Weak definites refer to kinds

This paper presents an analysis of weak definites (e.g. to answer the phone) as introduced by Carlson and Sussman (2005). The proposal is that these definites refer to kinds, which are instantiated by ordinary individuals when they combine with object-level predicates. This combination is made possible by a lexical rule that lifts object-level predicates to kind-level predicates, and incorporates into their denotation a predicate that represents the stereotypical usages of the kinds. This analysis accounts for most of the peculiar properties of weak definites.Cet article présente une analyse des définis faibles (comme répondre au téléphone) introduits par Carlson et Sussman (2005). On y défend l’idée que les définis faibles font référence à des espèces, qui s’instancient dans des individus ordinaires quand ils se combinent avec des prédicats de type object-level. Cette composition est rendue possible par une règle lexicale qui change les prédicats de type object-level en prédicats de type kind-level et qui incorpore à leur dénotation un prédicat qui reflète les usages stéréotypiques de ces espèces. Cette analyse permet de rendre compte de la plupart des propriétés caractéristiques des définis faibles

Weak definites and reference to kinds

Weak definite NPs do not presuppose the existence of uniquely identifiable entities. In addition, they display a range of other peculiar properties such as sloppy readings in VPs ellipsis, narrow scope interpretations, lexical restrictions and enriched meaning. In order to account for these, in this paper we analyze weak definites as expressions that refer to the same sort of kind individuals that definite generics refer to. We propose that the combination of weak definites with object-level predicates is made possible by a lexical rule that lifts object-level relations to 'enriched' kind-level relations

Herbivoría y micorrizas arbusculares en poblaciones naturales de Datura stramonium L.: relación con la disponibilidad de nutrientes en el suelo

Trophic interactions impose important costs to their host plants, affecting patterns of resource allocation. The relationship between host and consumers is also influenced by the availability of resources, e. g., soil nutrients. In this study, we explored the relationship among mycorrhiza-plant-herbivore in natural populations of Datura stramonium and their correlation with the content of phosphorus, nitrogen and carbon in the soil. We estimated the vegetative and reproductive biomass of plants, the arbuscular mycorrhizal colonization and the level of herbivory in populations of D. stramonium. The local abundance of D. stramonium was negatively related to the content of phosphorus in the soil. In contrast, soil carbon concentration affected positively the vegetative and reproductive mass of D. stramonium, although it was negatively correlated with the specific leaf area (SLA). Of the trophic interactions only herbivory was significantly correlated with the SLA and no relationship was detected between the two interaction types. The lack of significant response of mycorrhizae to the soil nutrients concentration, plant performance, and herbivory may result from the stochasticity in the availability of mycorrhizal inoculum (identity and abundance) in the populations studied.Las interacciones tróficas representan importantes costos a las plantas afectando sus patrones de asignación de recursos. Además las relaciones entre hospederos y sus interactuantes son afectadas por la disponibilidad de recursos, p. ej., nutrientes del suelo. En este estudio, exploramos la relación entre las interacciones tróficas micorriza-planta-herbívoro en poblaciones naturales de Datura stramonium, y su correlación con la concentración de fósforo, nitrógeno y carbono en el suelo. Se estimó la masa vegetativa y reproductiva de las plantas, el nivel de colonización por micorrizas arbusculares en sus raíces, así como el nivel de herbivoría en ocho poblaciones de D. stramonium. La abundancia local de D. stramonium estuvo relacionada negativamente con el contenido de fósforo en el suelo. Por otra parte, la concentración de carbono afectó positivamente la masa vegetativa y reproductiva de las plantas, aunque tuvo un efecto negativo en el área foliar específica (AFE). De las interacciones tróficas, solo la herbivoría estuvo relacionada significativamente con el AFE y no se detectó relación entre ambos tipos de interacción. La falta de respuesta significativa de las micorrizas a la concentración de nutrientes, al desempeño de las plantas y a la herbivoría puede ser consecuencia de la estocasticidad en la disponibilidad de inóculo micorrizógeno (identidad y abundancia) en las poblaciones estudiadas o bien con la época de muestreo de las plantas

Estatus taxonómico de Talides basistrigata Eaton, 1932 (Lepidoptera, Hesperiidae) y su reincorporación basados en una evaluación integrativa

Talides basistrigata Eaton, 1932, originalmente descrita de Perú, posteriormente fue transferida por Evans (1955) al género Hylephila Billberg, 1820, y considerada como una subespecie de H. phyleus (Drury, 1773), argumentando que basistrigata ocurre en ambientes más secos que los que habita phyleus. Actualmente se mantiene el rango taxonómico propuesto por Evans. El objetivo del presente trabajo es restituir el estatus taxonómico de especie válida para basistrigata con base en un análisis integrativo considerando aspectos morfológicos, ecológicos y genéticos. Se examinó las estructuras genitálicas en ejemplares de basistrigata y phyleus, se obtuvo secuencias del gen mitocondrial COI para ambas especies y se recopiló datos en campo para conocer su comportamiento de oviposición en los alrededores de Arequipa, suroeste de Perú. Como resultado del examen morfológico se halló diferencias notorias entre las estructuras genitálicas de ambas especies, principalmente en los procesos caudales de las valvas, la disposición de las pectinas y la forma del uncus en los machos. Con relación al análisis genético, se halló una distancia genética mayor a 3% entre ambas especies, apoyando así el estatus taxonómico de especie para basistrigata. Adicionalmente, desde una perspectiva ecológica, se registró que ambas especies utilizan distintos mecanismos de oviposición y diferentes plantas hospederas, exhibiendo además simpatría espacial y sincronía temporal en la vertiente occidental de los Andes en Perú. Se redescribe el macho y hembra adultos de basistrigata y se designa su lectotipo

