Implicit Arguments, Paychecks and Variable-Free Semantics

Authors

  • Walter Pedersen McGill University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3765/salt.v21i0.2601

Keywords:

implicit arguments, paycheck pronouns, E-type anaphora, variable-free semantics

Abstract

The present paper focuses on a particular class of implicit arguments – what have been termed anaphoric implicit arguments (AIAs) – and presents an account of AIAs in the variable-free (VF) framework introduced in Jacobson 1999, 2000. In particular, it is demonstrated how AIAs allow 'paycheck' (E-type) readings, an observation that goes back to Dowty 1981; it is shown that these readings follow naturally in the VF framework. The VF account is then compared and contrasted with some alternatives, including Condoravdi & Gawron's (1996) proposal that AIAs pattern with definite descriptions.

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Published

2011-09-03

Issue

Section

Articles