The Semantics of Gradation
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The Linguistic Description of Opaque Contexts Pdf, Epub, Ebook
THE LINGUISTIC DESCRIPTION OF OPAQUE CONTEXTS PDF, EPUB, EBOOK Janet Dean Fodor | 384 pages | 26 Nov 2015 | Taylor & Francis Ltd | 9781138989535 | English | London, United Kingdom The Linguistic Description of Opaque Contexts PDF Book This also concerns noun phrases embedded under attitude verbs; consider:. A naturalobjectionto ourproposalis thatthe T-sentencewe give for 'Galileo said that the earthmoves' will not enable someone who grasps it alone to under- stand the sentence for which it gives truthconditions. Peter Trudgill offers examples of non-transparent and transparent compounds: "The English word dentist is not semantically transparent whereas the Norwegian word tannlege , literally 'tooth doctor,' is" A Glossary of Sociolinguistics , This cannot mean as if they had asserted them, so we take it that the idea is basically the same as the one we have in mind. See Lepore and Ludwig for a suggestion for an importantmodificationof Davidson's proposal in the context of a general truth-theoreticaltreatmentof tense and temporaladverbs. The above observation about translationhelps on another front. JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. This way of drawing attentionto the appropriaterelation is does not commit us to the existence of propo- sitions; rather,it is a useful heuristicgiven the familiarityof puttingit this way. Perhaps the most popular solution to the problem of providing a compositional semantics for naturallanguages aims to exploit this fact by treat- ing that-clausesas referringto intensional entities-entities at least as as finely individuatedas the meanings of sentences. -
II Levels of Language
II Levels of language 1 Phonetics and phonology 1.1 Characterising articulations 1.1.1 Consonants 1.1.2 Vowels 1.2 Phonotactics 1.3 Syllable structure 1.4 Prosody 1.5 Writing and sound 2 Morphology 2.1 Word, morpheme and allomorph 2.1.1 Various types of morphemes 2.2 Word classes 2.3 Inflectional morphology 2.3.1 Other types of inflection 2.3.2 Status of inflectional morphology 2.4 Derivational morphology 2.4.1 Types of word formation 2.4.2 Further issues in word formation 2.4.3 The mixed lexicon 2.4.4 Phonological processes in word formation 3 Lexicology 3.1 Awareness of the lexicon 3.2 Terms and distinctions 3.3 Word fields 3.4 Lexicological processes in English 3.5 Questions of style 4 Syntax 4.1 The nature of linguistic theory 4.2 Why analyse sentence structure? 4.2.1 Acquisition of syntax 4.2.2 Sentence production 4.3 The structure of clauses and sentences 4.3.1 Form and function 4.3.2 Arguments and complements 4.3.3 Thematic roles in sentences 4.3.4 Traces 4.3.5 Empty categories 4.3.6 Similarities in patterning Raymond Hickey Levels of language Page 2 of 115 4.4 Sentence analysis 4.4.1 Phrase structure grammar 4.4.2 The concept of ‘generation’ 4.4.3 Surface ambiguity 4.4.4 Impossible sentences 4.5 The study of syntax 4.5.1 The early model of generative grammar 4.5.2 The standard theory 4.5.3 EST and REST 4.5.4 X-bar theory 4.5.5 Government and binding theory 4.5.6 Universal grammar 4.5.7 Modular organisation of language 4.5.8 The minimalist program 5 Semantics 5.1 The meaning of ‘meaning’ 5.1.1 Presupposition and entailment 5.2 -
Equative Constructions in World-Wide Perspective
View metadata, citation and similar papers at core.ac.uk brought to you by CORE provided by ZENODO 1 Equative constructions in world-wide perspective Martin Haspelmath & the Leipzig Equative Constructions Team1 Abstract: In this paper, we report on a world-wide study of equative constructions (‘A is as big as B’) in a convenience sample of 119 languages. From earlier work, it has been known that European languages often have equative constructions based on adverbial relative pronouns that otherwise express degree or manner (‘how’, ‘as’), but we find that this type is rare outside Europe. We divide the constructions that we found into six primary types, four of which have closely corresponding types of comparative constructions (‘A is bigger than B’). An equative construction often consists of five components: a comparee (‘A’), a degree-marker (‘as’), a parameter (‘is big’), a standard-marker (‘as’), and a standard (‘B’). Most frequently, the parameter is the main predicate and the equative sense is expressed by a special standard-marker. But many languages also have a degree-marker, so that we get a construction of the English and French type. Another possibility is for the equality sense to be expressed by a transitive ‘equal’ (or ‘reach’) verb, which may be the main predicate or a secondary predicate. And finally, since the equative construction is semantically symmetrical, it is also possible to “unify” the parameter and the standard in the subject position (‘A and B are equally tall’, or ‘A and B are equal in height’). But no language has only a degree-marker, leaving the standard unmarked. -
Theme’ in English: Their Syntax, Semantics and Discourse Functions
The Many Types of ‘Theme’ in English: their Syntax, Semantics and Discourse Functions Robin P. Fawcett The Many Types of ‘Theme’ in English: their Syntax, Semantics and Discourse Functions Robin P. Fawcett Emeritus Professor of Linguistics Cardiff University This book is being worked on, intermittently, so please forgive any inconsistencies of numbering, etc. I would be very grateful if you felt able to send me your comments and suggestions for improvements, including improvements in clarity. However, plans for publishing this work in this form in the near future have been shelved, as a result of the decision to focus on three other books: Fawcett forthcoming 2009a, forthcoming 2009b and forthcoming 2010 (for which see the References). The last of these will include material from the descriptive portion of the present work. I still intend to bring this work up to book- publishing standard at some point in the near future. Meanwhile I am happy for it to be used and cited, if you wish. CHANGES TO BE MADE Networks derived from Figure 2 will be added at appropriate points throughout. The figure numbers will be changed to start anew for each chapter. Notes comparing this approach with the networks in Halliday and Matthiessen 2004 and Thompson 2004 will be added (noting Thompson’s use of our term ‘enhanced’). Other possible changes (marked by XXX) will be considered. Perhaps I shall add the ‘fact’ that the word beginning with ‘t’ that was looked up most frequently on dictionary.com in 2005 was ‘theme’! Contents Preface 1 Introduction 1.1 Three -
The Origin of the Celtic Comparative Type Oir Tressa, MW
170 R. Schmitt 16: offenbar noch nicht erschienen 14. 17: Het'owm Patmic', Patmowt'iwn T'at'arac' [Hethum der Histori ker Geschichte der Tataren] / Getum Patmic, Istorija Tatar / Hetum Patmich, History of Tatars, 4°, 1981, [Vlj, 704 S. (T: Ven~tik 1842; ]3: The Origin of the Celtic Comparative Type Olr. tressa, Bambis Asoti Eganyan; 642-691 Wortliste, Namen und Datlerungen em MW Jrech 'stronger' scblieBend; 692-702 Namenliste). 18/1-2: Step'anos Taronec'i Asolik, Patmowt'iwn Tiezerakan [Stepha The comparison of adjectives in Celtic presents many interesting fea nos von Taraun Asolik, Universalgeschichte] / Stepanos TaroneCl AsohIi<, tures 1, Some of these are structural and grammatical, such as the restric Obscaja Istorija / Stepanos Taronetsi Asoghik, General History, 8', 1: tion of the comparative to predicative position and the introdnction of a A-E, 1987 15, [IV], 707 S.; 2: m:-M, 1987 15 , [IV], 683 S. (T: S. Peterburg fourth degree of comparison, the equative, beside the usual positive, 1885; B: Valarsak Arzowmani K 'osyan; I 658-666, II 638-645 Namenhste; comparative and superlative. But there are purely formal peculiarities as 1667-706, II 646--682 Wortliste)15. well. Irregularly compared adjectives are synchronically very conspicuous 19/1-2: Frik, Banastelcowt'yownner [Frik, Gedichte] / Frik, Stihotvo in Old Irish and Middle Welsh, and many of the individual irregularities renija / Frik, Poems, 8°,1: A-K, 1986, [IV], 598 S.; 2: H-F, 1987,482 S. that they display are also puzzling from a diachronic point of view. A case (T: Erevan 1941; B: DSxowhi Sowreni Movsisyan; R: Alek'sandr S~mom in point is the Old Irish comparative ending in -a, the origin of which has Margaryan; I 563, II 449 Namenliste; I 564-597, II 450-481 Worthste). -
