Full Description
An area of linguistic research can be considered mature when the validity of theoretical and empirical results is tested cross-linguistically and when predictions from different languages influence and modify the course of theoretical development. The semantics/pragmatics interface poses a special challenge in this respect because of its interdisciplinary and multi-theoretical nature. This volume attempts to bridge the gap between theory and empirical analysis by focussing on several aspects of the semantics and the pragmatics of Spanish from a variety of theoretical points of view. Some of the papers were selected from those presented at the International Conference "Semantics and Pragmatics of Spanish" (Ohio State University, 1999). Others are invited contributions from leading scholars in the field. Among the topics covered are several that have been the subject of intense debate, whereas others represent subtle data patterns not considered so far. The topics include the proper characterization of tense and aspect, the subjunctive, verbal periphrases, stage/individual level predication, the interpretation of infinitives in embedded and adjunct clauses, the subjunctive mood, demonstratives, quantification of excess, exception phrases, binding phenomena, propositional negative polarity items, particles of politeness, and pronominal doubling. Overall, the analysis of these subjects contributes new findings to prominent theories in the field, such as possible world semantics, relevance theory, mental spaces, type coercion, generalized quantifier theory, dynamic semantics, and the theory of logical form.
Contents
Spanish past and future tenses - less (semantics) is more, S. Gennari
Tensed complements of perception verbs - issues in their temporal interpretation, A. Cipria
Spanish "aspectual" periphrases - ordering constraints and the distinction between situation and viewpoint aspect, B. Laca
Non-declarative sentences in Spanish - the case of the infinitive, X.R. Sequeiros
Aspect and situations - a situation semantics account of the semantic variability of Spanish "al-clauses", L. Alonoso-Ovalle
Mental spaces and epistemic attitudes - on the Spanish subjunctive/indicative alternation, F. Aliaga, E. de Bustos
Space accessibility and the pragmatic status of propositions, E. Mejias-Bikandi
Coercion and the stage/individual distinction, V. Escandell-Vidal, M. Leonetti
Some Spanish quantifier modifiers, R. Zuber
Demonstratives in context, J. Gutierrez-Rexach
Propositional NPIs and the scalar nature of polarity, J. Gutierrez-Rexach, S. Schwenter
Degree quantification and modal operators in Spanish, I. Bosque
The shifted reading of the Spanish simple past as dependent on presuppostion accommodation, R.J. Garcia Cordoba
On the interaction of syntax-semantics-pragmatics - a case study, J. Macia
Clitic doubling, null objects and clitic climbing in the Spanish of Corrientes, L. Colantoni
Spanish no, si - a particle of politeness, R. Vann et al.
