Schlenker, Philippe:  2012, “Generalized Quantification and Anaphora Across Ontological Domains: Evidence from ASL” [squib]. UCLA Working Papers in Linguistics 17


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Abstract:  It is a traditional idea that when- and if-clauses can function as restrictors of temporal and modal generalized quantifiers respectively (e.g. Lewis 1979, Kratzer 1986, de Swart 1995). It was shown in Schlenker (to appear) that in ASL one and the same anaphoric element has nominal, temporal, and modal uses, and that in all three domains generalized quantifiers can introduce loci (= positions in signing space) that denote the 'maximal set', i.e. the maximal set of objects that satisfy both the restrictor and the nuclear scope. But the anaphoric status of restrictors was left open. Here we show that in (one informant's) ASL, (i) nominal, temporal and modal restrictors alike can introduce discourse referents realized by loci, and that (ii) these loci can be made available for further anaphoric uptake; as a result, maximal and restrictor set readings can be overtly distinguished. In addition, the fact that the same quantificational and anaphoric resources are available in the nominal, temporal and modal domains further strengthens the case for a uniform grammatical approach to individual, temporal and modal reference, as suggested in Schlenker 2006 and Bittner 2001, among others.

A shorter version of this squib appears here:

[Full paper in pdf]