University of Pennsylvania Working Papers in Linguistics
Article Title
Abstract
I examine the semantics of modal adjectives based on their selectional properties, arguing that they only combine with nouns describing situations or participants in situations (entities in context), and I propose a formal treatment. I attempt an extension of this analysis to temporal adjectives, thereby outlining a unitary treatment of non-subsective adjectives. The analysis involves the assumption, for nouns, of denotations and semantic types consistent with what they describe, and a revision of the denotations of intensional operators when used with nouns describing or involving situations.
Recommended Citation
DeLazero, Octav Eugen
(2011)
"On the Semantics of Modal Adjectives,"
University of Pennsylvania Working Papers in Linguistics: Vol. 17:
Iss.
1, Article 11.
Available at:
https://repository.upenn.edu/pwpl/vol17/iss1/11