A two-layered analysis of the Hebrew exceptive xuc mi
-
Aldo Sevi
Abstract
The Hebrew exceptive xuc mi seems to allow both minus interpretations (the excepted element fails to have the property predicated of the other elements) and plus interpretations (the excepted element does have the property predicated of the other elements). In this paper I propose a unified meaning for xuc mi. (1) xuc mi is a minus sign: it subtracts elements from a domain of quantification, and (2) there must be some non trivial property that distinguishes the excepted elements from all other elements in the domain. I derive the minus, plus, and other possible interpretations from this meaning and general pragmatic considerations.
Abstract
The Hebrew exceptive xuc mi seems to allow both minus interpretations (the excepted element fails to have the property predicated of the other elements) and plus interpretations (the excepted element does have the property predicated of the other elements). In this paper I propose a unified meaning for xuc mi. (1) xuc mi is a minus sign: it subtracts elements from a domain of quantification, and (2) there must be some non trivial property that distinguishes the excepted elements from all other elements in the domain. I derive the minus, plus, and other possible interpretations from this meaning and general pragmatic considerations.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgement vii
- Current issues in generative Hebrew linguistics 1
-
Part I. The structure of the lexicon
- Morphologically conditioned V-Ø alternation in Hebrew 27
- The special status of nif'al in Hebrew 61
- Object gap constructions 77
- Active lexicon 105
-
Part II. Grammatical features and inflectional morphology
- Definiteness agreement with PP modifiers 137
- Predication and equation in Hebrew (nonpseudocleft) copular sentences 161
- Morphological knowledge without morphological structure 197
- The interaction between question formation and verbal morphology in the acquisition of Hebrew 223
- On child subjects in a partially pro -drop language 245
- Resumptive pronouns as a last resort when movement is impaired 267
-
Part III. Semantics, pragmatics and discourse
- Bare minimizers 293
- Hebrew negative polarity Items – šum and af 313
- A two-layered analysis of the Hebrew exceptive xuc mi 337
- Codifying apparent inconsistencies in discourse 353
- Index 389
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Acknowledgement vii
- Current issues in generative Hebrew linguistics 1
-
Part I. The structure of the lexicon
- Morphologically conditioned V-Ø alternation in Hebrew 27
- The special status of nif'al in Hebrew 61
- Object gap constructions 77
- Active lexicon 105
-
Part II. Grammatical features and inflectional morphology
- Definiteness agreement with PP modifiers 137
- Predication and equation in Hebrew (nonpseudocleft) copular sentences 161
- Morphological knowledge without morphological structure 197
- The interaction between question formation and verbal morphology in the acquisition of Hebrew 223
- On child subjects in a partially pro -drop language 245
- Resumptive pronouns as a last resort when movement is impaired 267
-
Part III. Semantics, pragmatics and discourse
- Bare minimizers 293
- Hebrew negative polarity Items – šum and af 313
- A two-layered analysis of the Hebrew exceptive xuc mi 337
- Codifying apparent inconsistencies in discourse 353
- Index 389
