Veridicality and sets of alternative worlds
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Peter Öhl
Abstract
This paper explores three related phenomena. First, not all embedded formal interrogatives (i.e. clauses introduced by if or whether) have the function of an indirect question. Second, the complementizers if and that may occur in identical syntactic contexts. Third, if-clauses may be licensed by certain (discourse) semantic factors, like negation, modality, and also verum focus, where otherwise that-clauses are preferred. The approach taken is based on epistemic logic, especially on the notion of relativized veridicality, the notion of possible worlds and the formal semantics of the complementizers that and if.
Abstract
This paper explores three related phenomena. First, not all embedded formal interrogatives (i.e. clauses introduced by if or whether) have the function of an indirect question. Second, the complementizers if and that may occur in identical syntactic contexts. Third, if-clauses may be licensed by certain (discourse) semantic factors, like negation, modality, and also verum focus, where otherwise that-clauses are preferred. The approach taken is based on epistemic logic, especially on the notion of relativized veridicality, the notion of possible worlds and the formal semantics of the complementizers that and if.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- The grammatical realization of polarity contrast 1
- From polarity focus to salient polarity 9
- Verum focus, sentence mood, and contrast 55
- Complementizers and negative polarity in German hypothetical comparatives 89
- Veridicality and sets of alternative worlds 109
- Biased declarative questions in Swedish and German 129
- On two types of polar interrogatives in Hungarian and their interaction with inside and outside negation 173
- Two kinds of VERUM distinguished by aspect choice in Russian 203
- Polarity focus and non-canonical syntax in Italian, French and Spanish 227
- In search for polarity contrast marking in Italian 255
- Index 289
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- The grammatical realization of polarity contrast 1
- From polarity focus to salient polarity 9
- Verum focus, sentence mood, and contrast 55
- Complementizers and negative polarity in German hypothetical comparatives 89
- Veridicality and sets of alternative worlds 109
- Biased declarative questions in Swedish and German 129
- On two types of polar interrogatives in Hungarian and their interaction with inside and outside negation 173
- Two kinds of VERUM distinguished by aspect choice in Russian 203
- Polarity focus and non-canonical syntax in Italian, French and Spanish 227
- In search for polarity contrast marking in Italian 255
- Index 289