Definiteness across languages

Definiteness has been a central topic in theoretical semantics since its modern foundation. However, despite its significance, there has been surprisingly scarce research on its cross-linguistic expression. With the purpose of contributing to filling this gap, the present volume gathers thirteen studies exploiting insights from formal semantics and syntax, typological and language specific studies, and, crucially, semantic fieldwork and cross-linguistic semantics, in order to address the expression and interpretation of definiteness in a diverse group of languages, most of them understudied. The papers presented in this volume aim to establish a dialogue between theory and data in order to answer the following questions: What formal strategies do natural languages employ to encode definiteness? What are the possible meanings associated to this notion across languages? Are there different types of definite reference? Which other functions (besides marking definite reference) are associated with definite descriptions? Each of the papers contained in this volume addresses at least one of these questions and, in doing so, they aim to enrich our understanding of definiteness

Definiteness across languages

Definiteness has been a central topic in theoretical semantics since its modern foundation. However, despite its significance, there has been surprisingly scarce research on its cross-linguistic expression. With the purpose of contributing to filling this gap, the present volume gathers thirteen studies exploiting insights from formal semantics and syntax, typological and language specific studies, and, crucially, semantic fieldwork and cross-linguistic semantics, in order to address the expression and interpretation of definiteness in a diverse group of languages, most of them understudied. The papers presented in this volume aim to establish a dialogue between theory and data in order to answer the following questions: What formal strategies do natural languages employ to encode definiteness? What are the possible meanings associated to this notion across languages? Are there different types of definite reference? Which other functions (besides marking definite reference) are associated with definite descriptions? Each of the papers contained in this volume addresses at least one of these questions and, in doing so, they aim to enrich our understanding of definiteness

Definiteness across languages

Definiteness has been a central topic in theoretical semantics since its modern foundation. However, despite its significance, there has been surprisingly scarce research on its cross-linguistic expression. With the purpose of contributing to filling this gap, the present volume gathers thirteen studies exploiting insights from formal semantics and syntax, typological and language specific studies, and, crucially, semantic fieldwork and cross-linguistic semantics, in order to address the expression and interpretation of definiteness in a diverse group of languages, most of them understudied. The papers presented in this volume aim to establish a dialogue between theory and data in order to answer the following questions: What formal strategies do natural languages employ to encode definiteness? What are the possible meanings associated to this notion across languages? Are there different types of definite reference? Which other functions (besides marking definite reference) are associated with definite descriptions? Each of the papers contained in this volume addresses at least one of these questions and, in doing so, they aim to enrich our understanding of definiteness

Definiteness across languages

Definiteness has been a central topic in theoretical semantics since its modern foundation. However, despite its significance, there has been surprisingly scarce research on its cross-linguistic expression. With the purpose of contributing to filling this gap, the present volume gathers thirteen studies exploiting insights from formal semantics and syntax, typological and language specific studies, and, crucially, semantic fieldwork and cross-linguistic semantics, in order to address the expression and interpretation of definiteness in a diverse group of languages, most of them understudied. The papers presented in this volume aim to establish a dialogue between theory and data in order to answer the following questions: What formal strategies do natural languages employ to encode definiteness? What are the possible meanings associated to this notion across languages? Are there different types of definite reference? Which other functions (besides marking definite reference) are associated with definite descriptions? Each of the papers contained in this volume addresses at least one of these questions and, in doing so, they aim to enrich our understanding of definiteness

Definiteness across languages

Definiteness has been a central topic in theoretical semantics since its modern foundation. However, despite its significance, there has been surprisingly scarce research on its cross-linguistic expression. With the purpose of contributing to filling this gap, the present volume gathers thirteen studies exploiting insights from formal semantics and syntax, typological and language specific studies, and, crucially, semantic fieldwork and cross-linguistic semantics, in order to address the expression and interpretation of definiteness in a diverse group of languages, most of them understudied. The papers presented in this volume aim to establish a dialogue between theory and data in order to answer the following questions: What formal strategies do natural languages employ to encode definiteness? What are the possible meanings associated to this notion across languages? Are there different types of definite reference? Which other functions (besides marking definite reference) are associated with definite descriptions? Each of the papers contained in this volume addresses at least one of these questions and, in doing so, they aim to enrich our understanding of definiteness