The Meaning of German Wie in Equative Comparison (Follow-Up of the Project Expressing Similarity, UM 100/1-1)
Beschreibung des Vorhabens / Project Description The meaning of German wie in equative comparison (follow-up of the project Expressing similarity, UM 100/1-1) Carla Umbach Zentrum für Allgemeine Sprachwissenschaft (ZAS), Berlin Institut für deutsche Sprache und Literatur (ISDL I), Universität Köln Februar 2016 1 State of the art and preliminary work1 Introduction The topic of this proposal is the meaning of German wie in equative comparison including scalar as well as non-scalar cases, cf. (1). The semantics of equatives has up to now been studied nearly exclusively from the perspective of the comparative, excluding non-scalar equatives from the analysis. Moreover, the semantics of equatives has been studied nearly exclusively from the perspective of English, which does not suggest a uniform analysis of scalar and non-scalar cases due to their different forms. In German, both scalar and non-scalar equatives are based on wie-clauses thus calling for a uniform analysis. (1) a. Anna ist so groß wie Berta. 'Anna is as tall as Berta.' b. Anna hat so eine Tasse wie Berta. 'Anna has a mug like Berta's. c. Anna hat so getanzt wie Berta. 'Anna danced like Berta.' In this project, a generalized account of German equatives will be developed including scalar as well as non-scalar cases. The core piece of this account is (i) the idea that equatives express similarity, that is, indistinguishability with respect to a given set of features and (ii) that this results from the meaning of the standard marker wie, which is not semantically empty (as assumed in standard degree semantics) but has a meaning of its own. -
Similatives and the Argument Structure of Verbs∗
Similatives and the argument structure of verbs∗ Jessica Rett May 2012 Abstract I begin with the observation in Haspelmath and Buchholz (1998) that languages tend to use the same morpheme to mark the standard of comparison across equation constructions. In English, it is the morpheme as, in similatives like John danced as Sue (did) and equatives like John is as tall as Sue (is). The first goal of this paper is to provide an analysis of as that accounts for its distribution across these constructions. The second goal of this paper is to provide an account of Haspelmath and Buchholz's second observation, which is that while languages can form equatives with parameter markers (the first as in John is as tall as Sue (is)), languages generally do not form similatives with parameter markers. I suggest that equation constructions are a test for lexicalized argumenthood, i.e. that the equation of a non-lexicalized argument prohibits the presence of a PM, and, for English, vice-versa. This leads to the conclusion that, contrary to recent claims (Pi~n´on2008, Bochnak forthcoming), verbs, unlike adjectives, generally do not lexicalize degree arguments. 1 Introduction This paper has a narrow empirical goal and a broader theoretical goal. The former has to do with several con- structions which form a natural morphological and semantic class across languages: equation constructions, exemplified in (1) and (2) in English. (1) a. John read the same book as Sue. same/different construction b. John is as tall as Sue. equative (2) a. John danced as Sue did. (manner) similative b. -
Kambari Orthography Design
