Abstract
This paper highlights a small selection of cases where cross-linguistic insights have been important to big questions in the theory of semantics and the syntax/semantics interface. The selection includes (i) the role and representation of Speaker and Addressee in the grammar; (ii) mismatches between form and interpretation motivating high-placed silent operators for functional elements; and (iii) the explanation of semantic universals, including universals pertaining to inventories, in terms of learnability and the trade-off between informativeness and simplicity.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 125-133 |
| Number of pages | 9 |
| Journal | Theoretical Linguistics |
| Volume | 50 |
| Issue number | 1-2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 1 2024 |
Keywords
- addressee
- communicative efficiency
- indexical shift
- quantificational particle
- speaker
- universal
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Language and Linguistics
- Linguistics and Language