Linguistics and Free Word Order

Paper Summary:

This work reviews historical and recent literature related to 'free word order' languages, or those, which use 'scrambling' in sentence structure. These terms relate specifically to the placement of nouns and verbs within a sentence. The social theory of language acquisition is reviewed as well as cultural influences on language acquisition specifically related to 'free word order' language structure. Word order in various languages is examined and recent studies are reviewed.

Outline:
Objective
Introduction
Socio-Cultural Formation of Speech and Language
Previous Study in Language Acquisition
Differentiation between 'verb salient' and 'noun salient' Languages
Word Order in the Various Languages
Non-Configurationality in Languages
Computer-generated Processing of Languages
Summary
Bibliography

From the Paper:

" 'Free word order' languages are those in which the structure of a sentence is constructed loosely in relation to the placement of nouns and verbs. The writer notes in the research process that there are many and various explanations and theories surrounding the structure or lack of structure in the free word order languages. Grammatical encoding has never been quite as relevant as in the present as computer-generated language translation is in use frequently in the lives of many. Communication barriers presented are evident in the confused communications and specifically between languages such as the English language with its formally structured sentence use of nouns and verbs and the languages of Korean and Japanese both 'free word order' languages.. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Keller, Frank Institute for Communicating and Collaborative systems, Division of Informatics, University of Edinburgh. UK. Gleitman, Lila R. and Joshi, Aravid K. eds, (2000) Proceedings of the 22nd Annual Conference of the Cognitive Science Society. Mahawah, NJ; Lawrence Erlbaum, 2000.
• Yamashita, H. and Chang, F. (nd) Sentence Production in Japanese. Rochester Institute of Technology - Anthropology. Online available at: http://email.eva.mpg.de/~chang/papers/jprodhandbook.pdf.
• Rambow, O. and Joshi, A.K. (1995) A Processing Model for Free Word Order Languages" Institute for Research in Cognitive Science, IRCS Technical Reports Series. University of Pennsylvania, 1995. Online available at: http://repository.upenn.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1130&context=ircs_reports..
• Parker, Brian (2006) Word Order and Formalized Information Structure in Japanese Ohio University. Online available at: http://aolsearch.aol.com/aol/search?query=definition%3A+free+word+order%2C+scrambling&page=13&nt=null&userid=4077659711316363726&encquery=99c5f34c598f1bdefa46eb3f4e6f3a1535bc8a175d9d4420d62fb8527be753e9ae3463cecdde6d88&ie=UTF-8&invocationType=keyword_rollover&clickstreamid=-2316888368559440924
• Mazuka, R. Itoh, K. and Kondo T. (2004) Costs of Scrambling in Japanese Sentence Processing. MIT CogNet - The Brain Sciences Connection. Online available at: http://cognet.mit.edu/library/conferences/ paper?paper-_id=1825.

More papers on Linguistics and Free Word Order:

• Research Paper # 17017 : "Linguistics and the History of the English Language"
• Analytical Essay # 139788 : "Multi-lateral Agreements and Free Trade Zones"
• Essay # 71770 : "Predestination and Free-Will"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: