inter-stratal tension

Multidimensional Semantics of Evaluative Adverbs

Dec 09

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Title: Multidimensional Semantics of Evaluative Adverbs
Series Title: Current Research in the Semantics / Pragmatics Interface

Publication Year: 2012
Publisher: Brill
http://www.brill.com

Book URL: http://www.brill.com/multidimensional-semantics-evaluative-adverbs

Author: Mingya Liu

Hardback: ISBN: 9781781902714 Pages: 254 Price: Europe EURO 89.95
Hardback: ISBN: 9781781902714 Pages: 254 Price: U.S. $ 124

Abstract:

Multidimensional Semantics of Evaluative Adverbs provides a multidimensional
analysis for the lexical semantics of evaluative adverbs: nonfactive
evaluative adverbs trigger a conventional implicature, whereas, factive
evaluative adverbs not only trigger a conventional implicature but also a
conventional presupposition. This analysis proves to be more advantageous than
existing analysis in terms of empirical coverage and explanatory power. With
the case of evaluative adverbs, the book demonstrates how secondary meanings
(e.g. conventional presuppositions, conventional implicatures) interact with
primary meanings (i.e. main assertion, or at-issue content). For the first
time, a three-dimensional formal language of conventional implicatures and
conventional presuppositions is implemented and applied to derive the right
truth conditions of sentences with evaluative adverbs and predict their
projection behaviors. With a cross-linguistic perspective (focusing on German,
English and Mandarin Chinese) and using corpus- and psycholinguistic methods,
the book also offers new perspectives on the syntax/semantics/pragmatics of
adverbials.