Search results for "Predicative expression"
showing 8 items of 8 documents
Classifiers in Sinitic languages: From individuation to definiteness-marking
2012
Abstract This article examines the distribution and interpretation of the bare classifier phrase [Cl+N] in three Sinitic languages of Mandarin, Wu and Cantonese. We show that [Cl+N] can be interpreted as definite or indefinite depending on pragmatic factors related to information structure and word order. Syntactically, we claim that indefinite [Cl+N] has the maximal projection of ClP and that definite [Cl+N] is a DP, where the D head is filled by the classifier via Cl-to-D raising. Semantically, we claim that indefinite [Cl+N] is predicative, denoting sets of atomic entities and that definite [Cl+N] is derived from indefinite [Cl+N] by lifting it from predicates to Generalized Quantifiers.…
The hidden side of adverbs
2018
This paper will address the predicative nature of manner adverb(ial)s and of three types of sentence adverbs (subject-oriented, modal, and evaluative) in Italian. Predication often becomes overt by means of morphological correlates. Is it possible to find any such evidence with invariable adverbs? To unveil their predicative nature, a procedure will be suggested in which two sentences, one with a -mente adverb, the other with its cognate adjective (a) share the content morphemes (identity of the signifiant) and (b) entail each other (identity of the signifié as regards semantic roles). A number of such pairs will be discussed, examples of which include: Intelligentemente, Leo intervenne ‘Cl…
Gerunds become prepositional infinitives in Romance Small Clauses: the effects of later Merge to the syntactic spine
2019
This article offers a comparative analysis of ‘predicative’ gerunds (‘PGs’) and prepositional infinitives (‘PIs’), focussing on perception constructions in Spanish (PGs) and European Portuguese (PIs). I demonstrate that these two constructions are diachronically related and that they still have a similar syntax. The evidence discussed suggests that both constructions are Small Clauses headed by a preposition of central coincidence. In PGs, this preposition is merged in a low aspectual projection and incorporates into the verb. In PIs, an evolution of PGs, it is merged later in the structure. This leads to a layering process, i.e. the splitting of a single head into a series of heads and tra…
Tautology as presumptive meaning
2008
Ever since the seminal work of Paul Grice, tautologies such as Business is business have been discussed from a number of angles. While most approaches assume that tautological utterances have to do with the operation of conversational maxims, an integrated analysis is still lacking. This paper makes an attempt at analysing tautologies within the framework of Levinson (2000), who proposes a distinction between three pragmatic levels, namely Indexical Pragmatics, Gricean Pragmatics 1, and Gricean Pragmatics 2. It is shown that observations of Ward and Hirschberg (1991) on the exclusion of alternatives, the claim of Autenrieth (1997) that the second NP in nominal equatives is predicative, and …
From Topology to Quasi-Topology. The Complexity of the Notional Domain
2016
This article examines a fundamental metalinguistic construction of the theory of enunciative operations: the notional domain. In particular, we try to explain some elementary topological concepts on which this construction is based and we try to show the key role they play in the description of some basic linguistic operations.
<i>Cuesta arriba e por llano</i>: The development of “postpositions” in Spanish and Catalan
2005
In this article we analyze the formation of Spanish and Catalan phrases with an intransitive locative adverb preceded by a bare noun. These constructions can have a meaning of path and direction (i. e. Sp. rio abajo, Cat. riu avall ‘downriver’) as well as body orientation (i. e. Sp. cara abajo, Cat. cara avall ‘face down’). A detailed analysis of the available historical documentation suggests the hypothesis that these constructions derive from more complex expressions headed by a preposition that lost its phonological properties, without losing its semantic and syntactic features. The presence of a phonologically null preposition is licensed both by the meaning of the incorporated noun and…
Nazwa własna a nazwa pospolita – dylematy z pogranicza chrematonimii
2019
<p>Przedmiotem artykułu są nazwy produktów cukierniczych, które jako chrematonimy sytuują się na pograniczu nazw własnych. Materiał wyekscerpowany został z różnych blogów kulinarnych, dostępnych w latach 2017–2018. Cel rozważań to odpowiedź na pytania z zakresu onomastyki, gdzie jest granica między nazwą własną a pospolitą i czy jest możliwe precyzyjne jej wyznaczenie. Analiza semantyczna onimów, określenie ich funkcji (marketingowo-perswazyjnej) i testy gramatyczne (test orzecznikowy i zaimkowy), którym poddano poszczególne jednostki, prowadzą do podziału nazw produktów na trzy grupy: nazwy pospolite, nazwy pospolite z członem dyferencjalnym i nazwy własne. Istnieją jednak elementy p…
Pragmatiniai predikatinių bendraties konstrukcijų aspektai latvių kalboje
2020
Šio straipsnio tikslas – ištirti pragmatinius predikatinės bendraties konstrukcijos latvių kalboje aspektus ir įrodyti, kad šios konstrukcijos turi specifinius pragmatinius ženklus. Priešingai nei tokie pragmatiniai ženklai kaip dalelytės, jungtukai, prieveiksmiai ar prozodija, predikatinės bendraties konstrukcijos latvių kalboje pragmatiškai funkcionuoja kaip atskiras vienetas, t. y., struktūrinis funkcionalumas kyla iš sąsajos, o ne iš atskirų leksinių ar gramatinių elementų. Šios konstrukcijos latvių kalboje žymi marginalinį modalumą, o jų vartojimas yra susijęs su neutraliais, pažymėtais kalbos registrais. Taigi straipsnyje pagrindinis dėmesys skiriamas modalinėms ir laikinoms reikšmėms…