A "de-Fregean" semantics (and neo-Gricean pragmatics) for modified and unmodified numerals
A challenge for the semantic and pragmatic analysis of modified numerals is how to account for ignorance implications about exact quantity. Superlative-modified numerals (<em>at least/most six</em>) systematically give rise to such implications while their comparative-modified counterpar...
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doaj-f35e8d0f28594b688451fc33ba92e9742020-11-24T21:47:27ZengLinguistic Society of AmericaSemantics and Pragmatics1937-89122015-05-018014410.3765/sp.8.102536A "de-Fregean" semantics (and neo-Gricean pragmatics) for modified and unmodified numeralsChristopher Kennedy0University of ChicagoA challenge for the semantic and pragmatic analysis of modified numerals is how to account for ignorance implications about exact quantity. Superlative-modified numerals (<em>at least/most six</em>) systematically give rise to such implications while their comparative-modified counterparts (<em>more/fewer than sixggy</em>) do not, but the distribution of ignorance implications with superlative modifiers is sensitive to how the numeral interacts with modals and other operators. In this paper, I demonstrate that a "de-Fregean" semantic analysis of modified and unmodified numerals as second-order properties of degrees that differ only in the kind of ordering relation they introduce supports a neo-Gricean pragmatic account of ignorance implications as Quantity implicatures, and derives the pattern of interaction with modals as a scopal phenomenon. http://dx.doi.org/10.3765/sp.8.10 <a href="http://semantics-online.org/sp-bib/kennedy-2015-defregean.bib">BibTeX info</a>http://semprag.org/article/view/3004Numerals, implicature, ignorance, free choice, degree quantification |
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DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Christopher Kennedy |
spellingShingle |
Christopher Kennedy A "de-Fregean" semantics (and neo-Gricean pragmatics) for modified and unmodified numerals Semantics and Pragmatics Numerals, implicature, ignorance, free choice, degree quantification |
author_facet |
Christopher Kennedy |
author_sort |
Christopher Kennedy |
title |
A "de-Fregean" semantics (and neo-Gricean pragmatics) for modified and unmodified numerals |
title_short |
A "de-Fregean" semantics (and neo-Gricean pragmatics) for modified and unmodified numerals |
title_full |
A "de-Fregean" semantics (and neo-Gricean pragmatics) for modified and unmodified numerals |
title_fullStr |
A "de-Fregean" semantics (and neo-Gricean pragmatics) for modified and unmodified numerals |
title_full_unstemmed |
A "de-Fregean" semantics (and neo-Gricean pragmatics) for modified and unmodified numerals |
title_sort |
"de-fregean" semantics (and neo-gricean pragmatics) for modified and unmodified numerals |
publisher |
Linguistic Society of America |
series |
Semantics and Pragmatics |
issn |
1937-8912 |
publishDate |
2015-05-01 |
description |
A challenge for the semantic and pragmatic analysis of modified numerals is how to account for ignorance implications about exact quantity. Superlative-modified numerals (<em>at least/most six</em>) systematically give rise to such implications while their comparative-modified counterparts (<em>more/fewer than sixggy</em>) do not, but the distribution of ignorance implications with superlative modifiers is sensitive to how the numeral interacts with modals and other operators. In this paper, I demonstrate that a "de-Fregean" semantic analysis of modified and unmodified numerals as second-order properties of degrees that differ only in the kind of ordering relation they introduce supports a neo-Gricean pragmatic account of ignorance implications as Quantity implicatures, and derives the pattern of interaction with modals as a scopal phenomenon.
http://dx.doi.org/10.3765/sp.8.10
<a href="http://semantics-online.org/sp-bib/kennedy-2015-defregean.bib">BibTeX info</a> |
topic |
Numerals, implicature, ignorance, free choice, degree quantification |
url |
http://semprag.org/article/view/3004 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT christopherkennedy adefregeansemanticsandneogriceanpragmaticsformodifiedandunmodifiednumerals AT christopherkennedy defregeansemanticsandneogriceanpragmaticsformodifiedandunmodifiednumerals |
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