Semantics of Under-Represented Languages in the Americas
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Publication Open Access Argument and event structure in Yukatek verb classesBohnemeyer, J.Publication Open Access On the Acquisition of the Aspects in Italianvan Hout, Angeliek; Hollebrandse, BartPublication Open Access Two Positions with Distinct Semantic Interpretations in ASLRathmann, ChristianPublication Open Access The Interpretation of Cuzco Quechua Relative ClausesHastings, RachelPublication Open Access Is todo N in Brazilian Portuguese a quantifier?Pires de Oliveira, RobertaThis paper investigates whether todo N (universal quantifier + noun phrase) in Brazilian Portuguese is existential (an indefinite) or a universal. It concludes that it is a universal with a modal trait. The first section shows that todo N has properties which distinguish it from definite universal phrases. These properties may be explained by Matthewson’s (2001) suggestion concerning the semantic structures of every and all. Within such an approach, todo N would not be a quantifier. This hypothesis finds support in Negrão’s (2002) analysis, which claims that todo N is an indefinite. Based on Dayal (1998) and Saeboe’s (2001) analyses of any, we show that todo N is a universal with a modal trait. Finally, we show that todo N cannot be specific in Enç’s sense (1991); thus her generalization concerning quantifiers should be revised. We conclude that quantification and specificity should be kept apart and that todo N is a non-specific quantifier.Publication Open Access SULA 2 Front MatterAnderssen, Jan; Menéndez-Benito, Paula; Werle, AdamPublication Open Access Situation types in American Sign LanguageRathmann, ChristianSeveral kinds of situation types have often been distinguished in the literature: states, activities, semelfactives, achievements and accomplishments. Since these situation types relate to properties of states and events that occur in the world, they are understood in any language. It is at the linguistic level that situation types are claimed to be encoded differently across languages. This paper argues that all five situation types are manifested at the linguistic level in American Sign Language and is thus chiefly concerned with identifying the linguistic means that ASL uses to distinguish one situation type from another. Examples of linguistic means include the ability of a certain morpheme to appear with a verb and the ability of a certain adverbial to appear in a sentence. In identifying the linguistic correlates of situation types in ASL, this paper hopes to offer an interesting cross-linguistic and crossmodal perspective on aspect. For example, the discussion of accomplishments includes two morphemes (xMOVy and HOLD) and two kinds of complex verb constructions.Publication Open Access Navajo Classification and CoercionFernald, Theodore B.; Willie, Mary AnnPublication Open Access The semantics of discontinuous noun phrases in QuechuaHastings, RachelIn Cuzco Quechua there is a construction in which elements that typically appear noun phrase-internally may appear outside the noun phrase while receiving the same Casemarking as the noun. In this paper I look at the semantics and syntax of this discontinuous noun phrase construction. I argue that when an adjective or a quantifier appears outside the noun phrase it is also interpreted externally and not in a possible base position within the noun phrase itself. I adopt this analysis to explain data in which the discontinuous noun phrase is interpreted as necessarily indefinite. I also examine the behavior of an apparently exceptional universal quantifier sapa ‘each’ which cannot participate in the discontinuous construction. I explain this distribution of sapa, which differs from that of other universal quantifiers, by proposing that the basic use of sapa is as a quantifier over adverbial phrases.Publication Open Access The problem of Quechua -nka Distributivity vs. group formingFaller, Martina
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