Abstract Based on the theory proposed in Frascarelli (2007), according to which the interpretation of null subjects depends on an Agree relation between pro and a specific type of Topic (i.e. the A-Topic, cf. Frascarelli & Hinterhölzl 2007), the first objective of this paper is to evaluate this theory from an acquisitional perspective on children from 3 to 9 years old. Furthermore, since the A-Topic is argued to be systematically associated to specific discourse, prosodic and syntactic properties, a second objective of this paper is to check whether the relevant acquisition correlates with information-structural and interface-related competences. Based on an original experiment designed to examine Topic chains in children’s narrative, evidence is provided that this productive ability is not fully acquired at the age of 9 and that its progress proceeds in three steps, involving different levels of grammar. Specifically, in a first phase children tend to assume their personal experience and discourse intentions as familiar to their interlocutors. Hence, they start their narration linking null subjects to silent A-Topics, without overt links for their interpretation (‘Emperor Strategy’). Then, at the age of 6 the creation of Topic chains seems to be part of children’s competence at a discourse-syntactic level and overt copies are progressively produced in the chains. Nevertheless, since children still assume their ‘hero’ to be a familiar entity, G[iven]-Topics are frequently realised as first link for null subjects. Finally, at around 7–7.11 the adult-like association between discourse-syntactic and prosodic properties is attested.

中文翻译：

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主题链和空主题的解释。在意大利儿童中获得与话语相关的策略

摘要基于Frascarelli（2007）中提出的理论，根据该理论，空主题的解释取决于pro和特定主题类型（即A-Topic，参见Frascarelli＆Hinterhölzl2007）之间的同意关系。本文的目的是从后代的角度对3至9岁的儿童进行评估。此外，由于A-Topic被认为与特定的语篇，韵律和句法属性有系统的关联，因此本文的第二个目标是检查相关习得是否与信息结构和界面相关的能力相关。基于旨在检验儿童叙事主题链的原始实验，提供的证据表明，这种生产能力在9岁时还没有完全获得，并且其发展过程分为三个步骤，涉及语法的不同水平。具体来说，在第一阶段，孩子倾向于假定自己的对话者熟悉的个人经历和话语意图。因此，他们开始叙述，将空主题与沉默的A主题联系起来，而没有明显的链接来解释（“皇帝策略”）。然后，在6岁时，话题语链的创建似乎是儿童在语篇-​​句法层面上的能力的一部分，并且明显地复制了话题链。尽管如此，由于孩子仍然认为自己的“英雄”是一个熟悉的实体，因此经常将G [Topic]理解为零对象的第一链接。最后，在7–7点左右。