Projecting the Adjective: The Syntax and Semantics of Gradability and Comparison / Edition 1

by Christopher Kennedy

Overview

First Published in 1999. The main argument presented in this volume is that gradable adjectives like bright, dense and short denote measure functions- functions from objects to abstract representations of measurement, or scales and degrees. This proposal is shown to provide a foundation for principled explanations of a wide range of syntactic and semantic properties of gradable adjectives and the constructions in which they appear, ranging from the syntactic distribution of gradable adjectives to the scopal characteristics of comparatives and the empirical effects of adjectival polarity.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780815333494
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	03/01/1999
Series:	Outstanding Dissertations in Linguistics
Pages:	264
Product dimensions:	5.44(w) x 8.50(h) x (d)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Gradable Adjectives; Chapter 2 Projecting the Adjective; Chapter 3 Polar Opposition and the Ontology of Comparison; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index;

Editorial Reviews

Argues that gradable adjectives<--like bright, dense, and short<- ->denote measure functions, that is functions from objects to abstract representations of measurement, or scales and degrees. Shows how that notion can provide a foundation for principled explanations of a wide range of syntactic and semantic properties of gradable adjectives and the constructions in which they appear, ranging from the syntactic distribution of gradable adjectives to the scopal characteristics of comparatives, and the empirical effects of adjectival polarity. A 1997 Ph.D. dissertation for the University of California-Santa Cruz. US distribution is by Taylor and Francis. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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