Coding Episode Boundaries with Marked Structures: A Cross-Linguistic Study

Abstract

The notion of markedness has played an important role in linguistic theorizing for decades. Originating in Prague School phonological theory, it has also found an important place in morphology, syntax, and semantics (Andersen 1989). In general terms, markedness theory claims that when alternative forms are available, such as alternative construction types or paraphrases, one member of the set, the unmarked member, is more prototypical, is more frequent, has a wider distribution, etc. Within the psycholinguistic literature, it has been argued that the unmarked member of a set will typically be both cognitively and structurally less complex, and hence easier to process than its marked counterpart, a factor which also suggests that, all things being equal, the unmarked member should be acquired earlier than the marked member (e.g., Slobin 1973).