The Language of Propositions and Events: Issues in the Syntax and the Semantics of Nominalization (Studies in Linguistics and Philosophy, 51)

Zucchi, Alessandro

ISBN 10: 0792324374 / ISBN 13: 9780792324379

Published by Springer, 1993

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Bibliographic Details

• Title: The Language of Propositions and Events: Issues in the Syntax and the Semantics of Nominalization (Studies in Linguistics and Philosophy, 51)
• Publisher: Springer
• Publication Date: 1993
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0792324374
• ISBN 13: 9780792324379
• Binding: Hardcover
• Condition: New

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Synopsis

At a superficial examination, English has different types of nominals with similar meaning and distribution: (1)a. John's performance ofthe song b. J ohn' s performing of the song c. John's performing the song d. the fact that John performs the song These nominals are also perceived by English speakers to be related to the same sentential construction: (2) John performs the song A more accurate inspection reveals, however, that the nominals in (1) differ both in their distribution and in the range of interpretations they allow. An adequate theory of nominalization should explicate rigorously how nominals of the types in (1) are related to sentential construction (2), and should also account for their distributional differences and meaning differences. The task of this book is to develop such a theory. I defend two main theses. The first is that, in order to provide an adequate semantics for the nominals in (1), one needs to distinguish among three types of entities in the domain of discourse (in addition to the type of ordinary individuals): events, propositions, and states xiii XIV PREFACE of affairs. I argue that the nominals in (1) differ in their ability to denote entities of these types and that predicates differ in their ability to select for them.

Synopsis

"The Language of Propositions and Events" offers a comprehensive theory of the relation between noun meaning and verb meaning. Two main theses are defended in this book. The first thesis is that an adequate account of the interpretation and distribution of nominals calls for a distinction between three types of entities in the domain of discourse: events, propositions and states of affairs. It is argued that different types of nominals differ in their ability to denote entities of these types and that predicates differ in their ability to select for them. The second main thesis is that an adequate characterization of the relation between noun meaning and verb meaning can be given by taking account of the fact that situations may stand in the "part of" relation. Kratzer's semantics of situations is the basis for this analysis of nominalization. Moreover, the book addresses the issue of the argument structure of nominals and offers an analysis of the puzzling distribution of "infinito sostantivato" in Italian. This book is intended for graduate students in semantics and syntax, theoretical linguists, philosophers of language and students of Romance linguistics.