Modal Superlatives

Schwarz, Bernhard

doi:10.3765/salt.v15i0.3094

Cited by 13 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…10 Given that, it should be analyzed in a way similar to modal superlatives like the driest possible. Building on this intuition, we can suggest a lexical entry for perfectly that follows closely, in the relevant respect, Schwarz's (2006) definition of the modal superlative operator -est-possible. We assume that like -est-possible, perfectly moves to take sentential scope.…”

Section: More Precise Scalar Approximatorsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Scalar vs. Epistemic Vagueness: Evidence from Approximators

Sauerland¹,

Stateva²

2007

SALT

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Section: More Precise Scalar Approximatorsmentioning

confidence: 95%

Scalar vs. Epistemic Vagueness: Evidence from Approximators

Sauerland¹,

Stateva²

2007

SALT

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“…(29) is a request of the addressee to come as quickly as is possible for her to come, i.e., to come in the quickest way possible. It expresses a meaning very similar to the construction known as the adjectival modal superlative (Corver 1997;Larson 2000;Schwarz 2005;Romero 2013). In the adjectival modal superlative in (30), the superlative morphology appears on the non-modal adjective.…”

Section: German Superlative 'Possible'mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…17 A "local", or modifying, reading of the modal and the noun it precedes is also possible. As noted by Schwarz (2005), following Corver (1997) on Dutch, the local reading arises in German when both prenominal adjectives are inflected (größ.t.e, möglich.e below). In contrast, only the modal superlative reading is available when the superlative adjective is not inflected (größ.t and (30)): maximal degree of quickness with which it is possible for her to come.…”

Section: German Superlative 'Possible'mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although the superlative in (30) surfaces on 'fast', the two come apart in the semantics, and, crucially, 'possible' retains its ordinary, non-gradable meaning. A different analysis is pursued by Schwarz (2005), who proposes that the superlative and 'possible' do indeed form a unit. Crucially, however, it is a primitive, non-compositional unit; [-est possible] f is true just in case in the real world the degree property denoted by f holds of any degree that it holds of in any of the worlds that are accessible from the real world.…”

Section: German Superlative 'Possible'mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is 'more possible' more possible in German?

Herburger

Rubinstein

2015

SALT

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While some modals are clearly gradable (e.g., likely), the gradablity of possibility modals is controversial. We argue that one of the major reasons to think that possibility modals can be graded, namely the appearance of German möglich 'possible' and kann 'can' in a comparative construction involving eher, should be rethought. We argue that eher is not a simple comparative marker and propose an analysis of eher möglich in which degrees of epistemic commitment are compared, not degrees of possibility.Keywords: Modality, gradability, comparatives, epistemic predicates, German The debate on gradable possibilityThe question of whether, or to what extent, modal predicates exhibit features of GRADABILITY has received considerable attention in the recent literature on modality. The modals in (1) are indisputably gradable: they are grammatical in comparatives and equatives, degree questions, and other degree constructions. Gradable modals span a wide range of modality types. They include epistemic-circumstantial modals such as likely, probable and chance, as well as priority modals (e.g., desirable, important as in (1a)) and ability modals (for example, capable of in (1b)). 1(1) a. It is more desirable to have some form of socialized medicine than a system of medical care relying on the private sector. 2 b. He demonstrates that museums, their contents, and their manners of display * For helpful comments and discussion, we would like to thank Paul Portner and members of the audience at SALT 24 and WCCFL 32, in particular

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“…17 Given that, it should be analyzed in a way similar to modal superlatives like the driest possible. Building on this intuition, we can suggest a lexical entry for perfectly that follows closely, in the relevant respect, Schwarz's (2006) definition of the modal superlative operator -estpossible. We assume that like -est-possible, perfectly moves to take sentential scope.…”

Section: Subclasses Of Scalar Approximators 641 Distribution With Amentioning

confidence: 99%

Presupposition and Implicature in Compositional Semantics

Sauerland¹,

Stateva²

2007

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Palgrave Studies in Pragmatics, Language and Cognition is a series of high quality research monographs and edited collections of essays focusing on the human pragmatic capacity and its interaction with natural language semantics and other faculties of mind. A central interest is the interface of pragmatics with the linguistic system(s), with the 'theory of mind' capacity and with other mental reasoning and general problem-solving capacities. Work of a social or cultural anthropological kind is included if firmly embedded in a cognitive framework. Given the interdisciplinarity of the focal issues, relevant research will come from linguistics, philosophy of language, theoretical and experimental pragmatics, psychology and child development. The series aims to reflect all kinds of research in the relevant fields -conceptual, analytical and experimental. Titles include:Anton Benz, Gerhard Jäger and Robert van Rooij (editors) GAME THEORY AND PRAGMATICS You can receive future titles in this series as they are published by placing a standing order. Please contact your bookseller or, in case of difficulty, write to us at the address below with your name and address, the title of the series and the ISBN quoted above.

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Modal Superlatives

Abstract: n/a

Cited by 13 publications

References 3 publications

Scalar vs. Epistemic Vagueness: Evidence from Approximators

Scalar vs. Epistemic Vagueness: Evidence from Approximators

Is 'more possible' more possible in German?

Presupposition and Implicature in Compositional Semantics

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