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The Overt Pronoun Constraint Across Three Dialects of Spanish

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An Erratum to this article was published on 30 May 2016

Abstract

The overt pronoun constraint (OPC) states that, in null subject languages, overt pronoun subjects of embedded clauses cannot be bound by wh- or quantifier antecedents. Through the administration of two written questionnaires, we examined the OPC in 246 monolingual native speakers of three dialects of Spanish, spoken in Barranquilla (Colombia), Santiago (Chile), and Buenos Aires (Argentina). We tested separately the predictions that overt pronouns cannot be bound by wh- antecedents (Experiment 1) and that they cannot be bound by quantifier antecedents (Experiment 2). We found that the OPC was not operative in any of these dialects. In Experiment 1, the percentage of bound answers was approximately the same as the percentage of anaphoric answers. In Experiment 2, the percentage of bound answers was significantly higher than the percentage of anaphoric answers. Implications both for theories of pronoun resolution in null subject languages and for theories of first and second language acquisition are discussed.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Departamento de Ciencias Sociales, Universidad de San Andrés, Vito Dumas 284, B1644BID, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Carlos Gelormini-Lezama

  2. Laboratory of Cognitive and Social Neuroscience (LaNCyS), UDP-INECO Foundation Core on Neuroscience (UIFCoN), Diego Portales University, Santiago, Chile

    David Huepe, Margherita Melloni, Facundo Manes, Adolfo M. García & Agustín Ibáñez

  3. Universidad Icesi, Departamento de Estudios Psicológicos, Cali, Colombia

    Eduar Herrera

  4. Laboratory of Experimental Psychology and Neuroscience (LPEN), Institute of Cognitive and Translational Neuroscience (INCyT), INECO Foundation, Favaloro University, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Margherita Melloni, Facundo Manes, Adolfo M. García & Agustín Ibáñez

  5. National Scientific and Technical Research Council (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Margherita Melloni, Facundo Manes, Adolfo M. García & Agustín Ibáñez

  6. Faculty of Elementary and Special Education (FEEyE), National University of Cuyo (UNCuyo), Mendoza, Argentina

    Adolfo M. García

  7. Centre of Excellence in Cognition and its Disorders, Australian Research Council (ACR), Sydney, Australia

    Agustín Ibáñez

Authors
  1. Carlos Gelormini-Lezama
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  2. David Huepe
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  3. Eduar Herrera
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  4. Margherita Melloni
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  5. Facundo Manes
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  6. Adolfo M. García
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  7. Agustín Ibáñez
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Carlos Gelormini-Lezama.

Appendices

Appendix 1

  1. 1.

    Ningún periodista dijo haber hablado con los sospechosos antes del juicio. Una locutora de canal 8 dijo que el juez sí había hablado con los sospechosos. [No journalist admitted to speaking with the suspects before the trial. A female newscaster from Channel 8 said that the judge had spoken with the suspects.] ¿Quién dijo que él había hablado con los sospechosos? [Who said that he had spoken with the suspects?]

    1. (a)

      Nadie. [Nobody.]

    2. (b)

      Una locutora de canal 8. [A female newscaster from Channel 8.]

  1. 2.

    Un grupo de alumnas están conversando sobre la maratón que disputarán al día siguiente. Cada una de las alumnas declara en algún momento: “Yo ganaré la maratón”. El profesor dice: “Yo creo que la que va a ganar es Micaela”. [A group of female students are discussing the marathon that will take place tomorrow. Each one declares at some point, “I will win the marathon.” Their professor says, “I believe that Michelle will be the winner.] ¿Quién cree que ella ganará la maratón? [Who thinks that she will win the marathon?]

    1. (a)

      Todas las alumnas. [All female students.]

    2. (b)

      El profesor. [The professor.]

  1. 3.

    Ninguna actriz admitió haberse equivocado durante la función. Un actor admitió que la directora se equivocó al no estar presente en el ensayo general. [No actress admitted to having made a mistake during the performance. An actor admitted that the female director had made a mistake by not being present at the rehearsal.] ¿Quién admitió que ella cometió una equivocación? [Who admitted that she had made a mistake?]

    1. (c)

      Un actor. [An actor.]

    2. (d)

      Nadie. [Nobody.]

  1. 4.

