Strong and Weak Readings in the Domain of Worlds: A Negative Polar Modal and Children’s Scope Assignment
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Author(s)
Koring, Loes
Meroni, Luisa
Moscati, Vincenzo
Date Issued
March 22, 2018
Publisher
Springer US
Version
Author's final manuscript
Abstract
Abstract
This study investigates children’s interpretation of sentences with two logical operators: Dutch universal modal hoeven and negation (niet). In adult Dutch, hoeven is an NPI that necessarily scopes under negation, giving rise to a not > necessary reading. The findings from a hidden-object task with 5- and 6-year-old children showed that children’s performance is suggestive of an interpretation of sentences with hoeft niet in which the modal scopes over negation (necessary > not). This is in line with the Semantic Subset Principle that dictates that children should opt for the strongest possible reading in case of potential scope ambiguities. The full pattern of results, however, seems to be determined, in addition, by a particular strategy children use when facing uncertainty called Premature Closure.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Linguistics and Philosophy
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10936-018-9573-8
