Abstract
This paper provides some arguments for the claim that Catalan and Spanish n-words are not lexically ambiguous. I put forward the hypothesis that they are intrinsically negative expressions, in the sense that they are indefinites incorporated into a numeral meaning ∥0∥, and they are weak quantifiers, in the sense that they are underspecified for quantificational force. I suggest the relevance of a hierarchy of negative items (negative quantifiers / minimizers, n-words, and polarity items) determined by the position of these items within a scale of quantificational force. © 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 557-580 |
Journal | Lingua |
Volume | 110 |
Issue number | 8 |
Publication status | Published - 1 Aug 2000 |
Keywords
- Catalan
- Negation
- Semantics
- Spanish
- Syntax