    En una fiesta infantil las niñas quieren llevarse el premio de una rifa de un oso de peluche. Cada una de las niñas piensa: “yo me llevaré el premio”. El papá de Marcela grita: “Yo pienso que la que se va a llevar el premio es Marcela”. [At a birthday party, all of the girls want to win the teddy bear raffle. Each one of the girls thinks, “I will win the prize.” Marcela’s father says, “I think that the prize will go to Marcela.”] ¿Quién piensa que ella se llevará el premio? [Who thinks that she will win the prize?]

    1. (a)

      El papá de Marcela. [Marcela’sfather.]

    2. (b)

      Todas las niñas. [All of the girls.]

  1. 5.

    Ningún estudiante creyó ser responsable de la pelea en el colegio. Una secretariacreyó que el responsablefue el director. [No student admitted to being responsible for the school fight. A secretary thought that the male director was responsible.] ¿Quién creyó que él fue el responsable de la pelea en el colegio? [Who thought that he was responsible for the school fight.]

    1. (a)

      Nadie. [Nobody.]

    2. (b)

      Una secretaria. [A secretary.]

  1. 6.

    Un grupo de hombres de negocios, que incluía ingenieros, economistas y abogados discuten un proyecto para ganar mucho dinero. Cada uno de ellos dice: “yo participaré del proyecto”. Una secretaria dice: “Del proyecto también participará el presidente del colegio de ingenieros”. [A group of businessmen, including engineers, economists, and lawyers, discuss a project which could earn a lot of money. Each one of them says, “I will participate in the project.” A secretary says, “The president of the college of engineering will also participate.”] ¿Quién dijo que él participará del proyecto? [Who says that he will participate in the project?]

    1. (a)

      Todos los hombres de negocio. [All of the businessmen.]

    2. (b)

      Una secretaria. [A secretary.]

  1. 7.

    Ningún bombero aceptó su culpa en el fracaso del operativo. La supervisora aceptó que el director general de bomberos era culpable. [No fireman accepted the guilt in the failure of the mission. The female supervisor believed that the male director was guilty.] ¿Quién aceptó que él era culpable? [Who thought that he was guilty?]

    1. (a)

      La supervisora. [The female supervisor.]

    2. (b)

      Nadie. [Nobody.]

  1. 8.

    En un equipo femenino de hockey se produce una discusión acerca de quién será la nueva capitana del equipo. Cada una de las chicas presiente que será la elegida. El profesor de gimnasia presiente que la elegida será María Luz. [On a female hockey team, discussion arose as to who would be the new captain of the team. Each one of the girls was confident about being chosen. The gym teacher felt that Mary Luz would be picked.] ¿Quién presiente que ella será elegida capitana?[Who thinks that she will be elected captain?]

    1. (a)

      Todas las chicas. [All of the girls.]

    2. (b)

      El profesor de gimnasia. [Thegymteacher.]

  1. 9.

    Ningún jugador del equipo reconoció haber fallado. Una jugadora reconoció que el director técnico había fallado en su trabajo. [No player on the team remembered making a mistake. One female player admitted that the male director had made a mistake.] ¿Quién reconoció que él había fallado? [Who admitted that he had made a mistake?]

    1. (a)

      Una jugadora. [A femaleplayer.]

    2. (b)

      Nadie. [Nobody.]

  1. 10.

    Un grupo de 17 artistas de un circo están ensayando. Cada uno de ellos se considera el mejor artista del grupo. La directora del circo considera que el mejor artista es el domador. [A group of 17 circus performers are rehearsing. Each one is confident about being the best performer in the group. The director of the circus thinks the best performer is the lion tamer.] ¿Quién considera que él es el mejor artista? [Who thinks that he is the best performer?]

    1. (a)

      Los 17 artistas. [The 17 performers.]

    2. (b)

      La directoradelcirco. [The female director of the circus.]

  1. 11.

    Cinco mujeres se presentan como candidatas a presidenta del centro de estudiantes. Cada una confía en ser seleccionada. El director de la institución confía que la seleccionada será su propia hija. [Five women are presented as candidates to be president of the student center. Each one is confident that she will be selected. The director of the institution is confident that his own daughter will be chosen.] ¿Quién confía que ella será seleccionada como presidenta del centro de estudiantes? [Who is confident that she will be chosen as the president of the student center?]

    1. (a)

      El director de la institución. [The director of the institution.]

    2. (b)

      Las cincomujeres. [The five women.]

  1. 12.

