Tuvan -daa in quantificational noun phrases: Existential or universal?

Ian L. Kirby

Abstract


This paper characterizes the main functions of the Tuvan particle -daa and proposes a semantic analysis, focusing on its role in Quantificational NPs (QNPs), specifically its role in forming Negative Polarity Items (NPIs) and universal quantifiers.  It is argued that Tuvan -daa QNPs are underlyingly existentials, with these two main readings being derived from recursive exhaustification of the host's alternatives.

Keywords


negative polarity; quantifier particles; alternative semantics; exhaustification; focus

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.3765/plsa.v7i1.5289

Copyright (c) 2022 Ian L. Kirby

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