Anaphoric potential of cumulative dependencies

Open Access
Authors
Publication date 2024
Host editors
  • G. Baumann
  • D. Gutzmann
  • J. Koopman
  • K. Liefke
  • A. Renans
  • T. Scheffler
Book title Proceedings of Sinn und Bedeutung 28
Event Sinn und Bedeutung 28
Pages (from-to) 685–703
Number of pages 19
Publisher Bochum: Ruhr-University Bochum
Organisations
  • Interfacultary Research - Institute for Logic, Language and Computation (ILLC)
Abstract
This paper discusses the anaphoric potential of non-quantificational plural arguments, inquiring whether cumulative readings introduce new 'quantificational dependencies'. I show that (i) 'quantificational subordination' against non-distributive readings is often quite degraded, but (ii) common knowledge inference sometimes improves its acceptability, and (iii) non-distributive plural anaphora against cumulative readings may induce a co-varying reading. This suggests that cumulative readings may indeed introduce new dependencies, but their availability is limited. I propose that non-distributive readings ‘underspecify’ dependencies, while distributive readings highlight specific dependencies, and its interaction with pronoun maximality blocks quantificational subordination against cumulative readings. I implement it with 'State-based Dynamic Plural Logic' which keeps track of 'quantificational alternatives'.
Document type Conference contribution
Language English
Published at https://doi.org/10.18148/sub/2024.v28.1155
Downloads
sub23-nakamura (Final published version)
Permalink to this page
Back