Skip to main content
Log in

Functional Quantification

  • Published:
Research on Language and Computation

Abstract

This paper develops a unified analysis of “functional” anaphora arid wide-scope indefinites. A new operator is added to Jacobson,s variable-free semantics of functional readings, which leads to an analysis of theses readings using the general Skolem function interpretation of wide-scope indefinites. This accounts for the distriutional, technical and intuitive similarities between the two phenomena. Moreover, after formally characterizing the class of generalized quantifiers that are treated by the proposed mechanism, it is argued that this class is a good approximation of the quantifiers that empirically support functional readings.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Alexopoulou, T. and Heycock, C. (2002) 'Relative clauses with quantifiers and definiteness'. In: Proceedings of the Workshop 'Choice Functions and Natural Language Semantics'. Arbeitspapier 110. FB Sprachwissenschaft. Universita¨ t Konstanz. Can be downloaded from http://ling.uni-konstanz.de/pages/home/heusinger/publications/ftp/ap110/AP110. Alexopoulou. pdf.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barwise, J. and Cooper, R. (1981) 'Generalized quantifiers and natural language'. Linguistics and Philosophy, 4, pp. 159-219.

    Google Scholar 

  • Benthem, J. Van (1991) </del>Language in Action: categories, lambdas and dynamic logic. Amsterdam: North-Holland.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chierchia, G. (1993) 'Questions with quantifiersq. Natural Language Semantics, 1, pp. 181-234.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chierchia, G. (2001) 'A puzzle about indefinites'. In Cecchetto G. C. C. and Guasti M. T. (eds. ), Semantic Interfaces: Reference, Anaphora and Aspect.CSLI Publications, Stanford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dahl, O. (1981) 'Binding relations in dislocated constituents'. Talk presented at the Sloan Workshop on Alternatives to Transformational Grammar, Stanford University.

  • Doron, E. (1982) 'The syntax and semantics of resumptive pronouns'. Texas Linguistic Forum 19, University of Texas, Austin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Engdahl, E. (1986) Constituent Questions: the syntax and semantics of questions with special reference to Swedish. Dordrecht: D. Reidel.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fodor, J. D. and Sag I. (1982), 'Referential and quantificational indefinites'. Linguistics and Philosophy 5, 355-398.

    Google Scholar 

  • Groenendijk, J. and Stokhof M. (1984), 'Studies on the Semantics of Questions and the Pragmatics of Answers'. Ph. D. thesis, University of Amsterdam.

  • Hintikka, J. (1986) 'The semantics of a certain'. Linguistic Inquiry, 17, pp. 331-336.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson, P. (1994) 'Binding connectivity in copular sentences'. In Proceedings of Semantics and Linguistic Theory, SALT4.

  • Jacobson, P. (1999) 'Towards a variable-free semantics'. Linguistics and Philosophy 22, pp. 117-185.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson, P. (2000) 'Paycheck pronouns, Bach-Peters sentences, and variable-free semantics'. Natural Language Semantics, 8, pp. 77-155.

    Google Scholar 

  • Jacobson, P. (2002) 'Direct compositionality and Variable-Free Semantics: the case of binding into heads'. In Proceedings of Semantics and Linguistic Theory, SALT12.

  • Kratzer, A. (1998) 'Scope or pseudoscope? Are there wide scope indefinites?'. In Rothstein S. (ed. ), Events and Grammar.Kluwer, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Link, G. (1983) 'The logical analysis of plurals and mass terms: a lattice theoretical approach'. In Bauerle R., Schwarze C and von Stechow A. (eds. ), Meaning, Use and Interpretation of Language.De Gruyter, Berlin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peregrin, J. and von Heusinger, K. (2003) 'Dynamic semantics with choice functions'. In Kamp H. and Partee B. (eds. ), Context Dependence in the Analysis of Linguistic Meaning. Elsevier, Amsterdam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinhart, T. (1990) 'Self representation'. Paper presented at the Princeton Conference on Anaphora, Princeton.

  • Reinhart, T. (1992) 'Wh-in-situ: an apparent paradox'. In Proceedings of the 8th Amsterdam Colloquium.University of Amsterdam, Institute for Logic, Language and Computation.

  • Reinhart, T. (1997) 'Quantifier scope: how labor is divided between QR and choice functions'. Linguistics and Philosophy, 20, 335-397.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ruys, E. G. (1992) 'The Scope of Indefinites'. Ph. D. thesis, Utrecht University.

  • Schlenker, P. (1998) 'A Note on Skolem functions and the scope of indefinites'. Unpublished ms., MIT.

  • Schwartz, B. (2001) 'Two kinds of long-distance indefinites'. In Proceedings of the 13th Amsterdam Colloquium. University of Amsterdam, Institute for Logic, Language and Computation.

  • Sharvit, Y. (1999) 'Functional relative clauses'. Linguistics and Philosophy, 22, pp. 447-478.

    Google Scholar 

  • Steedman, M. (1999) 'Alternating quantifier scope in CCG'. In Proceedings of the 37th annual meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics (ACL).

  • Thijsse, E. (1983) 'On some proposed universals of natural language'. In ter Meulen A. (ed. ), Studies in Modeltheoretic Semantics.Foris, Dordrecht.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winter, Y. (1997) 'Choice functions and the scopal semantics of indefinites'. Linguistics and Philosophy, 20, pp. 399-467.

    Google Scholar 

  • Winter, Y. (1998) 'Flexible Boolean Semantics: coordination, plurality and scope in natural language', Ph. D. thesis, Utrecht University.

  • Winter, Y. (2000) 'DP structure and flexible semantics'. In Proceedings of the 30th conference of the Northeast Linguistic Society, NELS30.

  • Winter, Y. (2001) Flexibility Principles in Boolean Semantics: coordination, plurality and scope in natural language.MIT Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

About this article

Cite this article

Winter, Y. Functional Quantification. Research on Language and Computation 2, 331–363 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11168-004-0909-1

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11168-004-0909-1

Navigation