Licensing strong NPIs

Jon Gajewski, University of Connecticut

Abstract

This paper investigates the differences in distribution between weak and strong NPIs in English. It is proposed that both weak and strong NPIs are licensed by Downward Entailing (DE) operators; but that weak NPIs only pay attention to the truth-conditional content of their licensers, while strong NPIs must pay attention to non-truthconditional meaning as well in their search for a DE licenser.

Recommended Citation

Gajewski, Jon (2008) "Licensing strong NPIs," University of Pennsylvania Working Papers in Linguistics: Vol. 14: Iss. 1, Article 13.
Available at: http://repository.upenn.edu/pwpl/vol14/iss1/13