Collins, Ella (2020) Comparing linguistic theories on `er' with what native Dutch speakers consider acceptable. Bachelor's Thesis, Artificial Intelligence.
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Abstract
The function of the Dutch pronoun er is complicated. Linguistic theories argue for four functions: existential, locative, quantitative and pronominal. According to these theories, the placement of the word er in a sentence is dictated by the function it possesses. Additionally, a single occurrence of er can assume multiple functions in certain cases. This paper aims to provide more information on the grammatical intricacies of er by looking at whether native Dutch speakers agree with linguistic theories of er using an acceptability judgement task. The focus was on the functions er can provide while present in the prefield. Whether other instances of er can occur in the sentence, either implicitly or explicitly, was also investigated. A 4-option Likert scale task was conducted, with 43 participants. Results show existential er is the most acceptable function in the prefield. Additionally, erXL and erXP in the prefield are significantly more acceptable than erXQ. However, erXQ in the prefield is considered more acceptable than initially expected. Finally, erX in the prefield with erQ in the midfield is significantly more acceptable than erX in the prefield with erL or erP in the midfield. However, erL or erP in the midfield with erX in the prefield do not behave as expected, with little consensus on the acceptability. The results suggest linguistic theories do not accurately describe what native Dutch speakers consider acceptable, instead there is a gradience for acceptability.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis) |
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| Supervisor name: | Jones, S.M. |
| Degree programme: | Artificial Intelligence |
| Thesis type: | Bachelor's Thesis |
| Language: | English |
| Date Deposited: | 24 Jul 2020 14:35 |
| Last Modified: | 24 Jul 2020 14:35 |
| URI: | https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/22861 |
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