Session 08

Quantif. Ds: Relational View
Recall the ‘set of sets’ view on generalized quantifiers, e.g.
’ something ÷ = { X ∈ Pow(D) : X ≠ ∅ }
The same works for GQs corresponding to DPs in general:
’ no woman ÷ = { X ∈ Pow(D) : woman ∩ X = ∅ }
’ a man ÷ = { X ∈ Pow(D) : man ∩ X ≠ ∅ }
’ every dog ÷ = { X ∈ Pow(D) : dog ⊆ X }
Under this view, determiners denote relations between sets:
’ no ÷ = { ∈ Pow(D) % Pow(D): A ∩ B = ∅ }
’ a ÷ = { ∈ Pow(D) % Pow(D): A ∩ B ≠ ∅ }
’ every ÷ = { ∈ Pow(D) % Pow(D): A ⊆ B }
03.06.2008 Slides based on semantics textbook from I. Heim & A. Kratzer
and lecture notes from M. Krifka
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