In:Weak Referentiality
Edited by Ana Aguilar-Guevara, Bert Le Bruyn and Joost Zwarts
[Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today 219] 2014
► pp. 237–264
Modified weak definites
Published online: 3 December 2014
https://doi.org/10.1075/la.219.10agu
https://doi.org/10.1075/la.219.10agu
Weak definites display restrictions on the kind of modifiers they accept. This paper aims to determine what kind of adjectives can maintain weak readings and why. Following a kind-referring analysis of weak definites, this paper predicts, tests, and corroborates that only adjectives denoting properties of kinds can occur in weak definite configurations.
References (31)
Aguilar-Guevara, A. 2014. Weak Definites: Semantics, Lexicon and Pragmatics. Utrecht: Landelijke Onderzoekschool Taalkunde Dissertation Series.
Aguilar-Guevara, A. & Zwarts, J. 2010. Weak definites and reference to kinds. In Proceedings of Semantics and Linguistic Theory 20, N. Li & D. Lutz (eds), 179–196. Ithaca NY: CLC Publications.
Arsenijević, B., Boleda Torrent, G., Gehrke, B. & McNally, L. 2010. Ethnic adjectives are proper adjectives. In Proceedings of Chicago Linguistic Society 46, T. Grinsell, A. Baker, J. Thomas, R. Baglini & J. Keane (eds),1–15. Chicago IL: CLS.
Baayen, R.H. 2011. languageR: Data sets and functions with “Analyzing Linguistic Data: A practical introduction to statistics”. Vienna: R Foundation for Statistical Computing.
Bates, D., Maechler, M. & Bolker, B. 2012. lme4: Linear mixed-effects models using S4 classes. [URL]
Carlson, G. 1977. Reference to Kinds in English. PhD thesis, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
Carlson, G. & Sussman, R. 2005. Seemingly indefinite definites. In Linguistic Evidence: Empirical, Theoretical, and Computational Perspectives, S. Kepsar & M. Reis (eds), 71–85. Berlin: De Gruyter.
Dayal, V. 2004. Number marking and (in)definiteness in kind terms. Linguistics and Philosophy 27(4): 393–450.
de Swart, H. & Zwarts, J. 2009. Less form-more meaning: Why bare singular nouns are special. Lingua 119(2): 280–295.
Farkas, D. & de Swart, H. 2007. Stability and variation in article choice: Generic and episodic contexts. Lingua 117(9): 1657–1676.
Fradin, B. & Kerleroux, F. 2003. Troubles with lexemes. In Proceedings of the Third Mediterranean Morphology Meeting, G. Booij, J. de Cesaris, S. Scalie & A. Rallis (eds), 177–196, Barcelona: Institut Universitari de Lingüística Aplicada, Universitat Pompeu Fabra.
Horn, L. 1984. Toward a new taxonomy for pragmatic inference: Q-based and R-based implicature. Meaning, Form, and Use in Context 42: 11–42.
Kamp, H. 1975. Two theories about adjectives. In Formal Semantics of Natural Language, E. Keenan (ed.), 123–155. Cambridge: CUP.
Krifka, M. 2004. Bare NPs: Kind–referring, indefinites, both, or neither? In Empirical Issues in Syntax and Semantics, Olivier Bonami & Patricia Cabredo Hofherr (eds), 111–132. Paris: CNRS.
Krifka, M., Pelletier, F.J., Carlson, G., ter Meulen, A., Chierchia, G. & Link, G. 1995. Genericity: An introduction. In The Generic Book, G. Carlson & F.J. Pelletier (eds), 1–124. Chicago IL: The University of Chicago Press.
Larson, R. 1998. Events and modification in nominals. In Proceedings of Semantics and Linguistic Theory 8: 145–168.
McNally, L. & Boleda, G. 2004. Relational adjectives as properties of kinds. Empirical Issues in Formal Syntax and Semantics 5: 179–196.
Partee, B. 1986. Noun phrase interpretation and type-shifting principles. In Studies in Discourse Representation Theory and the Theory of Generalized Quantifiers [Groningen–Amsterdam Studies in Semantics 8], J. Groenendijk, D. de Jongh & M. Stokhof (eds.), 115–143. Dordrecht: Foris.
. 2003. Are there privative adjectives? Ms, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Conference on the philosophy of Terry Parsons.
. 2010. Privative adjectives: Subsective plus coercion. In Presuppositions and Discourse: Essays Offered to Hans Kamp, R. Bäuerle, U. Reyle & T.E. Zimmermann (eds.), 273–285. Bingley: Emerald.
R Development Core Team 2008. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. Vienna: R Foundation for Statistical Computing.
Schulpen, M. 2011. Weak Definites: Modification, Non-unique Reference and Enriched Meanings. MA thesis, Utrecht University.
Schwarz, F. 2014. Functional frames in the interpretation of weak nominals. In Weak Referentiality, A. Aguilar-Guevara, B. Le Bruyn & J. Zwarts (eds), 213–235. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Zwarts, J. 2014. Functional frames in the interpretation of weak nominals. In Weak Referentiality, A. Aguilar-Guevara, B. Le Bruyn & J. Zwarts (eds), 265–286. Amsterdam: John Benjamins.
Cited by (5)
Cited by five other publications
Aguilar‐Guevara, Ana & Carolina Oggiani
Lee, Meng-Chen
2020. Strong and weak nominal reference in thetic and categorical sentences. In Thetics and Categoricals [Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today, 262], ► pp. 155 ff.
Schumacher, Petra B. & Hanna Weiland-Breckle
2014. Referential properties of definites and salience spreading. In Weak Referentiality [Linguistik Aktuell/Linguistics Today, 219], ► pp. 365 ff.
This list is based on CrossRef data as of 22 november 2025. Please note that it may not be complete. Sources presented here have been supplied by the respective publishers. Any errors therein should be reported to them.
