Quantity and gradability across categories

Authors

  • M. Ryan Bochnak University of Chicago

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3765/salt.v20i0.2570

Keywords:

gradability, scale structure, part structure, event structure

Abstract

This paper proposes a unified analysis of scalar modifiers across the adjec- tival, nominal and verbal domains, with a special focus on the proportional modifier half in English. I claim that half has a scalar meaning in all the environments in which it appears. Specifically, I show that in partitive and event-modifying uses, half targets a quantity-based scale whose scale structure crucially depends on the part structure of a nominal argument, just like many adjectival cases. To formalize the analysis, I extend the degree-based analysis of Kennedy & McNally (2005) for gradable adjectives to partitives and VPs headed by incremental theme verbs, with some discussion of compounding uses of half with both nouns and verbs.

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Published

2010-08-14

Issue

Section

Articles