1. Introduction to Information Structure A Day that will live in Infamy!

2. 2 Structuring Information 1. I went to the store, to the beach, and to bed. 2. I went to the store and to the beach and to bed. 3. I went to the store and I went to the beach and I went to bed. 4. I went to the store. I went to the beach. I went to bed.

3. 3 Structuring Information “I went to the store.” “I went to the beach.” “I went to bed.” “I went to the store.” “I went to the beach.” “I went to bed.” “I am of Paul,” “I am of Apollos,” “I am of Cephas,” “I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 1:12). “I am of Paul,” “I am of Apollos,” “I am of Cephas,” “I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 1:12).1 Cor. 1:121 Cor. 1:12

4. 4 Mental Representations Dooley and Levinsohn state, “The organization that hearers associate with a discourse is…a reflection of how the content comes together and is stored in the mind” (2001:10). The information structuring devices are one of the means used to guide the reader in their construction of the intended mental representation of the discourse.

5. 5 Mental Representations The “Mental File Cabinet” Major components of the discourse each get a file Major components of the discourse each get a file Narrative: Participant (people) oriented Narrative: Participant (people) oriented Exposition: Procedure or Topic oriented Exposition: Procedure or Topic oriented Hortatory (exhortation): Activity oriented Hortatory (exhortation): Activity oriented New information is added to appropriate file New information is added to appropriate file

6. 6 Mental Representations When new discourse entity is added, several questions: Create a new file or use an existing one? Create a new file or use an existing one? This is the question of “I am of X, I am of Y…” This is the question of “I am of X, I am of Y…”

7. 7 Mental Representations When new discourse entity is added, several questions: Create a new file or use an existing one? Create a new file or use an existing one? This is the question of “I am of X, I am of Y…” This is the question of “I am of X, I am of Y…” What label do I put on the file? What label do I put on the file? Who is “I”? Who is “I”?

8. 8 Mental Representations When new discourse entity is added, several questions: Create a new file or use an existing one? Create a new file or use an existing one? This is the question of “I am of X, I am of Y…” This is the question of “I am of X, I am of Y…” What label do I put on the file? What label do I put on the file? Who is “I”? Who is “I”? How does this file relate to the ones I already have? What drawer do I put it in? How does this file relate to the ones I already have? What drawer do I put it in? How does “I” relate to the other participants in the discourse? How does “I” relate to the other participants in the discourse?

9. 9 Mental Representations When new discourse entity is added, several questions: Create a new file or use an existing one? Create a new file or use an existing one? This is the question of “I am of X, I am of Y…” This is the question of “I am of X, I am of Y…” What label do I put on the file? What label do I put on the file? Who is “I”? Who is “I”? How does this file relate to the ones I already have? What drawer do I put it in? How does this file relate to the ones I already have? What drawer do I put it in? How does “I” relate to the other participants in the discourse? How does “I” relate to the other participants in the discourse? When we mis-communicate or “get lost”, it is generally because of one of these things. When we mis-communicate or “get lost”, it is generally because of one of these things.

10. 10 Natural Information Flow Every statement is a mix of presupposed and new information. Every statement is a mix of presupposed and new information. Presupposed (i.e. old or established) information provide basis or processing the new. Presupposed (i.e. old or established) information provide basis or processing the new. The reason that this class is so hard is this: You are getting brand new information and then needing to immediately build on it. You are getting brand new information and then needing to immediately build on it. If it was more familiar, it would be much easier. If it was more familiar, it would be much easier.

11. 11 Natural Information Flow Default is to move from most known info to least known, as much as language allows Default is to move from most known info to least known, as much as language allows English English Greek Greek Hebrew Hebrew Verbs play significant role in this structuring Verbs play significant role in this structuring

12. 12 Violating Natural Information Flow Sometimes Natural Information Flow is violated: Emphasis: Adding extra prominence to the new information. Emphasis: Adding extra prominence to the new information. Taking what was already most important and attracting more attention to it because of its significance. Taking what was already most important and attracting more attention to it because of its significance.

