Indefinites and the Type of Sets / Edition 1

by Fred Landman

Overview

Indefinites and the Type of Sets explores a new theory of indefinite noun phrase interpretation and definiteness effects.

• Provides an introduction to aspects of the semantics of noun phrases, as well as comparing alternate theories.
• Explores a new theory of indefinite noun phrase interpretation and definiteness effects.
• Written accessibly by one of the world’s most prominent formal semanticists.
• Useful for students and scholars in formal semantics as well as the neighboring fields of syntax, pragmatics, and the philosophy of language.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781405116305
Publisher:	Wiley
Publication date:	01/26/2004
Series:	Explorations in Semantics , #3
Pages:	304
Product dimensions:	6.90(w) x 10.00(h) x 1.05(d)

About the Author

Fred Landman is Professor of Semantics at Tel Aviv University. His publications include Events and Plurality (2000), Structures for Semantics (1991), Towards a Theory of Information (1986), and Varieties of Formal Semantics (edited with Frank Veltman, 1984).

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements.

Reading this book at different levels.

Introduction.

1. Numerical Adjectives and the Type of Sets.

2. The Adjectival Theory of Indefinite Predicates and Arguments.

3. The Variable Constraint on Predicates and There-Insertion Subjects.

4. Problems for Weak-Strong Analyses of There-Insertion Subjects.

5. There-Insertion Subjects as Subjects Adjoined to Verb Phrases.

6. There-Insertion Subjects Adjoined to Saturated Predicates.

7. Some Questions about There-Insertion in Dutch.

8. The Problem of Negative Noun Phrases.

9. Relational Indefinites and Semantic Incorporation.

10. Definite Time-Adverbials and Event Measures.

11. Indefinite Time-Adverbials and the Counting-Grid.

References.

Index.

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"An impressive contribution to the study of definiteness effects in natural language, empirically rich and theoretically stimulating. Fred Landman’s style is uniquely engaging – he makes hardcore linguistics fun to read!" Veneeta Dayal, Rutgers University

"Some people might think that everything has been said about the semantics of indefinites. Landman's book proves the opposite. It contains a wealth of new ideas and insights about this never-aging topic." Gerhard Jäger, University of Potsdam

Editorial Reviews

"An impressive contribution to the study of definiteness effects in natural language, empirically rich and theoretically stimulating. Fred Landman’s style is uniquely engaging – he makes hardcore linguistics fun to read!" Veneeta Dayal, Rutgers University

"Some people might think that everything has been said about the semantics of indefinites. Landman's book proves the opposite. It contains a wealth of new ideas and insights about this never-aging topic." Gerhard Jäger, University of Potsdam

From the Publisher