Cross-linguistic insights in the theory of semantics and its interface with syntax
Anna Szabolcsi
November 2023 

This paper highlights a small selection of cases where cross-linguistic insights have been important to big questions in the theory of semantics and the syntax/semantics interface. The selection includes (i) the role and representation of Speaker and Addressee in the grammar; (ii) mismatches between form and interpretation motivating high-placed silent operators for functional elements; and (iii) the explanation of semantic universals, including universals pertaining to inventories, in terms of learnability and the trade-off between informativeness and simplicity.

Format:	[ pdf ]
Reference:	lingbuzz/006992 (please use that when you cite this article)
Published in:	Theoretical Linguistics 50(1/2), 125-133. DOI: 10.1515/tl-2024-2009
keywords:	cross-linguistic, factivity, indexical shift, speaker, addressee, quantificational particle, universal, learnability, communicative efficiency, semantics, syntax
previous versions:	v2 [February 2023] v1 [December 2022]
Downloaded:	1102 times

 

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