LINGUIST List 10.1717

Thu Nov 11 1999

Qs: Russian anaphora, Noun Classification

Editor for this issue: Jody Huellmantel <jodylinguistlist.org>

Directory

1. Roberta D'Alessandro, Russian anaphora
2. Matt Shomphe, Noun Classification

Dear Members,

I'm an Italian student working on Russian anaphora. I would like to
ask you if you could suggest me any reference, book or web site,
concerning this topic, as i haven't found many so far.
I thank you very much for your help.
I will post a sum.
Please reply to:
roginsunstone.it

Best,
Roberta D'Alessandro

I am looking for information about the regularity of noun classification
systems in languages. I am looking at a few specific things:

(1) Is the gender system of languages like the Romance Languages
considered to be an example of noun classification?

(2) Has there been any research into the regularity of a noun
classification system of a language? Specifically, do noun classification
systems exhibit the same regularity as, say, the verbal system of a
language? More precisely, can one predict what gender a novel (or
nonsense) word will be in a target language?

(3) If there is a regularity to a noun classification system, could it be
helpful for child language acquisition? Has there been any research to
indicate that children are using some general priciple(s) to acquire the
noun classification system?

Any information about any of this would be most helpful. Please send any
information to me at

shompheusc.edu

Thanks,
Matt Shomphe