Distributivity in Formal Semantics

IF 3 1区文学 0 LANGUAGE & LINGUISTICS

Annual Review of Linguistics Pub Date : 2019-01-16 DOI:10.1146/ANNUREV-LINGUISTICS-011718-012528

Lucas Champollion

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引用次数: 16

Abstract

Distributivity in natural language occurs in sentences such as John and Mary (each) took a deep breath, when a predicate that is combined with a plurality-denoting expression is understood as holding of each of the members of that plurality. Language provides ways to express distributivity overtly, with words such as English each, but also covertly, when no one word can be regarded as contributing it. Both overt and covert distributivity occur in a wide variety of constructions. This article reviews and synthesizes influential approaches to distributivity in formal semantics and includes pointers to some more recent approaches. Theories of distributivity can be distinguished on the basis of how they answer a number of interrelated questions: To what extent can distributivity be attributed to what we know about the world, as opposed to the meanings of words or silent operators? What is the relationship between distributivity and plurality? Does distributivity always reach down to the singular individuals in a plurality? If not, under what circumstances is distributivity over subgroups possible, and what is its relation to distributivity over individuals?

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形式语义中的分配性

自然语言中的分配性出现在诸如John and Mary (each)深吸一口气这样的句子中，当一个谓词与一个表示复数的表达式结合在一起时，它被理解为持有该复数的每个成员。语言提供了公开表达分配性的方式，比如英语，但也提供了隐蔽的方式，当没有一个词可以被视为贡献分配性时。显性和隐性分布性都出现在各种各样的结构中。本文回顾和综合了形式语义中对分布性有影响的方法，并指出了一些最新的方法。分配性理论可以根据它们如何回答一些相互关联的问题来区分:分配性在多大程度上可以归因于我们对世界的了解，而不是单词或无声运算符的含义?分配性和多元性之间的关系是什么?分配性是否总是在复数中触及单个个体?如果不是，在什么情况下，子群体之间的分配是可能的，它与个体之间的分配是什么关系?

本文章由计算机程序翻译，如有差异，请以英文原文为准。

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来源期刊

Annual Review of Linguistics Multiple-

CiteScore

7.20

自引率

6.20%

发文量

期刊介绍： The Annual Review of Linguistics, in publication since 2015, covers significant developments in the field of linguistics, including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax, semantics, pragmatics, and their interfaces. Reviews synthesize advances in linguistic theory, sociolinguistics, psycholinguistics, neurolinguistics, language change, biology and evolution of language, typology, as well as applications of linguistics in many domains.