This thesis deals with gradience in grammar, i.e., with the fact that some linguistic structures are not fully acceptable or unacceptable, but receive gradient linguistic judgments. The importance of gradient data for linguistic theory has been recognized at least since Chomsky’s Logical Structure of Linguistic Theory. However, systematic empirical studies of gradience are largely absent, and n...

This article deals with gradience in human sentence processing. We review the experimental evidence for the role of experience in guiding the decisions of the sentence processor. Based on this evidence, we argue that the gradient behavior observed in the processing of certain syntactic constructions can be traced back to the amount of past experience that the processor has had with these constr...

The paper assesses the consequences of gradience for approaches to variation based on the Principles and Parameters model. In particular, the discussion focuses on recent crosslinguistic results obtained through magnitude estimation, a methodology particularly suited to the study of gradient acceptability/grammaticality. Results on superiority and relativised minimality effects in questions are...

This paper investigates the average fundamental frequency of eight peripheral vowels in Belgian Standard Dutch in order to examine whether a vowel gradient exists with respect to Intrinsic Vowel Pitch (IF0). The results show that IF0 exists in Belgian Standard Dutch and amounts to 3.26 semi-tones. It is found that the assumed gradience in the degree of openness/tongue height is only reflected t...

This paper introduces a new grammatical framework, Fuzzy Property Grammars (FPGr). is model based on and Natural Logic. Such framework constraint-based provides way to formally characterize gradience by representing grammaticality degrees regarding linguistic competence (without involving speakers judgments). The formal-logical characterization of FPGr. A test the presented implementing an FPGr...

This paper provides an overview of categorical and gradient effects in islands, with a focus on English, argues that most islands are gradient. In some cases, the island is circumvented by construction type which extraction takes place, there growing evidence critical factor pragmatic nature, contrary to classic accounts favored generative circles this day. other effect malleable can weaken inc...

Acoustic analysis of [tSi] tokens produced in native words by two generations of Japanese speakers reveals a systematic influence of prosodic structure on the duration of frication following the release of consonant closure. This phonetic gradience supports a phonological contrast in loanwords that is absent from the native system. Implications of the data for phonological theories of loanword ...