Discourse Adverbials as Anaphors: A New Perspective on Discourse Structure

Title: Discourse Adverbials as Anaphors: A New Perspective on Discourse Structure

Research Question: Can discourse adverbials, which are often taken as discourse connectives, be better understood as anaphors?

Methodology: The researchers propose a four-part argument to support their hypothesis. First, they demonstrate the behavioral similarity between discourse adverbials and common anaphors like pronouns and definite noun phrases. Second, they present a general framework for understanding anaphora, which includes discourse adverbials. Third, they show the interpretational benefits of viewing discourse adverbials as anaphors. Finally, they sketch out a lexicalized grammar that facilitates discourse interpretation through compositional rules, anaphor resolution, and inference.

Results: The researchers provide several examples to illustrate their points. They show how discourse adverbials can be linked to their matrix clauses in the same way that anaphors are linked to their antecedents. They also argue that viewing discourse adverbials as anaphors allows for a more straightforward interpretation of discourse structure.

Implications: The researchers suggest that understanding discourse adverbials as anaphors has several advantages. It recognizes the behavioral similarity between different types of anaphors, provides a more straightforward interpretation of discourse structure, and supports the direct computation of discourse semantics through compositional rules and defeasible inference.

In conclusion, the researchers argue that discourse adverbials should be viewed as anaphors, which can lead to a more coherent and efficient understanding of discourse structure.

Link to Article: https://arxiv.org/abs/0109010v1 Authors: arXiv ID: 0109010v1