    Ninguna profesora del colegio prometió ayudar con la fiesta de fin de curso. Un profesor prometió que su hija escenógrafa ayudaría con la fiesta. [No female high school teacher promised to help with the end-of-course party. A male professor promised that his daughter, a stage designer, would help with the party.] ¿Quién prometió que ella ayudaría con la fiesta? [Who promised that she would help with the party?]

    1. (a)

      Unprofesor. [A professor.]

    2. (b)

      Nadie. [Nobody.]

  1. 13.

    En un colegio secundario se organizó una Olimpíada de matemática entre todos los alumnos de quinto año. Cada uno siente que será el vencedor. La profesora de matemática siente que el vencedor será Pablo. [At a high school, a Math Olympiad is organized amongst all the seniors. Each one is confident about winning the contest. The math teacher thinks that Pablo will be the winner.] ¿Quién siente que él será el vencedor? [Who thinks that he will be the winner?]

    1. (a)

      Todos los alumnos de quinto año. [All of the seniors.]

    2. (b)

      La profesora de matemática. [Themathprofessor.]

  1. 14.

    Ninguna enfermera del equipo médico se consideró causante del accidente ocurrido en el quirófano. Un enfermero consideró que la causante fue la jefa de residentes. [No female nurse believed herself to be the reason for the accident that occurred in the operating room. A male nurse thought that the female chief resident caused the accident.] ¿Quién consideró que ella era responsable del accidente? [Who thought that she was responsible for the accident?]

    1. (a)

      Nadie. [Nobody.]

    2. (b)

      Un enfermero. [A male nurse.]

  1. 15.

    Ninguna candidata se consideró inhabilitada para la elección. Un candidato consideró que la actual presidenta estaba inhabilitada para ser elegida. [No female candidate believed herself to be disqualified for the election. A male candidate believed that the actual female president was disqualified for the election.] ¿Quién consideró que ella estaba inhabilitada para la elección? [Who believed that she was disqualified for the election?]

    1. (a)

      Nadie. [Nobody.]

    2. (b)

      Uncandidato. [A male candidate.]

  1. 16.

    Un grupo de médicos fue seleccionado como precandidatos a la dirección del hospital de niños de Buenos Aires. Cada uno imagina que obtendrá ese puesto. La directora saliente imagina que el Dr. Martínez obtendrá el puesto. [A group of doctors was selected as potential candidates to address a children’s hospital in Buenos Aires. Each is confident about getting the job. The outgoing director thinks that Dr. Martinez will get the job.] ¿Quién imagina que él obtendrá el puesto? [Who thinks that he will get the job?]

    1. (a)

      Los precandidatos médicos. [The potential candidates.]

    2. (b)

      La directorasaliente. [The outgoing director.]

  1. 17.

    Ninguna niña reconoció haberle pegado al perro. Un niño reconoció que su madre le había pegado al perro. [No girl remembered having hit the dog. A boy remembered that his mother had hit the dog.] ¿Quién reconoció que ella le había pegado al perro? [Who remembered that she had hit the dog?]

    1. (a)

      Unniño. [A boy.]

    2. (b)

      Nadie. [Nobody.]

  1. 18.

    Ningún obrero se declaró autor del brutal crimen. Una ingeniera declaró que el autor del crimen fue el arquitecto. [No worker admitted to being the killer in a brutal crime. An engineer said that the murderer was an architect.] ¿Quién declaró que él era autor del crimen? [Who said that he was the murderer?]

    1. (a)

      Nadie. [Nobody.]

    2. (b)

      Una ingeniera. [An engineer.]

  1. 19.

    Los tres socios de una empresa textil discuten acerca de un robo producido. Cada uno niega ser el responsable. La tesorera negó que el portero sea responsable del robo. [The three partners of the textile company discussed a robbery that occurred. Each one denied being responsible. The treasurer denied that the doorman was responsible for the robbery.] ¿Quién negó que él sea el responsable? [Who denied that he was responsible?]

    1. (a)

      La tesorera. [The treasurer.]

    2. (b)

      Los tressocios. [The three partners.]

  1. 20.

    Veinte mujeres compiten por el puesto de secretaria del director de una empresa de productos plásticos. Cada una de ellas considera que será la elegida. El jefe de personal considera que la elegida será Marta. [Twenty women are competing to be the secretary for the director of a company that produces plastic products. Each one is confident about being chosen. The chief of staff thinks that Marta will be chosen.] ¿Quién considera que ella será la elegida? [Who thinks that she will be chosen?]

    1. (a)

      Las veintemujeres. [The twenty women.]