13. 13 Violating Natural Information Flow Sometimes Natural Information Flow is violated: Emphasis: Adding extra prominence to the new information. Emphasis: Adding extra prominence to the new information. Taking what was already most important and attracting more attention to it because of its significance. Taking what was already most important and attracting more attention to it because of its significance. Frames of reference: Adding prominence to known or knowable information for organizational reasons. Frames of reference: Adding prominence to known or knowable information for organizational reasons. Creates an explicit frame of reference instructing the reader how to relate what follows to what precedes. Creates an explicit frame of reference instructing the reader how to relate what follows to what precedes.

14. 14 Violating Natural Information Flow Emphasis: Adding extra prominence to the new information. Emphasis: Adding extra prominence to the new information. Frames of reference: Adding prominence to known or knowable information for organizational reasons. Frames of reference: Adding prominence to known or knowable information for organizational reasons. The only difference between emphasis and a frame is the status of the information! The only difference between emphasis and a frame is the status of the information! Status of information is based on context! Status of information is based on context!

15. 15 Questions, Presuppositions, and Answers To whom did you give the book? (Presupposition: You gave the book to someone.) Default answer: I gave the book to James, or To James. Marked answer: (It was) to James I gave the book (and not to someone else). Default answer: I gave the book to James, or To James. Marked answer: (It was) to James I gave the book (and not to someone else). Where did you put my book? (Presupposition: You put my book somewhere.) Default answer: I put your book on the table, or On the table. Marked answer: (It was) on the table I put your book (and not somewhere else). Default answer: I put your book on the table, or On the table. Marked answer: (It was) on the table I put your book (and not somewhere else). When did you arrive? (Presupposition: You arrived some time.) Default: I arrived yesterday, or Yesterday. Marked: (It was) yesterday I arrived (and not at some other time). Default: I arrived yesterday, or Yesterday. Marked: (It was) yesterday I arrived (and not at some other time).

16. 16 Statements and Presuppositions Divers hope to resume their search of the frigid, murky Hudson River on Wednesday. They will be looking for for the most coveted piece of debris from the plane that safely splashed down in the river last week: The missing left engine. New York Police Department harbor officers working with a sonar expert … got a reading about 60 feet down of an object 16 feet long and 8 feet wide. It is near where US Airways Flight 1549 made its emergency landing. The engine is about the same size as the object picked up by sonar. “Left engine of US Airways jet still missing in NYC,” By COLLEEN LONG, Associated Press Story, 1/21/09.

17. 17 Violating Natural Information Flow Emphasis: Adding extra prominence to the new information. Emphasis: Adding extra prominence to the new information. Frames of reference: Adding prominence to known or knowable information for organizational reasons. Frames of reference: Adding prominence to known or knowable information for organizational reasons. The only difference between emphasis and a frame is the status of the information! The only difference between emphasis and a frame is the status of the information! Status of information is based on context! Status of information is based on context!

18. 18 Frames of Reference What did you give to James and Elizabeth? Default: I gave the book to James, I gave the backpack to Elizabeth. Default: I gave the book to James, I gave the backpack to Elizabeth. Marked: To James, I gave the book; to Elizabeth, I gave the backpack. Marked: To James, I gave the book; to Elizabeth, I gave the backpack. What did you do this week? Default: I arrived yesterday; I will go sightseeing today. Default: I arrived yesterday; I will go sightseeing today. Marked: Yesterday, I arrived; today, I will go sightseeing. Marked: Yesterday, I arrived; today, I will go sightseeing. The status of the information determines the effect achieved by adding prominence to the information.

19. 19 Examples Yoda’s English Yoda’s English Yoda’s English Yoda’s English Mark 4:3-8; 14-20 Mark 4:3-8; 14-20 Mark 4:3-814-20 Mark 4:3-814-20 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 1 John 1:6-8 1 John 1:6-8 1 John 1:6-8 1 John 1:6-8 Romans 7:1-3 Romans 7:1-3 Romans 7:1-3 Romans 7:1-3 Ephesians 2:8-9 Ephesians 2:8-9 Ephesians 2:8-9 Ephesians 2:8-9 Matthew 6:1 ff, especially vv. 5 and 7 Matthew 6:1 ff, especially vv. 5 and 7 Matthew 6:1 ff Matthew 6:1 ff