Degree modification and manner adverbs: Greek: poli ‘very’ vs. kala ‘well’

In this study, we discuss the distribution of the degree modifier poli ‘very’ and the degree readings of the manner adverb kala ‘well’ in order to provide cross-linguistic support for the generality of the Kennedy & Mc Nally (2005) typology of scale structure of gradable predicates. We show that poli ‘very’ distributes with open scale predicates. We also show that the degree readings of kala ‘well’ arise when kala combines with incremental predicates, while the manner-quality only reading is produced when kala combines with classic telic verbs

Mixed (Non)veridicality and mood choice with emotive verbs

International audienceThe paper proposes a fresh look at emotive factives and explains variation in mood choice across languages by distinguishing nonveridicality in the assertion (triggering the subjunctive) and veridicality in the presupposition (triggering the indicative). Proceeding of CLS 51, April 2015

Exclamation, intensity, and emotive assertion

In this paper, we present a novel analysis of exclamations as assertions equivalent to particular uses of declarative sentences with emotive verbs. Focusing on wh-exclamatives and declarative exclamations, we offer a wide range of arguments for why they are both assertive. We further argue that like emotive verbs, exclamations convey a presupposition not of factivity but of subjective veridicality anchored to the speaker, and assert the emotion (of surprise, amazement, or a negative emotion). Our analysis proposes a syntax-semantics for exclamations without a speech act operator, and exclamativity surfaces as an attitude rather than a speech act. This seems to be well motivated by the Greek, German as well as English facts we examine in the paper. Illocutionary operator approaches cannot capture the facts discussed here, and they also fail to determine precisely what the exclamative force might be

La dimension évaluative du futur : le rôle des adverbes

International audienceDans ce travail nous montrons que (i) les morphèmes du futur, à travers les langues induisent un affaiblissement épistémique (pace Squartini, 2012) et (ii) aussi bien dans l’emploi épistémique que prédictif du futur les adverbes modaux contribuent l’information qu’il y a une mesure de la confiance que l’agent épistémique a dans le fait que le monde actuel est/sera dans l’ensemble des mondes les meilleurs/raisonnables. Cette nouvelle proposition, nous voudrions suggérer, met en avant un ingrédient présent dans tous les modaux épistémiques : ceux-ci n’assertent pas seulement quelque chose à propos des mondes possibles, mais portent une information quant à la croyance de l’agent épistémique à propos de la place du monde actuel dans l’espace des mondes possibles, et plus spécifiquement quant à sa croyance que le monde actuel est conforme à la source d’ordre, et à quel degré. Autrement dit, les modaux épistémiques véhiculent un contenu non-vériconditionnel, évaluatif. Nous proposons que dans la lecture prédictive sont présentes à la fois une dimension métaphysique, épistémique et évaluative, et que celle-ci est révélée par les adverbes. Dans les deux usages (épistémique et prédictif) les adverbes sont des modulateurs de la confiance du locuteur, ce qui semble être un ingrédient transversal aux emploi du futur, et probablement aux modalités épistémiques plus généralement

Biased modality and epistemic weakness with the future and MUST: non- veridicality, partial knowledge

We defend the view of epistemic `must' as weak and claim that `must p' is used when the speaker does not know p. Novel arguments for this well-known account are provided. The theory is extended to epistemic future

Bias and Modality in Conditionals: Experimental Evidence and Theoretical Implications

The concept of bias is familiar to linguists primarily from the literature on questions. Following the work of Giannakidou and Mari (Truth and Veridicality in Grammar and Thought: Modality, Mood, and Propositional Attitudes, University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2021), we assume “nonveridical equilibrium” (implying that p and ¬p as equal possibilities) to be the default for epistemic modals, questions and conditionals. The equilibrium of conditionals, as that of questions, can be manipulated to produce bias (i.e., reduced or higher speaker commitment). In this paper, we focus on three kinds of modal elements in German that create bias in conditionals and questions: the adverb wirklich ‘really’, the modal verb sollte ‘should’, and conditional connectives such as falls ‘if/in case’. We conducted two experiments collecting participants’ inference about speaker commitment in different manipulations, Experiment 1 on sollte/wirklich in ob-questions and wenn-conditionals, and Experiment 2 on sollte/wirklich in wenn/falls/V1-conditionals. Our findings are that both ob-questions and falls-conditionals express reduced speaker commitment about the modified (antecedent) proposition in comparison to wenn-conditionals, which did not differ from V1-conditionals. In addition, sollte/wirklich in the antecedent of conditionals both create negative bias about the antecedent proposition. Our studies are among the first that deal with bias in conditionals (in comparison to questions) and contribute to furthering our understanding of bias.Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100001659Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin (1034)Peer Reviewe

Domain Restriction and the Arguments of Quantificational Determiners

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Subjunctive, Habituality and Negative Polarity Items

No abstract