Cross-linguistic variation in the semantics of comparatives.

摘要

Research on understudied languages and cross-linguistic variation from a formal semantic perspective is in its relative youth, but has been attracting the attention of more and more linguists over the past 15 years or so. This dissertation contributes to this line of work by investigating comparative constructions in Luganda and Washo. These languages make use of comparative constructions that are typologically common (Stassen 1985) but which have received little attention in formal linguistics. I provide a formal semantic analysis of these constructions, and situate the results within a broader picture of the nature of cross-linguistic variation in the meaning component of grammar.;In chapter 1 I outline various points of semantic variation that have been discussed in the literature so far, and propose that they all fall under one of two main categories: variation at the lexical semantic level; and variation at the syntax-semantics interface. In chapter 2 I review the current state of the art on research on comparative constructions in English and other languages, and introduce the distinctions between explicit and implicit comparison (Kennedy 2007) and clausal versus phrasal comparison (Heim 1985, among others), and diagnostics for these distinctions. I then introduce and analyze exceed and cleft comparisons in Luganda (chapter 3). I argue that while exceed comparisons make use of a semantic comparative morpheme similar to English -er/more, the comparison interpretation of clefts is derived pragmatically. I argue in chapter 4 that the variation observed between Luganda exceed comparatives and English -er comparatives is largely variation at the syntax-semantics interface. In chapter 5 I discuss the properties of conjoined and locative comparisons in Washo, and argue that neither makes use of a comparative morpheme similar to -er. I propose that this variation is due to lexical variation in the semantics of gradable predicates in Washo and English, and that this explains not only the lack of a comparative morpheme in Washo, but also the absence of the entire paradigm of degree constructions in this language (chapter 6). Chapter 7 concludes by taking stock of the cross-linguistic picture outlined at the beginning of the dissertation, and revising some of the proposals in this area in light of the results of chapters 3-6.