“Exclusivity” and quantifier float in bakari

Abstract

This paper presents a descriptive study that analyzes the semantic meaning of toritate focus particle bakari. It has been pointed out that while bakari expresses exclusivity, it seemingly possesses the characteristic of allowing non-applicable cases. This phenomenon may be examined when one argues against the position that bakari expresses exclusivity. Contrary to this view, the current study shows that when bakari co-occurs with floating quantifiers, non-applicable cases cannot be included in the quantity of the item indicated by the quantifier in question, thereby arguing that the meaning of bakari should be taken as exclusivity. Based on the previous studies, we clarify the following two points. First, when bakari is used, apart from a pre-established objective set reflecting the world, a subjective set rooted in the speaker's experience is established, and when a floating quantifier co-occurs with bakari, the quantifier in question expresses the quantity of the subjective set. Second, toritate focus particle bakari represents exclusivity, and the non-applicable cases can exist only outside of the set that bakari is concerned with.