Degrees and segments
Name
Degrees and segments.pdf
Size
412.95 KB
Format
Adobe PDF
Checksum (MD5)
c50131ae4db7594a7c7fadb7c082ad0e
Author(s)
Schwarzschild, Roger S.
Date Issued
May 2013
Journal
Proceedings from Semantics and Linguistic Theory
Publisher
Linguistic Society of America
Citation
Schwarzschild, Roger. “Degrees and Segments.” Semantics and Linguistic Theory 23 (2013): 212.
Version
Final published version
Abstract
I make two related proposals, one about directed scale segments and the other about the nature of degrees. Bale (2007, 2011) argued that degrees should be analyzed as sets of individuals and that degree arguments are created in the syntax from relational predicates. Schwarz (2010) showed that Bale’s construction runs into problems when the required degree relation is complex, denoted by an LF constituent that contains more than just a gradable adjective. I modify Bale’s proposal so that it overcomes Schwarz’s objection. But first I propose a semantics for comparatives based on quantification over directed scale segments, triples consisting of two degrees and a measure function. The modification of Bale’s proposal depends upon this. Segments are of independent interest as they permit a conjunctive semantics for extended adjectival phrases, the way events do for verb phrases. Potential benefits of ‘degree-conjunctivism’ are explored.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Linguistics and Philosophy
Terms of Use
Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
Persistent DSpace Link
DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.3765/salt.v23i0.2661
