Triviality and interrogative embedding: context sensitivity, factivity, and neg-raising

IF 0.9 1区文学 0 LANGUAGE & LINGUISTICS Natural Language Semantics Pub Date : 2019-06-06 DOI:10.1007/s11050-019-09153-8

Clemens Mayr

引用次数: 19

Abstract

Why do predicates like know embed both declarative and interrogative clauses, whereas closely related ones like believe only embed the former? The standard approach following Grimshaw (Linguist Inq 10:279–326, 1979) to this issue has been to specify lexically for each predicate which type of complement clause it can combine with. This view is challenged by predicates such as be certain, which embed interrogative clauses only in certain contexts. To deal with this issue, this paper proposes (i) a novel, unified semantics for declarative and interrogative embedding and (ii) a theory where embedding is constrained by semantic considerations. The reason for the apparent unembeddability of an interrogative clause under a given predicate is the resulting trivial meaning of the sentence. Such triviality manifests itself in unacceptability. Crucially, it is affected by both the lexical meaning of the predicate and the polarity of the sentence as a whole.

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琐碎性和疑问嵌入:上下文敏感性、实体性和否定性

为什么像know这样的谓语既包含陈述句又包含疑问句，而像believe这样关系密切的谓语却只包含前者?遵循Grimshaw (Linguist Inq 10:279-326, 1979)的标准方法是在词汇上为每个谓词指定它可以与哪种类型的补语子句组合。这种观点受到谓语如be certain的挑战，这些谓语只在特定的上下文中嵌入疑问从句。为了解决这个问题，本文提出了(i)一种新的、统一的声明式和疑问式嵌入语义，以及(ii)一种嵌入受语义考虑约束的理论。疑问句在给定谓词下明显不可嵌入的原因是由此产生的句子的琐碎意义。这种琐碎表现为令人无法接受。最重要的是，它受谓语的词汇意义和句子整体极性的影响。

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来源期刊

Natural Language Semantics Multiple-

CiteScore

1.90

自引率

27.30%

发文量

期刊介绍： Natural Language Semantics is devoted to semantics and its interfaces in grammar, especially syntax. The journal seeks to encourage the convergence of approaches employing the concepts of logic and philosophy with perspectives of generative grammar on the relations between meaning and structure. Natural Language Semantics publishes studies focused on linguistic phenomena as opposed to those dealing primarily with the field''s methodological and formal foundations. Representative topics include, but are not limited to, quantification, negation, modality, genericity, tense, aspect, aktionsarten, focus, presuppositions, anaphora, definiteness, plurals, mass nouns, adjectives, adverbial modification, nominalization, ellipsis, and interrogatives. The journal features mainly research articles, but also short squibs as well as remarks on and replies to pertinent books and articles.The journal has an Editorial Assistant, Christine Bartels, a copy editor with a PhD in linguistics who personally shepherds accepted manuscripts through the production process.Since 2009 this journal is covered by ISI/Social Sciences Citation Index.Springer fully understands that access to your work is important to you and to the sponsors of your research. We are listed as a green publisher in the SHERPA/RoMEO database, as we allow self-archiving, but most importantly we are fully transparent about your rights. Read more about author''s rights on: http://www.springer.com/gp/open-access/authors-rights

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