Evaluation and consumption

Charley Evan Beller, Erin Zaroukian

Abstract


Singular indefinite objects of evaluative predicates (e.g. like) are interpreted specifically (1). But several constructions do not yield specific readings, (2).

(1) # John likes a cookie. (specific reading/#kind reading)
(2) a. John likes a cookie after dinner.
b. John likes having a cookie.
c. John likes a good cookie.
d. John likes a cookie as much as the next guy.

We propose that constructions with a minimal consumption-situation reading license a contextual operator which binds the object, giving it a non-specific reading.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3765/exabs.v0i0.579