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ErgSemantics_ImplicitQuantifiers

StephanOepen edited this page Dec 21, 2015 · 1 revision

ESD Test Suite Examples

Dogs barked.
Abrams barked.
Five bothers Abrams.
Three dogs barked.
Many dogs barked.

Linguistic Characterization

Given the convention that every instance in any utterance-level MRS is bound by a quantifier, the ERG introduces implicit quantifiers (those not directly corresponding to a determiner lexical entry) in a variety of constructions, as well as in some lexical types other than those instantiated by determiners. The inventory of implicit quantifier predicates in some cases draws distinctions which are redundant with distinctions already drawn in the nominal predicates that introduce the instance variables as their ARG0, as indicated below. Each quantifier predication has three arguments: the bound variable instance, and the handles for its restrictor and body.

The most commonly used implicit quantifier is udef_q, which is introduced in the constructions for the following, many of which are discussed separately:

  • bare plural (and mass) noun NPs
  • nominal and verbal gerund phrases lacking a specifier
  • infinitive-VP subjects
  • WH-clausal subjects
  • compounds with nominal non-heads
  • appositives with an N-bar non-head
  • measure phrases
  • numerical partitive phrases ("five are arriving")
  • cardinal adjectives in bare NPs ("five cats")
  • coordination of nominal phrases
  • N-bar fragments
  • parenthetical nominals

More specific implicit quantifiers are used in each of the following types of phrases, where the distinction is in each case drawn as well in the corresponding nominal predicate of the construction:

  • proper names: proper_q

  • pronouns: pronoun_q

  • cardinal number names: number_q

Motivating Examples

  • For cardinal numbers: Is two hundred nine a prime number?

ERS Fingerprints

  quant[ARG0 x, RSTR h2, BODY h3]
  h4:[ARG0 x]

  { h2 =q h4 }

Interactions

  • Many of the constructions listed above interact in relatively straightforward manner with the implicit quantifiers, which are simply present to ensure the binding of instances lacking an overt quantifier.

Reflections

  • It is tempting to consider changing the three more specialized implicit quantifiers to just the one udef_q.

Open Questions

Grammar Version

  • 1212

More Information

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