NPIs, intervention, and collectivity

Negative polarity items are subject to so-called intervention effects (Linebarger 1980, 1987). Specifically, they unacceptable in the immediate scope of certain non-downward-entailing operators, even if occur a (higher) downward-entailing operator. By studying behavior any configurations with collective predicates, we provide new empirical arguments that descriptive condition concerning must be stated reference content clausal constituents which NPIs may occur, and not merely operators c-commanding them. This is line recent for environment-based formulations NPI licensing conditions (e.g., Homer 2008, Gajewski 2011). We conclude by discussing how fits some theories (especially Guerzoni 2006, Chierchia 2013). EARLY ACCESS