| The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate ways in which people decode, retrieve and recover information which has been ellipsed, deleted and reduced (and claimed to be fully recoverable). The interpretive recovery which takes place as hearers attempt to understand the communicative intents of speakers is an integral and pervasive part of our communicative competence. While the dissertation addresses the work done in investigating ellipsis and reduction through syntax, it focuses primarily on semantic ellipsis and reduction, and the processes and strategies available for recovery. Specific applications are made to Second language learning, Humor, and Natural Language Processing. |
