Calendar

LEC # TOPICS READINGS
1

Introduction

  • The Semantics of Grading and Degree
  • Vague Predicates
  • Degrees Relations
  • Kennedy. Projecting the Adjective: The Syntax and Semantics of Gradability and Comparison. Pp. 3-57.
  • Sapir. "Grading: A Study in Semantics."
  • Klein. "A Semantics for Positive and Comparative Adjectives."
  • Kamp. "Two Theories of Adjectives."
  • Cresswell. "The Semantics of Degree." 
  • Bierwisch. "The Semantics of Gradation." In Dimensional Adjectives. Pp. 73-139.
2

A Semantic Typology of Gradable Predicates

  • Scale Structure and Degree Modification
  • Relative vs. Absolute
  • Gradable Adjectives
  • Kennedy and McNally. "Scale Structure and the Semantic Typology of Gradable Predicates."
  • Unger. Ignorance. Chap. 2
3

The Grammar of Vagueness

  • What exactly is the standard of comparison and how is it determined?
  • Kennedy. "The Grammar of Vagueness."
  • Graff. "Shifting Sands: An Interest-relative Theory of Vagueness."
  • Barker. "The Dynamics of Vagueness."
  • Kyburg and Morreau. "Fitting Words: Vague Language in Context."
4

Comparison and Logical Form 1

  • Scope Ambiguities in Comparatives and the Semantic type of Gradable Adjectives
  • Scope and Superlatives
  • von Stechow. "Comparing Semantic Theories of Comparison."
  • Heim. "Notes on Comparatives and Related Matters."
  • Kennedy. Projecting the Adjective: The Syntax and Semantics of Gradability and Comparison. Pp. 58-108.
  • Heim. "Degree Operators and Scope."
  • Sharvit and Stateva. "Against 'long' Movement of the Superlative Operator."
  • Farkas and Kiss. "On the Comparative and Absolute Readings of Superlatives."
5

Comparison and Logical Form 2

  • Quantification and Comparison and the Structure of Degrees
  • Schwarzschild and Wilkinson. "Quantifiers in Comparatives: A Semantics of Degree Based on Intervals."
  • Lerner and Pinkal. "Comparatives and Nested Quantification."
  • Bhatt, Rajesh and Roumyana Pancheva. "Late Merge of Degree Clauses."
6

Polarity

  • Comparison and Polar Opposition
  • Comparison and Negative Polarity
  • Kennedy. "Polar Opposition and the Ontology of 'Degrees'."
  • Bierwisch. "The Semantics of Gradation." In Dimensional Adjectives. Pp. 139-175.
  • Rullmann. "Maximality in the Semantics of wh-constructions." Chap. 2.
7

Comparative NPs

  • Comparative Quantifiers
 Hackl. "Comparative Quantifiers."
8

The Grammar of Measurement

  • Partitives and Related Matters
    Amount Relatives
  • Schwarzschild. "The Grammar of Measurement."
  • Grosu and Landman. "Strange Relatives of the Third Kind."
  • Carlson. "Reference to Kinds in English."
  • Heim. "Where Does the Definiteness Restriction Apply? Evidence from the Definiteness of Variables."
9

Aspect and Degree

  • Telicity and Degree of Change
 Kennedy and Levin. "Telicity Corresponds to Degree of Change."
10 Open  
11 Student Presentations