Forward and backward functions of discourse anaphora (C07)

• Subject Area: General and Comparative Linguistics, Experimental Linguistics, Typology, Non-European Languages
• Term: since 2017
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 281511265

This project investigates the fine-grained nature of prominence relations between referential expressions. It examines the interpretive preferences and the forward potential of different anaphoric expressions – with a particular focus on demonstratives – in contexts with more than two antecedents, using behavioural methods. It also assesses the temporal dynamics of the underlying processes by means of event-related potentials. It asks how backward and forward referential functions are influenced by potential prominence-lending cues from different linguistic levels (sentence, discourse and prosody).

• DFG Programme: Collaborative Research Centres
• Subproject of: SFB 1252: Prominence in Language
• Applicant Institution: Universität zu Köln
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Petra Schumacher