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Previous accounts addressing the question what semantic properties of a matrix predicate determine the possible clause type of the embedded clause have not provided a general answer (e.g. Grimshaw 1979, Zifonun et al. 1997, Ginzburg & Sag 2000). This paper proposes that clause-embedding predicates fulfill characteristic logical conditions, so-called consistency conditions, which rule the syntactic potential of the matrix clause: for instance, the clause type of the embedded clause (declarative, ob- and/or wh-interrogative) and the correlate type, the matrix predicate can co-occur with (es and/or ProPP). Furthermore, they predict the logical forms of legitimate constructions with embedded ob- or wh-interrogatives, respectively, and how a legitimate optional correlate modifies the meaning of the matrix predicate.
Previous accounts addressing the question what semantic properties of a matrix predicate determine the possible clause type of the embedded clause have not provided a general answer (e.g. Grimshaw 1979, Zifonun et al. 1997, Ginzburg & Sag 2000). This paper proposes that clause-embedding predicates fulfill characteristic logical conditions, so-called consistency conditions, which rule the syntactic potential of the matrix clause: for instance, the clause type of the embedded clause (declarative, ob- and/or wh-interrogative) and the correlate type, the matrix predicate can co-occur with (es and/or ProPP). Furthermore, they predict the logical forms of legitimate constructions with embedded ob- or wh-interrogatives, respectively, and how a legitimate optional correlate modifies the meaning of the matrix predicate.
The grammatically determined meaning of situation dependent ellipses like "Schnell einen Krankenwagen!" is indeterminate as compared to the semantic form of corresponding non elliptical sentences. To assume such an indeterminacy is only possible if one distinguishes the grammatically determined meaning from the utterance meaning. The semantic indeterminacy of situation dependent ellipses has its syntactic pendant in the form of minimal sentence structures containing empty categories, which are interpreted semantically as free variables. The letter are replaced by specific context dependent entities only in the utterance meaning.
In this paper, the problem will be discussed whether the pragmatic category 'exclamative' has a grammatical pendant and how this pragmatic category is derived from the corresponding semantic structure if there doesn't exist a semantic 'exclamative' category. Special accentual properties and the possible dislocation of the wh-phrase 'wie' from the adjective phrase as in ‘wie ist er [e groß]’ seem to be the only grammatical evidences indicating the exclamative type. The movement of 'wie' without violating the Chomskean Empty Category Principle is assumed to be possible because of the existence of a syntactic sentence feature [+ EX], which cancels the barrierhood of the wie-containing adjective phrase. Both the feature [+ EX] and the barrierhood of the wie-containing adjective phrases in wh-questions and embedded wh-clauses are motivated by a pragmatic principle.
Departing from Rooth's focus interpretation theory the article discusses two types of (German) ellipsis phenomena: direct alternative and implicit alternative coordinative ellipsis. For the first type, which includes Stripping, Gapping, ATB, and RNR, it is characteristic that the semantic value of either conjunct instantiates the context variable of the respective focus operator in the other. For German Polarity ellipsis and Sluicing, which constitute the other type, it is characteristic that the semantic value, which instantiates the variable given by the focus operator in the second conjunct, must be derived from the semantic value of the first conjunct and that the second conjunct always hosts an alternative set inducing item which demands new information focus in the first conjunct.
Die Repräsentation satzartiger situativer Ellipsen unter besonderer Berücksichtigung ihres Modus
(1988)
Der Aufsatz ist eine Zusammenfassung meiner Dissertation "Die Spezifik situativer Ellipsen". Einer ihrer zentralen Punkte besteht darin, die semantische Unbestimmtheit situativer Ellipsen nachzuweisen und Vorschläge zu ihrer syntaktischen und semantischen Repräsentation zu unterbreiten. Weiterhin wird gezeigt, wie die semantisch unbestimmten Strukturen konzeptuell und interaktionell verarbeitet werden. Der vorliegende Aufsatz beschränkt sich auf die Analyse satzartiger Ellipsen, da das Profil des ihn enthaltenden Sammelbandes eine breitere Behandlung des Modus verlangt.