Negative Polarity Items in Inverse Scope and Topicalized Clauses
Date
2007
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Swarthmore College. Dept. of Linguistics
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Thesis (B.A.)
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Abstract
Negative polarity items are words or phrases usually associated with a negative
licenser, such as the word ever, licensed by don't, in I don't think that I've ever
been so surprised, In unmarked sentences, the negative licenser typically commands
the negative polarity item, and syntax is sufficient to explain the
occurrence of a negative polarity item, There are two types of sentences studied
here which license negative polarity items but have no clear c-command
relationship between licenser and licensee, These are sentences with negative
polarity items in inverse scope and sentences with negative polarity items in
topicalized clauses, Semantics and pragmatics are invoked in order to understand
the licensing of negative polarity items in these marked sentences, De Swart
(1998) uses the work of Grice (1975) to form a theory on the licensing of negative
polarity items in inverse scope, Her theory relies on the positive informative
value of a sentence with inverse scope, A study is run for this paper, and data are
collected concerning how acceptable participants find inverse scope and
topicalized clause sentences in comparison with one another. This study and the
work done by Grice and de Swart combine to form a new theory on the relation
between sentences with negative polarity items in inverse scope and sentences
with negative polarity items in topicalized clauses, and their respective
informative values.