    2. (b)

      El jefe de personal. [The chief of staff.]

Appendix 2

  1. 1.

    Ningún periodista dijo haber hablado con los sospechosos antes del juicio. Un periodista de canal 8 dijo que el juez sí había hablado con los sospechosos. [No journalist admitted to speaking with the suspects before the trial. A female newscaster from Channel 8 said that the judge had spoken with the suspects.] Ningún periodista dijo que él había hablado con los sospechosos. [No journalist said that he had spoken with the suspects.]

  1. 2.

    Un grupo de alumnas están conversando sobre la maratón que disputarán al día siguiente. Cada una de las alumnas declara en algún momento: “Yo ganaré la maratón”. La profesora dice: “Yo creo que la que va a ganar es Micaela”. [A group of female students are discussing the marathon that will take place tomorrow. Each one declares at some point, “I will win the marathon.” Their professor says, “I believe that Michelle will be the winner.”] Cada alumna cree que ella ganará la maratón. [Each student believes that she will win the marathon.]

  1. 3.

    Ninguna actriz admitió haberse equivocado durante la función. Una actriz admitió que la directora se equivocó al no estar presente en el ensayo general. [No actress admitted to having made a mistake during the performance. An actor admitted that the female director had made a mistake by not being present at the rehearsal.] Ninguna actriz admitió que ella cometió una equivocación. [No actress admitted that she made a mistake.]

  1. 4.

    En una fiesta infantil las niñas quieren llevarse el premio de una rifa de un oso de peluche. Cada una de las niñas piensa: “yo me llevaré el premio”. La mamá de Marcela grita: “Yo pienso que la que se va a llevar el premio es Marcela”. [At a birthday party, all of the girls want to win the teddy bear raffle. Each one of the girls thinks, “I will win the prize.” Marcela’s father says, “I think that the prize will go to Marcela.”] Cada niña piensa que ella se llevará el premio. [Each girl thinks that she will win the prize.]

  1. 5.

    Ningún estudiante creyó ser responsable de la pelea en el colegio. Un estudiante creyó que el responsable fue el director. [No student admitted to being responsible for the school fight. A secretary thought that the male director was responsible.] Ningún estudiante creyó que él fue el responsable de la pelea. [No student believed that he was responsible for the fight.]

  1. 6.

    Ninguna candidata se consideró inhabilitada para la elección. Una candidata consideró que la actual presidenta estaba inhabilitada para ser elegida. [No female candidate believed herself to be disqualified for the election. A male candidate believed that the actual president was disqualified for the election.] Ninguna candidata consideró que ella estaba inhabilitada para la elección. [No female candidate believed that she was disqualified for the election.]

  1. 7.

    Un grupo de hombres de negocio, que incluían ingenieros, economistas y abogados discuten un proyecto para ganar mucho dinero. Cada uno de ellos dice: “yo participaré del proyecto”. Un ingeniero dice: “Del proyecto también participará el presidente del colegio de ingenieros”. [A group of businessmen, including engineers, economists, and lawyers, discuss a project which could earn a lot of money. Each one of them says, “I will participate in the project.” A secretary says, “The president of the college of engineering will also participate.”] Cada hombre de negocios dijo que él participará del proyecto. [Each businessman said that he will participate in the project.]

  1. 8.

    Ninguna niña reconoció haberle pegado al perro. Una niña reconoció que su madre le había pegado al perro. No girl remembered having hit the dog. [A boy remembered that his mother had hit the dog.] Ninguna niña reconoció que ella le había pegado al perro. [No girl remembered that she had hit the dog.]

  1. 9.

    Cinco mujeres se presentan como candidatas a presidenta del centro de estudiantes. Cada una confía en ser la elegida. La directora de la institución confía que la elegida será su propia hija. [Five women are presented as candidates to be president of the student center. Each one is confident that she will be selected. The director of the institution is confident that his own daughter will be chosen.] Cada una de las cinco mujeres confía que ella será elegida como presidenta del centro de estudiantes. [Each one of the five women is confident that she will be selected as president of the student center.]

  1. 10.

    Ningún bombero aceptó su culpa en el fracaso del operativo. Un bombero aceptó que el director general de bomberos era culpable. [No fireman accepted the guilt in the failure of the mission. The supervisor believed that the male director was guilty.] Ningún bombero aceptó que él era culpable. [No fireman accepted that he was guilty.]

  1. 11.

