Granularity shifting: Experimental evidence from degree modifiers

Authors

  • Galit Sassoon Hebrew University
  • Natalia Zevakhina National Research University Higher School of Economics

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3765/salt.v22i0.2639

Keywords:

semantic, adjective, granularity, degree, degree modifier, inference, approximation

Abstract

This paper argues that modeling granularity and approximation (Krifka 2007; Lewis 1979) is crucial for capturing important aspects of the distribution and interpretation of adjectives and their modifiers, modulo certain differences between modified adjectives and numerals. In addition, the paper presents supporting experimental results with minimizers like 'slightly' and maximizers like 'completely'.

Author Biographies

  • Galit Sassoon, Hebrew University
    Logic, language and cognition centre postdoc
  • Natalia Zevakhina, National Research University Higher School of Economics
    Department of Linguistics lecturer

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Published

2012-09-03

Issue

Section

Articles