Topic-Comment Structure and the Contrast Between Stage Level and Individual Level Predicates  

Oleh:

Jager, Gerhard

Jenis: Article from Journal - ilmiah internasional
Dalam koleksi: Journal of Semantics (Sebagian Full Text) vol. 18 no. 2 (May 2001), page 83-126.
Topik: Grammar; Individual Level Predicates; Stage Level Predicates
Fulltext: vol 18, no 2 p 83-126.pdf (215.8KB)

Isi artikel

The paper re-examines the relevance of Carlson's (1977) distinction between stage level predicates and individual level predicates for several modules of grammar. In the first part of the paper, it is argued that rather than assume a uniform stage level vs. individual level distinction, we have to distinguish several similar but independent contrasts. Thus it is demonstrated that a unified explanation of all linguistic phenomena that are considered to be sensitive for this distinction is not possible or desirable. The second part of the paper focuses on one group of apparent contrasts between stage level and individual level predicates: the distribution of weak subjects. We will argue that it is the well-established contrast between stative and eventive predicates that lies at the bottom of these effects. This simple picture is blurred by interaction with topic-comment structure. We will propose a dynamic semantics of topicality that enables us to derive the observed effects formally.

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