Skip to main content
Presented to you through Paradigm Publishing Services

John Benjamins Publishing Company

Visit our Partner Page See all our books
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

On the scalar properties and telicity of degree achievements

Abstract

Kennedy & Levin (2008) argue that the aspectual properties of so-called degree achievement (DA) verbs (e.g. darken) can largely be predicted from the scale structure of the adjectives to which they are derivationally related (e.g. dark). Specifically, when the adjective is evaluated on a scale that is upper closed and the standard for the adjective to truthfully apply is the upper endpoint on that scale (i.e., when the adjective is absolute; see e.g. Kennedy & McNally 2005), the corresponding DA can be either telic or atelic. In contrast, when the adjective’s scale is open and the standard is context-dependent (i.e., when the adjective is relative), the corresponding DA is atelic. In this paper, I defend, following Kearns (2007), the position that telic interpretations of DAs are not directly a function of the standards for the adjectives from which the verbs are derived. Rather, the telic interpretation simply depends on it being possible to characterize the amount of change undergone in terms of the part structure of the event described, without reference to a specific comparison class. This conclusion will emerge from reflection on how the notions of relative and absolute standards can be recast in terms of similarity- vs. rule-based classification (as proposed in McNally 2011), extended from the adjectival to the verbal domain.

Abstract

Kennedy & Levin (2008) argue that the aspectual properties of so-called degree achievement (DA) verbs (e.g. darken) can largely be predicted from the scale structure of the adjectives to which they are derivationally related (e.g. dark). Specifically, when the adjective is evaluated on a scale that is upper closed and the standard for the adjective to truthfully apply is the upper endpoint on that scale (i.e., when the adjective is absolute; see e.g. Kennedy & McNally 2005), the corresponding DA can be either telic or atelic. In contrast, when the adjective’s scale is open and the standard is context-dependent (i.e., when the adjective is relative), the corresponding DA is atelic. In this paper, I defend, following Kearns (2007), the position that telic interpretations of DAs are not directly a function of the standards for the adjectives from which the verbs are derived. Rather, the telic interpretation simply depends on it being possible to characterize the amount of change undergone in terms of the part structure of the event described, without reference to a specific comparison class. This conclusion will emerge from reflection on how the notions of relative and absolute standards can be recast in terms of similarity- vs. rule-based classification (as proposed in McNally 2011), extended from the adjectival to the verbal domain.

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Section 1. (Morpho)phonology-Syntax Interface
  6. Syntacticizing blends 27
  7. Does the verb raise to T in Spanish? 47
  8. Locative DPs and deictic adverbs/pronouns in subject position in Brazilian Portuguese 63
  9. A note on the syntax of possession in Paraguayan Guaraní 85
  10. Section 2. Syntax-Semantics interface
  11. Adverbial elatives in Caribbean Spanish 107
  12. On weak definites and their contribution to event kinds 129
  13. The grammaticalization of ‘big’ situations 151
  14. On the scalar properties and telicity of degree achievements 173
  15. Section 3. Syntax-Discourse interface
  16. Multiple Wh-Movement in European Spanish 195
  17. Subextraction at the Discourse-Grammar interface 223
  18. On the de se reading in the de se center shift in Korean 255
  19. Section 4. Lexicon-Syntax interface
  20. Spanish participial adjectives and individual-level/stage-level interpretations in nominals 279
  21. Two types of transitive verbs in Spanish 305
  22. Grammatical categories at the Lexicon-Syntax-Semantics interface 325
  23. State and change of state in Latin 343
  24. Index 367
Boundaries, Phases and Interfaces
This chapter is in the book Boundaries, Phases and Interfaces
https://doi.org/10.1075/la.239.09mcn

Chapters in this book

  1. Prelim pages i
  2. Table of contents v
  3. Preface vii
  4. Introduction 1
  5. Section 1. (Morpho)phonology-Syntax Interface
  6. Syntacticizing blends 27
  7. Does the verb raise to T in Spanish? 47
  8. Locative DPs and deictic adverbs/pronouns in subject position in Brazilian Portuguese 63
  9. A note on the syntax of possession in Paraguayan Guaraní 85
  10. Section 2. Syntax-Semantics interface
  11. Adverbial elatives in Caribbean Spanish 107
  12. On weak definites and their contribution to event kinds 129
  13. The grammaticalization of ‘big’ situations 151
  14. On the scalar properties and telicity of degree achievements 173
  15. Section 3. Syntax-Discourse interface
  16. Multiple Wh-Movement in European Spanish 195
  17. Subextraction at the Discourse-Grammar interface 223
  18. On the de se reading in the de se center shift in Korean 255
  19. Section 4. Lexicon-Syntax interface
  20. Spanish participial adjectives and individual-level/stage-level interpretations in nominals 279
  21. Two types of transitive verbs in Spanish 305
  22. Grammatical categories at the Lexicon-Syntax-Semantics interface 325
  23. State and change of state in Latin 343
  24. Index 367
Downloaded on 27.4.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.1075/la.239.09mcn/html?lang=en
Scroll to top button