Chapter 8. A plausibility-based model of shifted indexicals
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Zoltán Vecsey
Abstract
In his groundbreaking formal work on context-dependent expressions, Kaplan (1989a) argued that the conventional meaning of natural language indexicals cannot be modified by sentential operators. Kaplan’s original theory, however, has been recently challenged by empirical studies. It turned out that in certain languages, for example in Amharic and Zazaki, attitude operators are able to modify the meaning of indexicals. Some of these empirical findings appear to be clearly inconsistent with the Kaplanian account. From a metatheoretical point of view, the current debate about the operator-sensitivity of indexicals can also be interpreted as a debate about the role of linguistic data. In following the p-model and considering linguistic data as statements with plausibility values, one can make some progress in this field of research.
Abstract
In his groundbreaking formal work on context-dependent expressions, Kaplan (1989a) argued that the conventional meaning of natural language indexicals cannot be modified by sentential operators. Kaplan’s original theory, however, has been recently challenged by empirical studies. It turned out that in certain languages, for example in Amharic and Zazaki, attitude operators are able to modify the meaning of indexicals. Some of these empirical findings appear to be clearly inconsistent with the Kaplanian account. From a metatheoretical point of view, the current debate about the operator-sensitivity of indexicals can also be interpreted as a debate about the role of linguistic data. In following the p-model and considering linguistic data as statements with plausibility values, one can make some progress in this field of research.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Part I: The methodological framework
- Chapter 2. The p-model of data and evidence in linguistics 15
-
Part II: Object-theoretical applications
- Chapter 3. The plausibility of approaches to syntactic alternation of Hungarian verbs 51
- Chapter 4. Methods and argumentation in historical linguistics 71
- Chapter 5. Hungarian verbs of natural phenomena with explicit and implicit subject arguments 103
- Chapter 6. The development of a taxonomy of verbal disagreements in the light of the p-model 133
- Chapter 7. A case of disagreement 179
- Chapter 8. A plausibility-based model of shifted indexicals 199
-
Part III: Metatheoretical applications
- Chapter 9. Thought experiments and real experiments as converging data sources in pragmatics 221
- Chapter 10. Data and the resolution of inconsistency in Optimality Theory 271
- Chapter 11. Conclusions 309
- Author index 315
- Subject index 317
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Chapter 1. Introduction 1
-
Part I: The methodological framework
- Chapter 2. The p-model of data and evidence in linguistics 15
-
Part II: Object-theoretical applications
- Chapter 3. The plausibility of approaches to syntactic alternation of Hungarian verbs 51
- Chapter 4. Methods and argumentation in historical linguistics 71
- Chapter 5. Hungarian verbs of natural phenomena with explicit and implicit subject arguments 103
- Chapter 6. The development of a taxonomy of verbal disagreements in the light of the p-model 133
- Chapter 7. A case of disagreement 179
- Chapter 8. A plausibility-based model of shifted indexicals 199
-
Part III: Metatheoretical applications
- Chapter 9. Thought experiments and real experiments as converging data sources in pragmatics 221
- Chapter 10. Data and the resolution of inconsistency in Optimality Theory 271
- Chapter 11. Conclusions 309
- Author index 315
- Subject index 317
