-menahel
hodia al i bo'o la-avodagt NCMP-E neuca bi
CMP-AsP mishum še-hirgalti et ha-menahel
ADV-H še-yesh lo maxlif dehaynu ani CMP-AsP
However, he twisted the matter around, and
claimed that-the-reason for it ltthat-the boss
announced his non-arrival at-workgt
(is)-occasioned by-me as I-(had) accustomed
the-boss (to the fact that) he has a substitute,
namely me. CP6 hu higdil MC ve-amar CO-P
še-ani loh ose klum CMP-AsP ve-ani nehene
lashevet ve-la'asot et avodato shel ha-menahel
CMP-AsP He went-far and said went so far as
to say that I do nothing and-I enjoy sitting
and-doing the bosss work. CP7 ze hixis oti
meod MC-I It annoyed me very-much. CP8 hayu
xilufey dvarim kashim, tonim gvohim MC-I
(There) were harsh exchanges, loud tones (of
voice). CP9 ve-levasof hixlateti MC še-eyn
yoter cxokim ito CMP-AsP ve-yaxasay imo yiyu
inyaniyim bilvad CMP-AsP ve-kax yitav li
CMP-AsP And-eventually (I) decided
that-(theres) no more fun with-him,
and-my-relations with-him will-be strictly
business-like, and-thus Ill benefit.
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Personal Experience Narrative Written in English
Ea11fnw CP1 As I stated just moments prior in
an interview ADV-H, a story about a conflict
ltthat arose in my own lifegt RC-E occurred
recently MC. CP2 Within my research laboratory
there are certain times MC within which stress
is much more tangible than other times, for
example RC-H when one is under the time
pressure of a grant submission deadline
ADV-H. CP3 It was during one of those crunch
times MC that it became readily apparent
NCMP-H that our research staff was under a
great deal of stress CMP-AsP. CP4
Concomitantly, groups of people began to snap at
each other MC-I, show labile mood CO-P, and /
or have certain tones in conversation CO-P that
were found RC-H to be condescending by others
CMP-AsP. CP5 In one instance, this type of
scenario occurred between me and a colleague
MC-I. CP6 When alone in my office ADV-H, we
both exchanged less than optimal tones with each
other MC and the conflict or tension was all
too evident CO-P.   CP7 We decided MC that we
should close the door CMP-AsP and discuss what
CMP-AsP was going on RC-H. CP8 Although it
was difficult ADV-H and I felt vulnerable
ADV-H, it was helpful MC to talk things
through CMP-AsP and resolve the situation
CMP-AsP. CP9 Our resolution was MC to warn
each other CMP-AsP when feeling stressed out or
tired ADV-H and to assert the fact CMP-AsP
that this had nothing NCMP-H to do with the
other individual personally RC-H, but all to do
with the stressful environment NCMP-H within
which we worked RC-H. CP10 Since then our
interactions have been much better MC and
during stressful periods we are clearer about
what CO-P is going on RC-H without snapping
at each other ADV-H or allowing the pressure
ADV-H to manifest in other hurtful ways
CMP-AsP.
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Mean Number of Clauses per Clause Packageby
Language N74
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Preferred Strategies of Clause Packaging
English
Spanish
French
Hebrew
Reliability of analyses withFrench Harriet
Jisa, PR2, Université Lumière Lyon2

Spanish Judy Kupersmitt, Tel Aviv University,
Melina Aparici, University of Barcelona Hebrew
Irit Katzenberger, Tel Aviv University

English Judy Reilly, San Diego State University
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Summary of Study

• Data base genre-specific, authentic language use
  
• Trends consistent with
• Developmental findings (Berman Nir-Sagiv, 2009)
  
• Other languages (Verhoeven et al, 2002 Viguié,
  2001)
• Cross-linguistic typology / cross-cultural
  comparisons (Connor et al, 2008)
• Typological options / Rhetorical preferences
  (Berman, in press Jisa et al, 2002 Tolchinsky
  Rosado, 2005)

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Language-specific Rhetorical Style

• Major devices shared -- differently deployed and
  distributed
• Explanations in terms of rhetorical style and
  purpose (Johnstone, 1996 Klein von
  Stutterheim, 1991)
• Native sensitivity to spirit of the language
• Alternative expressive options, e.g., for Agency
  Downgrading 2nd person pronoun used generically
  Passive Voice
• Dutch gt English gt French gt Hebrew gt Spanish (Jisa
  et al, 2002)
• Icelandic gt Swedish (Ragnasdóttir Strömqvist,
  2005)
• French and Swedish dedicated generic pronoun
• English Passives, generic subject (pro)nouns
• Spanish and Hebrew subjectless impersonals

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Rhetorical Typology

• Text-embedded, usage-based realization of
• Structural options
• in interaction with
• Stylistic preferences
• and
• Communicative setting (text-type)