Pragmatic Aspects of Scalar Modifiers - The Semantics-Pragmatics Interface

This volume examines the meaning of scalar modifiers - expressions such as more than, a bit, and much - from the standpoint of the semantics-pragmatics interface. It draws on data from Japanese and a range of other languages to explore the information expressed by these modifiers at both the semantic and the pragmatic level.

List of contents

• 1: Introduction


• 2: Landscape of scalar meanings


• 3: The logic of conventional implicatures


• 4: Comparison with an indeterminate pronoun


• 5: Minimizer PPIs


• 6: Intensifiers


• 7: Counter-expectational scalar adverbs


• 8: Interpretations of embedded pragmatic scalar modifiers


• 9: Historical development of pragmatic scalar modifiers


• 10: Conclusion

About the author

Osamu Sawada received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 2010, and is currently Associate Professor of Linguistics at Mie University. His main research areas are semantics, pragmatics, and syntax, and he is particularly interested in scalar meanings, implicatures, presuppositions, the interaction between grammar and context, and language change. His work has appeared in journals including Journal of Pragmatics, Journal of East Asian Linguistics, Natural Language Semantics, and Linguistics & Philosophy.

Summary

This volume examines the meaning of scalar modifiers - expressions such as more than, a bit, and much - from the standpoint of the semantics-pragmatics interface. It draws on data from Japanese and a range of other languages to explore the information expressed by these modifiers at both the semantic and the pragmatic level.

Additional text

[a] compact, densely conceived but eminently readable treatise

Product details

• Authors: Osamu Sawada, Osamu (Associate Professor of Linguistics Sawada
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.12.2017
• EAN: 9780198714224
• ISBN: 978-0-19-871422-4
• No. of pages: 272
• Series: Oxford Studies in Theoretical Linguistics; Oxford Studies in Theoretical Linguistics; Oxford Studies in Theoretical
• Subjects: Education and learning > Adult education/adult education classes > Adult education class / course materials (language); Humanities, art, music > Linguistics and literary studies > General and comparative linguistics; Japanese, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / Semantics, FOREIGN LANGUAGE STUDY / Japanese, LANGUAGE ARTS & DISCIPLINES / Linguistics / Pragmatics, Semantics, discourse analysis, stylistics, Semantics & pragmatics