SKY Journal of Linguistics
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Volume 26:2013 sky SKY Journal of Linguistics Editors: Pauli Brattico, Markus Hamunen, Tiina Keisanen, Veronika Laippala, Lotta Lehti, Saija Merke SKY Journal of Linguistics is published by the Linguistic Association of Finland (one issue per year). Notes for Contributors Policy: SKY Journal of Linguistics welcomes unpublished original works from authors of all nationalities and theoretical persuasions. Every manuscript is reviewed by at least two anonymous referees. In addition to full-length articles, the journal also accepts short (3–9 pages) ‘squibs’ as well as book reviews. Language of Publication: Contributions should be written in English, French, or German. If the article is not written in the native language of the author, the language should be checked by a qualified native speaker. Style Sheet: A detailed style sheet is available from the editors, as well as via WWW at http://www.linguistics.fi/skystyle.shtml. Abstracts: Abstracts of the published papers are included in Linguistics Abstracts and Cambridge Scientific Abstracts. The published papers are included in EBSCO Communication & Mass Media Complete. SKY JoL is also indexed in the MLA Bibliography. Editors’ Addresses (2013): Pauli Brattico, Faculty of Information Technology, P.O. Box 35 (Agora), FI-40014 University of Jyväskylä, Finland Markus Hamunen, Department of Finnish, Finno-Ugrian and Scandinavian Studies, P.O. Box 3 Fabianinkatu 33, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland Tiina Keisanen, Faculty of Humanities, P.O. Box 1000, FI-90014 University of Oulu, Finland Veronika Laippala, French Department, Koskenniemenkatu 4, FI-20014 University of Turku, Finland Lotta Lehti, French Department, Koskenniemenkatu 4, FI-20014 University of Turku, Finland Saija Merke, Department of Finnish, Finno-Ugrian and Scandinavian Studies, P.O. Box 3, Fabianinkatu 33, FI-00014 University of Helsinki, Finland Editors’ E-mail: sky-journal(at)helsinki(dot)fi Publisher: The Linguistic Association of Finland c/o General Linguistics P.O. Box 24 (Unioninkatu 40) FI-00014 University of Helsinki Finland http://www.linguistics.fi, http://www.linguistics.fi/skyjol.shtml The Linguistic Association of Finland was founded in 1977 to promote linguistic research in Finland by offering a forum for the discussion and dissemination of research in linguistics, both in Finland and abroad. Membership is open to anyone interested in linguistics. The membership fee in 2013 was EUR 25 (EUR 15 for students and unemployed members). Members receive SKY Journal of Linguistics gratis. Cover design: Timo Hämäläinen 1999 SKY Journal of Linguistics 26 Suomen kielitieteellisen yhdistyksen aikakauskirja Tidskrift för den Språkvetenskapliga föreningen i Finland Journal of the Linguistic Association of Finland Editors: Pauli Brattico Markus Hamunen Tiina Keisanen Veronika Laippala Lotta Lehti Saija Merke Copy editor: Jouni Harjumäki Advisory editorial board: Werner Abraham Kimmo Granqvist Auli Hakulinen University of Vienna University of Helsinki University of Helsinki Martin Haspelmath Marja-Liisa Helasvuo Anders Holmberg Max Planck Institute of University of Turku Newcastle University Evolutionary Anthropology Tuomas Huumo Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila Juhani Härmä University of Turku University of Helsinki University of Helsinki University of Tartu Fred Karlsson Seppo Kittilä Meri Larjavaara University of Helsinki University of Helsinki Åbo Akademi University Jaakko Leino Marja Leinonen Matti Miestamo University of Helsinki University of Helsinki Stockholm University Jussi Niemi Urpo Nikanne Martti Nyman University of Joensuu Åbo Akademi University University of Helsinki Krista Ojutkangas Mirja Saari Helena Sulkala University of Turku University of Helsinki University of Oulu Kari Suomi Ulla Tuomarla Maria Vilkuna University of Oulu University of Helsinki Institute for the Languages of Finland Jussi Ylikoski Jan-Ola Östman Sámi University College University of Helsinki 2013 ISSN-L: 1456-8438 ISSN: 1456-8438 (Print) ISSN: 1796-279X (Online) Hansaprint, Turku 2013 Contents External Reviewers of SKY JoL 26 (2013) .................................................... 5 Ali Akbar Ansarin and Mohammad Reza Banan Khojasteh Retention in Meaning-Based Vocabulary Instruction ................................... 7 Diana Forker Microtypology and the Tsezic Languages: A Case Study of Syntactic Properties of Converbal Clauses.................................................................. 21 Martin Haspelmath On the Cross-Linguistic Distribution of Same-Subject and Different-Subject ‘Want’ Complements: Economic vs. Iconic Motivation ............................. 41 Mikko Heikkilä From Surging Waves to the Spirit of Waves – On the Germanic and Sami Origin of the Proper Names Ahti and Vellamo in Finnic Mythology .......... 