    En un colegio secundario se organizó una Olimpíada de matemática entre todos los alumnos de quinto año. Cada uno siente que será el vencedor. El profesor de matemática siente que el vencedor será Pablo. [At a high school, a Math Olympiad is organized amongst all the seniors. Each one is confident about winning the contest. The math teacher thinks that Pablo will be the winner.] Cada alumno siente que él será el vencedor. [Each student feels that he will win the contest.]

  1. 12.

    Veinte mujeres compiten por el puesto de secretaria del director de una empresa de productos plásticos. Cada una de ellas se considera la elegida. La jefa de personal sin embargo considera que la elegida será Marta. [Twenty women are competing to be the secretary for the director of a company that produces plastic products. Each one is confident about being chosen. The chief of staff thinks that Marta will be chosen.] Cada una de las veinte mujeres considera que ella será la elegida. [Each one of the twenty women thinks that she will be chosen.]

  1. 13.

    Ningún jugador del equipo reconoció haber fallado. Un jugador reconoció que el técnico había fallado en su trabajo. [No player on the team admitted making a mistake. One player admitted that the coach had made a mistake.] Ningún jugador reconoció que él había fallado. [No player remembered that he had made a mistake.]

  1. 14.

    Un grupo de 17 artistas de un circo están ensayando. Cada uno de ellos se considera el mejor artista del grupo. El director del circo considera que el mejor artista es el arriesgado domador. [A group of 17 circus performers are rehearsing. Each one is confident about being the best performer in the group. The director of the circus thinks the best performer is the lion tamer.] Cada uno de los 17 artistas considera que él es el mejor artista. [Each one of the 17 performers is confident that he is the best artist.]

  1. 15.

    Ninguna enfermera del equipo médico se consideró causante del accidente ocurrido en el quirófano. Una enfermera consideró que la causante fue la jefa de residentes. [No female nurse believed herself to be the reason for the accident that occurred in the operating room. A male nurse thought that the female chief resident caused the accident.] Ninguna enfermera consideró que ella era causante del accidente. [No female nurse thought that she was the cause of the accident.]

  1. 16.

    Los tres socios de una empresa textil discuten acerca de un robo producido. Cada uno niega ser el responsable. El socio mayor negó que el portero sea responsable del robo. [The three partners of the textile company discussed a robbery that occurred. Each one denied being responsible. The treasurer denied that the doorman was responsible for the robbery.] Cada uno de los tres socios negó que él sea el responsable. [Each one of the three partners denied that he was responsible.]

  1. 17.

    Ninguna profesora del colegio prometió ayudar con la fiesta de fin de curso. Una profesora prometió que su hija escenógrafa ayudaría con la fiesta. [No female high school teacher promised to help with the end-of-course party. A male professor promised that his daughter, a stage designer, would help with the party.] Ninguna profesora prometió que ella ayudaría con la fiesta. [No female professor promised that she would help with the party.]

  1. 18.

    Un grupo de médicos fue seleccionado como precandidatos a la dirección del hospital de niños. Cada uno está convencido de que obtendrá ese puesto. El director saliente está convencido de que el Dr. Martínez obtendrá el puesto. [A group of doctors was selected as potential candidates to address a children’s hospital in Buenos Aires. Each is confident about getting the job. The outgoing director thinks that Dr. Martinez will get the job.] Cada precandidato está convencido de que él obtendrá el puesto. [Each potential candidate is confident that he will get the job.]

  1. 19.

    Ningún obrero se declaró autor del brutal crimen. Un obrero declaró que el autor del crimen fue el arquitecto. [No worker admitted to being the killer in a brutal crime. An engineer said that the murderer was an architect.] Ningún obrero declaró que él era autor del crimen. [No worker admitted that he was the murderer.]

  1. 20.

    En un equipo femenino de hockey se produce una discusión acerca de quién será la nueva capitana del equipo. Cada una de las chicas presiente que será la elegida. La actual capitana presiente que le elegida será María Luz. [On a female hockey team, discussion arose as to who would be the new captain of the team. Each one of the girls was confident about being chosen. The gym teacher felt that Mary Luz would be picked.] Cada una de las chicas presiente que ella será la capitana. [Each one of the girls feels that she will be chosen as captain.]

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Gelormini-Lezama, C., Huepe, D., Herrera, E. et al. The Overt Pronoun Constraint Across Three Dialects of Spanish. J Psycholinguist Res 45, 979–1000 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-016-9426-2

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