Abstract
This paper develops a semantics with control over scope relations using Vermeulen’s stack valued assignments as information states. This makes available a limited form of scope reuse and name switching. The goal is to have a general system that fixes available scoping effects to those that are characteristic of natural language. The resulting system is called Scope Control Theory, since it provides a theory about what scope has to be like in natural language. The theory is shown to replicate a wide range of grammatical dependencies, including options for, and constraints on, ‘donkey’, ‘binding’, ‘movement’, ‘Control’ and ‘scope marking’ dependencies.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Aloni M., Butler A., Dekker P. (2007). Questions in dynamic semantics. Amsterdam, Elsevier
Bach E., Partee B. (1980). Anaphora and semantic structure. In Kreiman J., Ojeda A.(eds) Papers from the parasession on pronouns and anaphora. Chicago, Chicago Linguistic Society, pp. 1–28
van den Berg, M. H. (1996). Some aspects of the internal structure of discourse: The dynamics of nominal anaphora. Ph.D. thesis, Institute for Logic, Language and Computation, University of Amsterdam.
Butler A., Mathieu E. (2004). The syntax and semantics of split constructions: A comparative study. Basingstoke, Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan
Butler A., Mathieu E. (2005). Split-DPs, the generalized EPP and visibility. In McGinnis M., Richards N (eds) Perspective on phases, Vol. 49 of MIT working papers in linguistics. MA, MIT, pp. 49–67
Cheng, L. (1991). On the typology of WH-questions. Ph.D. thesis, MIT. Published by Garland, New-York, 1997.
Cresswell M. (2002). Static semantics for dynamic discourse. Linguistics and Philosophy 25, 545–571
Dekker P. (2002). Meaning and use of indefinite expressions. Journal of Logic, Language and Information 11, 141–194
du Plessis H. (1977). WH-movement in Afrikaans. Linguistic Inquiry 8, 723–726
Evans G. (1977). Pronouns, quantifiers and relative clauses (I). Canadian Journal of Philosophy 7, 467–536
Groenendijk J., Stokhof M. (1991). Dynamic predicate logic. Linguistics and Philosophy 14(1): 39–100
Heim I. (1990). E-type pronouns and donkey Anaphora. Linguistics and Philosophy 13, 137–177
Hollenberg M., Vermeulen C. (1996). Counting variables in a dynamic setting. Journal of Logic and Computation 6, 725–744
Honcoop, M. (1998). Dynamic excursions on weak islands. Ph.D. thesis, Leiden University/HIL.
Kamp H. (1981). A theory of truth and semantic representation. In: Groenendijk J., Janssen T., Stokhof M.(eds) Formal methods in the study of language. Amsterdam, Mathematical Centre, pp. 277–322
Kamp H. (1990). Prolegomena to a structural theory of belief and other attitudes. In: Anderson C.A., Owens J.(eds) Propositional attitudes: The role of content in logic, language and mind. Stanford, CSLI, pp. 27–90
Postal P. (1971). Cross-over phenomena. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston
van Rooij, R. (1997). Attitudes and changing contexts. Ph.D. thesis, IMS, Stuttgart.
Stalnaker R. (1998). On the representation of context. Journal of Logic, Language and Information 7, 3–19
Vermeulen C. (1993). Sequence semantics for dynamic predicate logic. Journal of Logic, Language and Information 2, 217–254
Vermeulen C. (2000). Variables as stacks: A case study in dynamic model theory’. Journal of Logic, Language and Information 9, 143–167
Visser A., Vermeulen C. (1996). Dynamic bracketing and discourse representation. Notre Dame Journal of Formal Logic 37, 321–365
Williams E. (1994). Thematic structure in syntax. Cambridge, Mass, MIT
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Butler, A. Scope control and grammatical dependencies. J Log Lang Inf 16, 241–264 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10849-006-9036-8
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10849-006-9036-8