The Interpretation of Indifference Free Relatives

Authors

  • Miriam Nussbaum Massachusetts Institute of Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3765/exabs.v0i0.2407

Abstract

The behavior of -ever free relatives is unlike that of universal quantifiers and of plain definites, and their analysis has therefore been controversial. This paper argues that the availability of de dicto-like readings for -ever FRs in non-local ACD constructions can be explained by an analysis like the one proposed by von Fintel (2000), whereby "indifference" FRs are definites with a counterfactual presupposition. Other scope interactions undergone by indifference FRs further separate them from universals, while their differences from plain plural definites can be captured by a good-fit condition like the one proposed by Brisson (1997) for all.

Downloads

Published

2014-10-16