Kambari Orthography Design Janie P. Stark S+L +nternational 2010 ii S+L e-Books 16 ©2010 S+L +nternational +SBN: 978-1-55671-245-6 +SSN: 1934-2470 Fair Use Policy Books published in the S+L e-Books (S+LEB) series are intended for scholarly research and educational use. You may make copies of these publications for research or instructional purposes free of charge (within fair use guidelines) and without further permission. Republication or commercial use of S+LEB or the documents contained therein is expressly prohibited without the written consent of the copyright holder(s). Series Editor George Huttar Volume Editor Mary Huttar Managing Editor Bonnie Brown Compositor Karoline Fisher iii DED+CAT+ON To My husband, John, without whom + wouldn’t have finished this book. iv Editor’s Note This work is a slightly revised version of the author’s 2000 Ph.D. dissertation, University of +lorin, Nigeria. Since the initial version of this book was written, many important works on orthography design have appeared (e.g., Handbook of Orthography and Literacy, ed. by R. Malatesha Joshi and P.G. Aaron, Routledge, 2005). Due to circumstances beyond the author’s control none of these recent works are included in the references. The reader should keep in mind that this work describes only one case of writing system development. Several principles of orthography design are discussed in detail. One principle which is left implicit is that community participation is a key factor in the development of an acceptable writing system. v FOREWORD This study deals with designing writing systems: it goes beyond basic principles of orthography development to develop a series of principles intended to guide orthography decisions in situations where the basic principles fall short. -
Semantics for Opaque Contexts1
PHIL 9812-6 Philosophical Perspectives, 12, Language, Mind, and Ontology, 1998 SEMANTICS FOR OPAQUE CONTEXTS1 Kirk Ludwig and Greg Ray University of Florida 1. Introduction In this paper, we outline an approach to giving extensional truth-theoretic semantics for what have traditionally been seen as opaque sentential contexts.2 If the approach outlined here is correct, it resolves a longstanding complex of prob- lems in metaphysics, the philosophy of mind and the philosophy of language. We take as our starting point the requirement that any semantics for a natural language be compositional, that is, that it provide an interpretation of each of the infinity of sentences in it on the basis of a finite primitive vocabulary and a finite number of rules. At least since Frege,3 it has been recognized that sentences such as (1), (1) Galileo said that the earth moves, present a prima facie difficulty for the project of providing a compositional se- mantics for natural languages. A compositional semantics for a fragment of En- glish which does not include sentences of indirect discourse, psychological attitude sentences (henceforth ‘attitude sentences’), modal sentences, sentences about entailments, and similar constructions can be given straightforwardly in the form of a first-order interpretive truth theory for the language.4 The approach breaks down when we turn to sentences such as (1), whose truth value is not a function of the truth value of the embedded sentence ‘the earth moves’. In general, one term can be substituted for another in ‘that-clauses’salva veritate only if they are synonymous. Perhaps the most popular solution to the problem of providing a compositional semantics for natural languages aims to exploit this fact by treat- ing that-clauses as referring to intensional entities–entities (at least as) as finely individuated as the meanings of sentences. -
The Study of Language and Language Acquisition
1 The Study of Language and Language Acquisition We may regard language as a natural phenomenon—an aspect of his biological nature, to be studied in the same manner as, for instance, his anatomy. Eric H. Lenneberg, Biological Foundations of Language (), p. vii 1.1 The naturalistic approach to language Fundamental to modern linguistics is the view that human language is a natural object: our species-specific ability to acquire a language, our tacit knowledge of the enormous complexity of language, and our capacity to use language in free, appropriate, and infinite ways are attributed to a property of the natural world, our brain. This position needs no defense, if one considers the study of language is an empirical inquiry. It follows, then, as in the study of biological sciences, linguistics aims to identify the abstract properties of the biological object under study—human language—and the mechanisms that