71 Maija Hirvonen Sampling Similarity in Image and Language – Figure and Ground in the Analysis of Filmic Audio Description ......................................................... 87 Andrea Pešková Experimenting with Pro-drop in Spanish .................................................. 117 Piia Taremaa Fictive and Actual Motion in Estonian: Encoding Space .......................... 151 External Reviewers of SKY JoL 26 (2013) The following scholars, among a few others wishing to remain anonymous, have acted as external reviewers for SKY Journal of Linguistics in 2013: Sayaka Abe (Williams College), Ante Aikio (University of Oulu), Tim Bazalgette (University of Cambridge), Dunstan Brown (University of Surrey), Jörg Bücker (Westfälische Wilhelmsuniversität Münster), Denis Creissels (University of Lyon), Anne-Maria Fehn (Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin), Ingo Feldhausen (Goethe-Universität Frankfurt), Jonathan Fine (Bar-Ilan University), Monika Fludernik (University of Freiburg), Ángel Gallego (Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona), Elizabeth A. Galway (University of Lethbridge, Alberta), Jeff Good (University at Buffalo), Helena Halmari (Sam Houston State University), Jaakko Hämeen-Anttila (University of Helsinki), Thomas Hanneforthia (Universität Potsdam), Jutta Hartmann (Universität Tübingen), Steffen Heidinger (Karl-Franzens- Universität Graz), Berna Hendriks (Radboud University), Ilona Herlin (University of Helsinki), Debbie G.E. Ho (Universiti Brunei Darussalam), Scott Jarvis (Ohio University), Kasper Juffermans (University of Luxembourg), Elsi Kaiser (University of Southern California), Tihana Kras (University of Rijeka), Minna Laakso (University of Helsinki), Hanna Lehti-Eklund (University of Helsinki), Jaakko Leino (University of Helsinki), Juan Li (University of St. Thomas), Jouko Lindstedt (University of Helsinki), Terje Lohndal (Norwegian University of Science and Technology), Teenie Matlock (University of California, Merced), Matti Miestamo (Stockholm University), Anne Mäntykoski (University of Helsinki), Katja Mäntylä (University of Jyväskylä), Hazem Yousef Najjar (University of Bethlehem), Krista Ojutkangas (University of Turku), María Ángeles Orts Llopis (University of Murcia), Anne Pitkänen-Huhta (University of Jyväskylä), Nadine Proske (Institut für Deutsche Sprache), Aline Remael (Hogeschool Antwerpen), Martine Robbeets (Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz), Florian Schäfer (University of Stuttgart), Ur Schlonsky (Université de Genève), Christoph Schubert (Universität SKY Journal of Linguistics 26 (2013), 5 Vechta), Susanna Shore (University of Helsinki), Paula Sjöbom (University of Turku), Jae Jung Song (University of Otago), Jane Sunderland (Lancaster University), Heli Tissari (University of Eastern Finland), Anne Vainikka (Johns Hopkins University), Jeroen Vandaele (Universitet i Oslo), Maria Vilkuna (Institute for the Languages of Finland), Alena Witzlack-Makarevich (University of Zürich), Virpi Ylänne (Cardiff University) Ali Akbar Ansarin and Mohammad Reza Banan Khojasteh Retention in Meaning-Based Vocabulary Instruction Abstract Vocabulary knowledge is said to play a prominent role in learning a foreign language (Schmitt 2008). There has been considerable debate about the most effective ways for developing learners’ vocabulary knowledge. While researchers often claim incidental learning is slow and untargeted, it can supplement in the “contextual” types of word knowledge (Schmitt 2010). Other studies suggest that intentional acquisition is more effective than incidental acquisition (Nation & Meara 2002). There is little research on the effectiveness of various methods within the context of intentional vocabulary learning. In the present study, the effects of conveying meaning through synonyms, dictionary definitions, and context on acquisition and retention of vocabulary items were investigated. Eighty-one female intermediate students of English were taught forty-five vocabulary items using the three abovementioned methods. The results of two delayed post-tests showed that the context method yielded a higher rate of retention both in the immediate test and the delayed post-test compared to the other two methods. The findings of the study suggest pedagogical implications for the incorporation of effective ways of teaching the meaning of vocabulary items in syllabuses. 1. Introduction Language learners are well aware that mastering a rich vocabulary of the target language is an important ingredient of successful language learning. Learners’ needs and the usefulness of the vocabulary items generally determine which items are learned. The following two major types of vocabulary acquisition can be identified: incidental and intentional. Nation and Meara (2002) introduced the following three