COMPLETED: In which positions do native speakers of French accept dislocated topics?

French topics normally appear at the beginning or the end of the sentence, as underlined in the examples below.
(1) Le chocolat, j’adore ça.
(2) Elle l’a déjà vu, ce film.

However, when the structure of the sentence is complex, native speakers are much more reluctant to accept dislocated topics, as in the following examples:
(3) C'est la chambre où, sa soeur, on l'a surprise.
(4) Est-ce qu'ils t'ont dit qui, dans ton quartier, avait un casier judiciaire ?

This study will consist in an on-line experiment where native speakers of French will be asked to rate sentences such as (3) and (4). These test sentences will be presented in audio format, after a short written context for each test sentence.

Relevant fields of Linguistics

• Syntax
• Psycholinguistics

NB. RES students don’t need knowledge of French for this project.

Start Date: 12 November 2012
End Date: 20 December 2012

Hours per Week: 3

Activities to be undertaken by RES Student:

• Extract sound clips for each test sentence from the original recording (using Praat)
• Assist in the selection of a suitable online survey tool
• Prepare the online survey using that tool (i.e. enter the information for each test item; format the survey)
• Assist in recruiting the participants

Number of Possible Students: 2

Likely outcomes:

• Expertise in the use of IT packages: Praat, Excel, online survey tool. 
• Experience in psycholinguistic testing procedures, e.g. gaining informed consent, giving instructions, data collection and preparation, troubleshooting problems.
• An insight into the data collection phase of the research process.

Students who have questions about this project should contact Cecile De Cat on c.decat@leeds.ac.uk

If you would like to work on this project, please complete an RES application form. If your application is successful, the supervisor will be in touch in due course.