Compositional states

Authors

  • E. Matthew Husband Michigan State University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3765/salt.v20i0.2548

Keywords:

aktionsart, existential interpretation, lifetime effects, stage-level/individual-level predicates, states, temporal modification

Abstract

Whether a transitive stative predicate licenses an existential interpretaiton of its subject (EIS) depends on the type of object it has. While previous theories have related this to the object's ability to function as a topic, I present evidence that the quantized/homogeneous distinction between objects better captures EIS and propose an event composition analysis of EIS for transitive stative predicates. This analysis points to the aspectual nature of EIS and also illuminates other aspectual behaviors of stage-level/individual-level states.

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Published

2010-08-14

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Section

Articles