Conclusion
What I have attempted to show in the foregoing is that: (1) For any frequency adjective f, there is an element of meaning common to both the adverbial and the generic usage of f; this is a function f′ from propositions to truth-values such that f′(Φ)′ is true at an interval i iff Φ′ is true at subintervals of i distributed through i in a certain way. (2) In an adverbial use of f, f′ functions like the corresponding frequency adverb. (3) In a generic use of f, f′ quantifies the times intervals which a specified object is realized by some stage. (4) In their adverbial usage, frequency adjectives are not regular attributive adjectives at the level at which interpretation takes place, but are perhaps determiners. And (5) in their generic usage, frequency adjectives are adjectives at the level at which interpretation takes place.
More generally, I hope to have suggested something of the range of uses to which frequency is put in natural language. That we effortlessly grasp what is meants by Monday, the Columbus Dispatch, autumn, the Today Show, and so on, demonstrates our fluency in interpreting certain sequences of objects, events, or states of affairs as sequences of values of some function cycling on a time-axis. Much more must ultimately be told about the psychological and anthropological significance of frequency.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bolinger, D.: 1967, ‘Adjectives in English: Attribution and Predication.’ Lingua 18, 1–34.
Carlson, G. N.: 1977, Reference to Kinds in English. University of Massachusetts doctoral dissertation.
Carlson, G. N.: 1979, ‘Generics and Atemporal When.’ Linguistics and Philosophy 3, 49–98.
Cooper, R.: 1975, Montague's Semantic Theory and Transformational Syntax. University of Massachusetts doctoral dissertation.
Cresswell, M. J.: 1973, Logics and Languages. London: Methuen.
Cresswell, M. J.: 1978, ‘Prepositions and Points of View.’ Linguistics and Philosophy 2, 1–41.
Dowty, D. R.: 1979, Word Meaning and Montague Grammar. Dordrecht: Reidel.
Grice, H. P.: 1975, ‘Logic and Conversation.’ In The Logic of Grammar, ed. by D.Davidson and G.Harman. Enciono: Dickenson.
Kaplan, D.: 1973, ‘Bob and Carol and Ted and Alice.’ In Approaches to Natural Language, ed. by K. J. J.Hintikka, J. M. E.Moravcsik, and P.Suppes. Dordrecht: Reidel.
Lewis, D.: 1972, ‘General Semantics.’ In Semantics of Natural Language, ed. by D.Davidson and G.Harman. Dordrecht: Reidel.
Lewis, D.: 1975, ‘Adverbs of Quantification.’ In Formal Semantics of Natural Language, ed. by E. L. Keenan. Cambridge University Press.
Montague, R.: 1970, ‘Universal Grammar.’ In Formal Philosophy, ed. by R. Thomason. Yale University Press, 1974.
Montague, R.: 1973a, ‘The Proper Treatment of Quantification in Ordinary English.’ In Formal Philosophy, ed. by R. Thomason. Yale University Press, 1974.
Montague, R.: 1973b, “Comments on Moravcsik's Paper.” In Approaches to Natural Language, ed. by K. J. J.Hintikka, J. M. E.Moravcsik, and P.Suppes. Dordrecht: Reidel.
Sadock, J. M.: 1978, ‘On Testing for Conversational Implicature.’ In Syntax and Semantics. vol. 9, ed. by P.Cole. New York: Academic Press.
Scott, D.: 1970. ‘Advice on Modal Logic.’ In Philosophical Problems in Logic: Recent Developments, ed. by K.Lambert. Dordrecht: Reidel.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
I would like to thank David Dowty, Michael Geis, Marcia Hurlow, William Lycan and the participants in the Syntax Workshop of the 1979 Summer Linguistics Institute of the University of Texas at Austin; many improvements have resulted from their comments and suggestions. I would also like to thank the two anonymous referees for a number of helpful remarks.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Stump, G.T. The interpretation of frequency adjectives. Linguist Philos 4, 221–257 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00350140
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00350140