A theory of ellipsis
By: Marjorie J. McShane.
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Published: 2005
Place of publication: Oxford; New York
Language: eng
Number of pages: 257
ISBN-13: 9780195176926
Subjects: Grammar, Comparative and general -- Ellipsis
Description: "Marjorie McShane presents a comprehensive theory of ellipsis that supports the formal, cross-linguistic description of elliptical phenomena taking into account the various factors that affect the use of ellipsis. A methodology is suggested for creating a parameter space for describing and treating ellipsis in any language. Such "ellipsis profiles" of languages will serve a wide range of practical applications, including but not limited to natural language processing. In contrast to earlier work, this theory focuses not only on what can, in principle, be elided but in what circumstances a given category actually would or would not be elided - that is, what renders ellipsis mandatory or infelicitous."--Jacket.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. 243-251) and index.