govern its organization. This has the goal set in the earliest state- ments on modern linguistics, Chomsky’s The Logical Structure of Linguistic Theory (). Consider the famous duo: () a. Colorless green ideas sleep furiously. b. *Furiously sleep ideas green colorless. Neither sentence has even a remote chance of being encountered in natural discourse, yet every speaker of English can perceive their differences: while they are both meaningless, (a) is grammatically Language Acquisition well formed, whereas (b) is not. To understand what precisely this difference is is to give ‘a rational account of this behavior, i.e., a theory of the speaker’s linguistic intuition . the goal of linguistic theory’ (Chomsky /: )—in other words, a psychology, and ultimately, biology of human language. -
Diachronic Generative Syntax Conference
DiGS14 14th DIACHRONIC GENERATIVE SYNTAX CONFERENCE http://digs14.clul.ul.pt/ Universidade de Lisboa 4-6 July 2012 [email protected] | Instituto para a Investigação Interdisciplinar | Av. Prof. Gama Pinto, 2 DiGS 14 14th Diachronic Generative Syntax Conference Lisbon, 4-6 July 2012 CLUL Centro de Linguística da Universidade de Lisboa center of linguistics of-the university of Lisbon ‘Linguistic Center of the University of Lisbon’ Table of contents Organizing Committee 2 Scientific Committee 3 Invited Speakers 4 Authors & emails 5 Program 6 Abstracts by author’s last name alphabetical order 9 Organizing Committee ∙ Adriana Cardoso ∙ Juliana Costa Moreira ∙ Rita Marquilhas ∙ Luís Graça ∙ Ana Maria Martins ∙ Sílvia Pereira (∙) Grupo de Dialectologia e Diacronia do CLUL group of dialectology and diachrony of-the CLUL ‘Dialectology and Diachrony Research Group of CLUL’ 2 Scientific Committee Adam Ledgeway Ioanna Sitaridou Adriana Cardoso Joel Wallenberg Ana Maria Brito John Sundquist Ana Maria Martins John Whitman Ann Taylor Judy Bernstein Ans van Kemenade Katalin Kiss Anna Bartra Kaufmann Lobke Aelbrecht Anne Breitbarth Marcel den Dikken Anthony Kroch Maria Francisca Xavier Beatrice Santorini Maria Lobo Caroline Heycock Marie Labelle Charlotte Galves Maria Llüisa Hernanz Chiara Gianollo Marit Julien Chris Reintges Mary Kato Dalina Kallulli Montse Batllori David Lightfoot Paola Crisma David Willis Paul Hirschbühler Edith Aldridge Roland Hinterhölz Elly van Gelderen Sonia Cyrino Eric Haeberli Susan Pintzuk Esther Rinke Susann Fischer Gertjan -
On the Propositional Attitudes
On the Propositional Attitudes KEITH COLEMAN The University of Kansas An adequate account of the nature of the so called 'propositional attitudes' has long been sought by philosophers of mind, and most theories which have been proposed have suffered from certain logical or epistemological defects or have been limited in scope. The issues centering around the nature of beliefs, desires, and the other attitudes pertain to two principal areas of investigation: the explication of a (psychological) theory concerning the objects of the propositional attitudes and the analysis of the logical structure of such sentences as those with the form 'A believes that p' or 'A wishes (desires) that p.' My main concern in this paper is with problems associated with the latter endeavor. Such problems in an important respect are more basic, for a successful attempt at characterizing the typical form of sentences that express propositional attitudes must be made before any theory about the objects of beliefs, desires, and other intentions can possibly take shape.1 The sentence "Jones believes that there are unicorns" has the typical form of the members of a class of sentences each one consisting of one or more names or denoting phrases followed by an intentional idiom of the kind 'believes that', 'desires that', 'wishes that', 'hopes that', 'fears that', 'says that', 'wonders whether', etc. followed by a complete sentence. Such complex sentences when taken as assertions have usually been seen as expressing a relationship (or a propositional attitude) of one kind or another between an object (usually a person) and a belief, desire, wish, hope, or other intention (or object of the propositional attitude).