Gradable epistemic modals, probability, and scale structure  

Oleh:

Lassiter, Daniel

Jenis: Article from Proceeding
Dalam koleksi: Proceedings of the 20th Semantics and Linguistic Theory Conference, held at Vancouver, British Colombia, April 29 - May 1, 2010, page 197-215.
Topik: ENGLISH STRUCTURE; gradability; comparison; epistemic modals; probability
Fulltext: 197-215.pdf (232.01KB)

Isi artikel

Abstract The epistemic modals possible, probable, likely, and certain require a semantics which explains their behavior both as modal operators and as gradable adjectives. An analysis of these items in terms of Kennedy & McNally’s (2005) theory of gradability suggests that they are associated with a single, fully closed scale of possibility. An implementation using the standard theory of modality due to Kratzer is shown to make incorrect predictions in several domains. However, identifying the scale of possibility with standard numerical probability explains the facts about gradability and avoids the undesirable predictions of Kratzer’s theory.

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