ling 610 semantics & generative grammar lectures week thirteen
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the week of november 26
constraints on quantifier denotations
We spent this week reflecting on formal constraints on quantifier denotations. Denotations of run-of-the-mill quantifiers like some, no, every determine relations between sets of individuals. We may now wonder which binary relations between sets of individuals are possible quantifier denotations in natural languages. We discussed three possible constraints: Extension, Conservativity and Isomorphy. Here are the three handouts: Constraints on Quantifier Denotations 1 (Extension), Constraints on Quantifier Denotations 2 (Conservativity), and Constraints on Quantifier Denotations 3 (Isomorphy).
2007 angelika kratzer, department of linguistics, university of massachusetts at amherst