Interfaces and domains of quantification / Javier Gutiérrez-Rexach.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Gutiérrez-Rexach, Javier, author.

Series:

Theoretical developments in Hispanic linguistics

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Spanish language--Quantifiers.

Spanish language.

Spanish language--Syntax.

Spanish language--Semantics.

Grammar, Comparative and general--Quantifiers.

Grammar, Comparative and general.

Grammar, Comparative and general--Syntax.

Semantics, Comparative.

Physical Description:

vii, 234 pages ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Columbus : The Ohio State University Press, [2014]

Summary:

Quantification is an intrinsically complex mechanism of expression in natural language, comprising a variety of shapes and domains whose inventory has not been completely charted to date. Several linguistic forms associated with quantification in Spanish are explored in Interfaces and Domains of Quantification by Javier Gutiérrez-Rexach, from indefiniteness and ellipsis to the quantificational properties of relative clauses and adverbial particles. Interfaces and Domains of Quantification advocates an interface approach to the grammar of Spanish quantification. Only a precise characterization of the syntactic properties of quantificational constructions and of their associated meanings allows us to understand how more general syntactic and semantic constraints are at work. Among other findings, the interaction of scope and parallelism with ellipsis is reconsidered; the structura significance of modal anchoring and essential properties for the interpretation of indefiniteness is explored in detail; additionally, quantificational variability and correlativity phenomena in relative clauses are analyzed; degree expression is characterized for concessive conditionals and superlatives; and, finally, several discourse particles with a quantificational core are shown to be critical for the articulation of semantic and discourse-pragmatic relations. Taking a detailed look at the different forms, patterns, and structures associated with several quantificational domanins will increase our understanding of quantification and its manifestations at different interfaces. Book jacket.

Contents:

The view from the syntax-semantics interface

Scope parallelism and the interpretation of ellipsis

Indefinites and sentential modality

Existence and beyond: varieties of having

Free relatives and quantificational variability

Correlatives and degrees

Concessive conditionals and scalarity

Superlatives, degrees and focus

The dimensions of modal discourse particles

Final thoughts on quantities, structures and meaning.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 215-230) and index.

ISBN:

9780814212554

0814212557

9780814293584

0814293581

OCLC:

861955975