Polymorphic distributivity

Abstract This article describes a novel pattern of interpretations associated with universal determiners like ‘each’ and ‘every’. It is demonstrated that these canonically distributive quantifiers can give rise to surprising collective readings when they quantify into sub-clausal constituents, especially other Determiner Phrases. For instance, ‘two cards from each player’ be understood pick out single assorted deck cards, one whose contents co-vary the players. Yet this as whole may said participate in range activities (being shuffled together, being traded en masse, not fitting standard pack, etc.). Such examples are shown differ more familiar cumulative same quantifiers. A compositional analysis offered generalizes Krifka’s (2001) method quantification speech acts order accommodate larger class non-truth-denoting semantic objects, including cases, entities.