本研究采用韵律合适度判断和理解任务,通过两个实验探讨论元结构的焦点和重音之间的关系对话语理解的影响。实验通过操纵答句中的沦元是否出现在问句中,变化问句的信息状态;通过操纵答句不同句子成份重读,变化答句的重读位置。实验结果发现:新论元负载焦点必须重读;重读论元将焦点投射到句子的高一级单元上,但动词必须重读;旧论元不负载焦点不必重读,但负载焦点的动词必须重读。
Two experiments were made to investigate the combined influence of syntactic argument structure and accent patterns on the acceptability and comprehension of spoken utterances. Experiments varied information status of question according to whether the argument was not or was mentioned in the question, and the answer varied according to which word or words received accent. The results showed that a new noun phrase received an accent but the given noun phrase did not; a new argument NP was effective in projecting broad focus to the entire VP but the verb must be accented; a given argument phrase without load focus didn't have to be accented, but a verb loaded with focus had to receive an accent.